132 cook's voyage to D EC 



quiries properly ; and we all laboured, though not to 

 the same degree, under the disadvantages attending 

 an imperfect knowledge of the language of those 

 from whom alone we could receive any information. 

 The Spaniards had it more in their power to sur- 

 mount this bar to instruction; some of them having 

 resided at Otaheite much longer than anv other 

 European visitors. As, with their superior advan- 

 tages, they could not but have had an opportunity of 

 obtaining the fullest information on most subjects re- 

 lating to this island, their account of it would, pro- 

 bably, convey more authentic and accurate intelli- 

 gence than, with our best endeavours, any of us 

 could possibly obtain. But as I look upon it to be 

 very uncertain, if not very unlikely, that we shall 

 ever have any communication from that quarter, I 

 have here put together what additional intelligence 

 about Otaheite and its neighbouring islands I was 

 able to procure, either from Omai while on board the 

 ship, or by conversing with the other natives while 

 we remained amongst them. - 



The wind, for the greatest part of the year, blows 

 from between east south-east, and east north-east. 

 This is the true trade wind, or what the natives call 

 Maaraee ; and it sometimes blows with considerable 

 force. When this is the case, the weather is often 

 cloudy, with showers of rain ; but when the wind is 

 more moderate, it is clear, settled, and serene. If 

 the wind should veer farther to the southward, 

 and become south-east, or south south-east, it then 

 blows more gently, with a smooth sea, and is called 

 Maoai. In those months, when the sun is nearly 

 vertical, that is, in December and January, the winds 

 and weather are both very variable ; but it frequently 

 blows from west north-west, or north-west. This 

 wind is what they call Toerou ; and is generally at- 

 tended by dark, cloudy weather, and frequently by 

 rain. It sometimes blows strong, though generally 

 moderate ; but seldom lasts longer than five or six 



