an hour before noon
On learning that the supply of water which we had taken in for our voyage , was nearly exhausted , he informed us that there was no spring or stream , nearer than his village , which was some two miles inland , and promised to have a supply sent us during the day . They had come down to the shore , as we now learned , for the purpose of cutting mangrove roots , from which they make large and powerful bows , and the whole party soon left us at the marae , and proceeded to the beach ; in about an hour we saw them depart inland , carrying fagots of these roots , without taking any further notice of us . `` It had fallen calm soon after sunrise , so that we could not for the present have resumed our voyage , had we been so inclined . `` About half an hour before noon , a number of the natives whom we had seen in the morning , again made their appearance , with several large calabashes of water , and a quantity of taro and bread-fruit for our use . Rokoa distributed among them some trifling presents , which they hastily concealed among the folds of their maros . A few moments afterwards Mowno himself emerged from the grove , attended by the remainder of the party we had seen in the morning . There was now a further distribution of presents , when I perceived the reason why the first comers had so hastily concealed the trifles which had been given them .