1778. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 197 



find one, to examine if fresh water could be con- 

 veniently got in its neighbourhood. To give him 

 time to execute his commission, we followed, under 

 an easy sail, with the ships. As soon as we were 

 abreast, or to the westward of the south point of 

 Oneeheow, we found thirty, twenty-five, and twenty 

 fathoms water, over a bottom of coral sand, a mile 

 from the shore. 



At ten o'clock the Master returned, and reported 

 that he had landed in one place, but could find no 

 fresh water ; and that there was anchorage all along 

 the coast. Seeing a village a little farther to leeward ; 

 and some of the islanders, who had come off to the 

 ships, informing us, that fresh water might be got 

 there, I ran down, and came to an anchor before it, 

 in twenty-six fathoms water, about three quarters of a 

 mile from the shore. The south-east point of the 

 island bore S., 65 E., three miles distant ; the other 

 extreme of the island bore north by east, about two 

 or three miles distant ; a peaked hill, inland, N. E., 

 a quarter E. ; and another island, called Tahoora, 

 which was discovered the preceding evening, bore 

 S., 61 W., distant seven leagues. 



Six or seven canoes had come off to us, before we 

 anchored, bringing some small pigs and potatoes, and 

 a good many yams and mats. The people in them 

 resembled those of Atooi ; and seemed to be equally 

 well acquainted with the use of iron, which they 

 asked for also by the names of hamaite and toe ; part- 

 ing readily with all their commodities for pieces of 

 this precious metal. Several more canoes soon reached 

 the ships, after they had anchored ; but the natives 

 in these seemed to have no other object, than to pay 

 us a formal visit. Many of them came readily on 

 board, crouching down upon the deck, and not quit- 

 ting that humble posture till they were desired to get 

 up. They had brought several females with them, 

 who remaiued alongside in the canoes, behaving witli 

 far less modesty than their countrywomen of Atooi ; 



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