1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 119 



would have gladly taken a passage with us to Eng- 

 land. At sunset, being the length of the south point 

 of Bolabola, we shortened sail, and spent the night 

 making short boards. At day-break, on the 8th, we 

 made sail for the harbour, which is on the west side 

 of the island. The wind was scant, so that we had 

 to ply up, and it was nine o'clock before we got near 

 enough to send away a boat to sound the entrance ; 

 for 1 had thoughts of running the ships in, and an- 

 choring for a day or two. 



When the boat returned, the master who was in 

 her reported, that though, at the entrance of the har- 

 bour the bottom was rocky, there was good ground with- 

 in, and the depth of water twenty-seven and twenty- five 

 fathoms ; and that there was room to turn the ships in, 

 the channel being one-third of a mile broad. In conse- 

 quence of this report, we attempted to work the ships 

 in ; but the tide, as well as the wind, being against 

 us, after making two or three trips, I found that it 

 could not be done, till the tide should turn in our 

 favour. Upon this, I gave up the design of carrying 

 the ships into the harbour ; and having ordered the 

 boats to be got ready, I embarked in one of them, 

 accompanied by Oreo and his companions ; and was 

 rowed in for the island. 



We landed where the natives directed us ; and 

 soon after I was introduced to Opoony, in the midst 

 of a great concourse of people. Having no time to 

 lose, as soon as the necessary formality of compli- 

 ments was over, 1 asked the chief to give me the 

 anchor, and produced the present I had prepared 

 for him, consisting of a linen night-gown, a shirt, 

 some gauze handkerchiefs, a looking-glass, some 

 beads, and other toys, and six axes. At the sight 

 of these last, there was a general outcry. I could 

 only guess the cause, by Gpoony's absolutely refus- 

 ing to receive my present, till I should get the anchor. 

 He ordered three men to go and deliver it to me ; 

 and, as I understood, I was to send, by them, what 



