128 cook's voyage to dec. 



however, we have seen enough to satisfy us, that all 

 that we observed and have related of Otaheite, may, 

 with trifling variations, be applied to them. 



Too much seems to have been already known, and 

 published in our former relations, about some of the 

 modes of life that made Otaheite so agreeable an 

 abode to many on board our ships ; and if I could 

 add any finishing strokes to a picture, the outlines of 

 which have been already drawn with sufficient accu- 

 racy, I should still have hesitated to make this jour- 

 nal the place for exhibiting a view of licentious man- 

 ners, which could only serve to disgust those for 

 whose information 1 write. There are, however, 

 many parts of the domestic, political, and religious 

 institutions of these people, which, after all our visits 

 to them, are but imperfectly understood. The fore- 

 going narative of the incidents that happened during 

 our stay, will probably be thought to throw some 

 additional light ; and, for farther satisfaction, I refer 

 to Mr. Anderson's remarks. 



Amidst our various subordinate employments, 

 while at these islands, the great objects of our duty 

 were always attended to. No opportunity was lost 

 of making astronomical and nautical observations ; 

 from which the following table was drawn up : 



p. Latitude. Longitude. Variation of Dip of the 



South. East. the Compass. Needle. 



M Otaheite 1 - t ' 1 17 29 i' 210 22' 28" 5 34' East 29 12' 



ta]lhri \ 16 42 * 208 S2 24 5 13 * East 28 28 



tie"a ar ' } 16 * 5 * 208 25 22 6 19 East 29 5 



The longitude of the three several places is de- 

 duced from the mean of 145 sets of observations 

 made on shore ; some at one place, and some at 

 another ; and carried on to each of the stations by 

 the time-keeper. As the situation of these places 



