1774* ROUND THE WORLD. 307 



to 139 13' W. which is the longitude of the west end 

 of La Dominica. 



The port of Madre de Dios, which I named Re- 

 solution Bay, is situated near the middle of the west 

 side of St. Christina, and under the highest land in 

 the island, in latitude 9 55' 30", longitude 139 8' 40" 

 W. ; and N. 15' W. from the west end of La Do- 

 minica. The south point of the bay is a steep rock 

 of considerable height, terminating at the top in a 

 peaked hill, above which you will see a path-way 

 leading up a narrow ridge to the summits of the hills. 

 The north point is not so high, and rises with a more 

 gentle slope. They are a mile from each other, in 

 the direction of north by east, and south by west. 

 In the bay, which is near three-quarters of a mile 

 deep, and has from thirty-four to twelve fathoms' 

 water, with a clean sandy bottom, are two sandy 

 coves, divided from each other by a rocky point. In 

 each is a rivulet of excellent water. The northern 

 cove is the most commodious for wooding and water- 

 ing. Here is the little waterfall mentioned by Qui- 

 ros, Mendana's pilot ; but the town or village is in 

 the other cove. There are several other coves or 

 bays on this side of the island, and some of them, 

 especially to the northward, may be mistaken for 

 this ; therefore, the best direction is the bearing of 

 the west end of La Dominica. 



The trees, plants, and other productions of these 

 isles, so far as we know, are nearly the same as at 

 Otaheite and the Society Isles. The refreshments to 

 be got are hogs, fowls, plantains, yams, and some 

 other roots ; likewise bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts, but 

 of these not many. At first these articles were pur- 

 chased with nails. Beads, looking-glasses, and such 

 trifles, which are so highly valued at the Society 

 Isles, are in no esteem here ; and even nails at last 

 lost their value for other articles far less useful. 



The inhabitants of these islands, collectively, are, 

 without exception, the finest race of people in this 



x g 



