1777* THE pacific OCEAN. 9 



turning their faces occasionally to the stern, and pulling 

 that way, without paddling the canoes round. When 

 they saw us determined to leave them, they stood up 

 in their canoes, and repeated something very loudly 

 in concert ; but we could not tell whether this was 

 meant as a mark of their friendship or enmity. It is 

 certain, however, that they had no weapons with 

 them ; nor could we perceive, with our glasses, that 

 those on shore had any. 



After leaving this island, from the discovery of 

 which future navigators may possibly derive some 

 advantage, I steered to the north, with a fresh gale 

 at E. by S., and at day-break in the morning of 

 of the 12th, we saw the island of Maitea. Soon 

 after, Otaheite made its appearance ; and at noon it 

 extended from S. W. by W. to W.N. W. ; the point of 

 Oheitepeha Bay bearing W., about four leagues dis- 

 tant. I steered for this bay, intending to anchor 

 there, in order to draw what refreshments I could 

 from the south-east part of the island, before I went 

 down to Matavai ; from the neighbourhood of which 

 station I expected my principal supply. We had a 

 fresh gale easterly, till two o'clock in the afternoon ; 

 when, being about a league from the bay, the wind 

 suddenly died away, and was succeeded by baffling, 

 light airs from every direction, and calms by turns. 

 This lasted about two hours. Then we had sudden 

 squalls, with rain, from the east. These carried us 

 before the bay, where we got a breeze from the land, 

 and attempted in vain to work in to gain the anchor- 

 ing place. So that, at last, about nine o'clock, we 

 were obliged to stand out, and to spend the night at 

 sea. 



When we first drew near the island, several canoes 

 came off to the ship, each conducted by two or three 

 men ; but as they were common fellows, Omai took 

 no particular notice of them, nor they of him. They 

 did not even seem to perceive that he was one of 

 their countrymen, although they conversed with him 



