1777 THE PACIFIC OCEAN. g*)l 



which were generally very copious, we saved a con- 

 siderable quantity of water; and finding that we could 

 get a greater supply by the rain, in one hour, than we 

 could get by distillation in a month, I laid aside the 

 still, as a thing attended with more trouble than 

 profit. 



The heat, which had been great for about a month, 

 became now much more disagreeable in this close . 

 rainy weather; and, from the moisture attending it, 

 threatened soon to be noxious; as the ships could not 

 be kept dry, nor the skuttles open, for the sea. How- 

 ever, it is remarkable enough, that though the only 

 refreshment we had received, since leaving the Cape 

 of Good Hope, was that at New Zealand, there was 

 not, as yet, a single person on board sick from the 

 constant use of salt food, or vicissitude of climate. 



In the night between the 24th and 25th we passed 

 Savage Island, which I had discovered in 1774 *; and 

 on the 28th, at ten o'clock in the morning, we got 

 sight of the islands which lie to the eastward of Anna- 

 mooka, bearing north by west, about four or five 

 leagues distant. I steered to the south of these islands, 

 and then hauled up for Annamooka; which, at four 

 in the afternoon, bore north-west by north, Fallafajeea 

 south-west by south, and Komango north by west, 

 distant about five miles. The weather being squally, 

 with rain, I anchored, at the approach of night, in 

 fifteen fathoms deep water, over a bottom of coral, 

 sand, and shells; Komango bearing north-west, about 

 two leagues distant. 



* For an account of the discovery of Savage Island; a descrip- 

 tion of it; and the behaviour of its inhabitants, on Captain Cook's 

 landing, see Vol. IV. p. 3. to p. 6. 



U 2 



