1777* THE pacific OCEAN. 431 



tolerable. This island too, is the best situated for 

 drawing refreshments from all the others, as being 

 nearly in the centre of the whole group. Besides the 

 road in which we anchored, and the harbour within 

 the south-west point, there is a creek in the reef, 

 before the eastern sandy cove on the north side of 

 the island, in which two or three ships may lie very 

 securely, by mooring head and stern, with their 

 anchors or moorings fast to the rocks. 



I have already described the Hapaee islands ; and 

 shall only add to that description by mentioning, 

 that they extend south-west by south, and north-east 

 by north, about nineteen miles. The north end lies 

 in the latitude of 19 39' S. and 33' of longitude to 

 the east of Annamooka. Between them are a great 

 many small islands, sand-banks, and breakers ; so 

 that the safest way to arrive at Hapaee is either by 

 the course I held, or round by the north ; according 

 to the situation of the ship bound thither. Lefooga, 

 off' which we anchored, is the most fertile isle of 

 those that are called Hapaee ; and, consequently, is 

 the best inhabited. There is anchorage along the 

 north-west side of this island ; but it will be necessary 

 to examine the ground well before you moor. For, 

 although the lead may bring up fine sand, there are, 

 nevertheless, some sharp coral rocks that would soon 

 destroy the cables. 



They who want a more particular description of 

 the Friendly Islands, must have recourse to the chart 

 that we constructed. There every thing is delineated 

 with as much accuracy as circumstances would permit. 

 Recourse must also be had to the same chart for the 

 better tracing the several stations of the ships, and 

 their route from the one island to the other. To 

 have swelled my journal with a minute account of 

 bearings, tackings, and the like, would neither have 

 been entertaining nor instructive. 



What has been here omitted, concerning the 



