218 cook's SECOND VOYAGE OCT. 



CHAP. III. 



A DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS AND THEIR PRODUCE, WITH 

 THE CULTIVATION, HOUSES, CANOES, NAVIGATION, MA- 

 NUFACTURES, WEAPONS, CUSTOMS, GOVERNMENT, RE- 

 LIGION, AND LANGUAGE OF THE INHABITANTS. 



1 hese islands were first discovered by Captain 

 Tasman in January 1642-3 ; and, by him, called 

 Amsterdam and Middleburg. But the former is 

 called by the natives Ton-ga-ta-bu, and the latter 

 Ea-oo-we. They are situated between the latitude 

 of 21 29' and 21 3' south, and between the long- 

 itude of 174 40' and 175 15' west, deduced from 

 observations made on the spot. 



Middleburg, or Eaoowe, which is the southern- 

 most, is about ten leagues in circuit, and of a height 

 sufficient to be seen twelve leagues. The skirts of 

 this isle are mostly taken up in the plantations ; the 

 S. W. and N. W. sides especially. The interior parts 

 are but little cultivated, though very fit for cultivation. 

 However, the want of it added greatly to the beauty 

 of the isle ; for here are, agreeably dispersed, groves 

 of cocoa-nut and other trees, lawns covered with 

 thick grass, here and there plantations, and paths 

 leading to every part of the island in such beautiful 

 disorder, as greatly enlivens the prospect. 



The anchorage, which I named English Road, 

 (being the first who anchored there), is on the N. W. 

 side, in latitude 21 20' 30" south. The bearing we 

 took when at anchor, already mentioned, together 

 with the chart, will be more than sufficient to find 

 this anchorage. The bank is a coarse sand ; it ex- 

 tends two miles from the land, and on it there is 

 from twenty to forty fathoms water. The small 

 creek before it affords convenient landing for boats 



