198 cook's second voyage SEPT. 



BOOK II. 



from our departure from the society isles, to 

 our return to, and leaving them the second 



TIME. 



CHAP. I. 



PASSAGE FROM ULIETEA TO THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS ; WITH 

 AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF HERVEY's ISLAND, 

 AND THE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED AT MIDDLEBURG. 



After leaving Ulietea, as before mentioned, I 

 steered to the west, inclining to the south ; to get 

 clear of the tracks of former navigators, and to get 

 into the latitude of the islands of Middleburg and 

 Amsterdam : for I intended to run as far west as 

 these islands, and to touch there if I found it con- 

 venient, before I hauled up for New Zealand. I 

 generally lay to every night, lest we might pass any 

 land in the dark. Part of the 21st and 22d the wind 

 blew from N.W., attended with thunder, lightning, 

 and rain ; having a large swell from S. S. E. and S., 

 which kept up for several days. An indication that 

 no land was near us in that direction. 



On the 23d, at ten o'clock in the morning, land 

 was seen from the top-mast head, and at noon from 

 the deck, extending from S. by W. to S. W. by S. 

 We hauled up for it with the wind at S.E., and found 

 it to consist of two or three small islots, connected 

 together by breakers like most of the low isles in 

 the sea, lying in a triangular form, and about six 

 leagues in circuit. They were clothed with wood, 



