17?3. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 177 



elevated hill, near the east end of the other, bore 

 north, half west. Our latitude, at this time, was 

 21 12' N. ; and longitude 200 41' E. We had 

 now light airs and calms, by turns ; so that at sunset, 

 we were not less than nine or ten leagues from the 

 nearest land. 



On the 19th, at sunrise, the island first seen, bore 

 east several leagues distant. This being directly to 

 windward, which prevented our getting near it, I stood 

 for the other, which we could reach ; and not long 

 after discovered a third island in the direction of 

 west north-west, as far distant as land could be seen. 

 We had now a fine breeze at east by north ; and I 

 steered for the east end of the second island ; which 

 at noon extended from north, half east, to west north- 

 west, a quarter west, the nearest part being about 

 two leagues distant. At this time, we were in some 

 doubt whether or no the land before us was inhabited ; 

 but this doubt was soon cleared up, by seeing some 

 canoes coming off* from the shore, toward the ships. 

 I immediatey brought-to, to give them time to join 

 us. They had from three to six men each ; and, on 

 their approach, we were agreeably surprised to find, 

 that they spoke the language of Otaheite, and of the 

 other islands we had lately visited. It required but 

 very little address, to get them to come alongside ; but 

 no intreaties could prevail upon any of them to come 

 on board. I tied some brass medals to a rope, and 

 gave them to those in one of the canoes, who, in re- 

 turn, tied some small mackerel to the rope as an equi- 

 valent. This was repeated ; and some small nails, or 

 bits of iron, which they valued more than any other 

 article, were given them. For these they exchanged 

 more fish, and a sweet potatoe ; a sure sign that they 

 had some notion of bartering ; or, at least, of return- 

 ing one present for another. They had nothing else 

 in their canoes, except some large gourd shells, and a 

 kind of fishing-net ; but one of them offered for sale 

 the piece of stuff* that he wore round his waist, alter 



VOL. VI. N 



