1777* THE pacific OCEAN. 67 



natives call them etoa. On the ground we saw 

 some grass; a species of convolvulus ; and a good 

 deal of treacle-mustard. There are also, doubtless, 

 other fruit-trees and useful plants which we did not 

 see. For, besides several sorts of plaiitains, they 

 brought, at different times, roots which they all taro 

 (the coccos of other countries); a bread-fruit; and a 

 basket of roasted nuts, of a kidney-shape, in taste 

 like a chesnut, but coarser. 



" What the soil of the island may be, further inland, 

 we could not tell. But, toward the sea, it is nothing 

 more than a bank of coral, ten or twelve feet high, 

 steep, and rugged; except where there are small 

 sandy beaches, at some clefts where the ascent is 

 gradual. The coral, though it has, probably, been 

 exposed to the weather for many centuries, has un- 

 dergone no farther change than becoming black on 

 the surface; which, from its irregularity, is not much 

 unlike large masses of a burnt substance. But, on 

 breaking some pieces off, we found that, at the 

 depth of two or three inches, it was just as fresh as 

 the pieces that had been lately thrown upon the 

 beach by the waves. The reef or rock, that lines the 

 shore entirely, runs to different breadths into the sea, 

 where it ends, all at once, and becomes like a high, 

 steep wall. It is nearly even with the surface of 

 the water, and of a brown or brick colour; but the 

 texture is rather porous, yet sufficient to withstand 

 the washing of the surf, which continually breaks 

 upon it." 



Though the landing of our gentlemen proved the 

 means of enriching my journal with the foregoing 

 particulars, the principal object I had in view was, in 

 a great measure, unattained ; for the day was spent 

 without getting any one thing from the island worth 

 mentioning. The natives, however, were gratified 

 with a sight they never before had; and, probably, 

 will never have again. And mere curiosity seems to 

 have been their chief motive for keeping the gentle- 



