1778. THE PACIFIC OCEAN*. 189 



Our road to and from the moral, which 1 have 

 described, lay through the plantations. The greatest 

 part of the ground was quite flat, with ditches full of 

 water intersecting different parts, and roads that 

 seemed artificially raised to some height. The inter- 

 spaces were, in general, planted with taro, which 

 grows here with great strength, as the fields are sunk 

 below the common level, so as to contain the water 

 necessary to nourish the roots. This water probably 

 comes from the same source, which supplies the 

 large pool from which we filled our casks. On the 

 drier spaces were several spots where the cloth-mul- 

 berry was planted in regular rows ; also growing 

 vigorously, and kept very clean. The cocoa- 

 trees were not in so thriving a state, and were all 

 low ; but the plantain-trees made a better appear- 

 ance, though they were not large. In general the 

 trees round this village, and which were seen at many 

 of those which we passed before we anchored, are the 

 cordia sebestina ; but of a more diminutive size than 

 the product of the southern isles. The greatest part 

 of the village stands near the beach, and consists of 

 above sixty houses there ; but, perhaps, about forty 

 more stand scattered about, farther up the country, 

 toward the burying-place. 



After we had examined very carefully every thing 

 that was to be seen about the moral, and Mr. Webber 

 had taken drawings of it, and of the adjoining 

 country, we returned by a different route. I found a 

 great crowd assembled at the beach ; and a brisk 

 trade for pigs, fowls, and roots going on there, with 

 the greatest good order ; though I did not observe 

 any particular person who took the lead amongst the 

 rest of his countrymen. At noon, I went on board 

 to dinner, and then sent Mr. King to command the 

 party on shore. He was to have gone upon that ser- 

 vice in the morning, but was then detained in the 

 ship to make lunar observations. In the afternoon I 

 landed again, accompanied by Captain Clerke, with 



