208 cook's voyage to feb. 



over the cultivated parts ; for what adhered to most 

 of the potatoes bought by us, which, no doubt, 

 came from very different spots, was of this sort. Its 

 quality, however, may be better understood from its 

 products than from its appearance. For the vale, or 

 moist ground, produces taro, of a much larger size 

 than any we had ever seen ; and the higher ground 

 furnishes sweet potatoes, that often weigh ten, and 

 sometimes twelve or fourteen pounds ; very few being 

 under two or three. 



The temperature of the climate may be easily 

 guessed from the situation of the island. Were we 

 to judge of it from our experience, it might be said 

 to be very variable ; for, according to the generally 

 received opinion, it was now the season of the year, 

 when the weather is supposed to be most settled, the 

 sun being at its greatest annual distance. The heat 

 was, at this time, very moderate ; and few of those 

 inconveniences which many tropical countries are 

 subject to, either from heat or moisture, seem to be 

 experienced here, as the habitations of the natives 

 are quite close ; and they salt both fish and pork, 

 which keep well, contrary to what has usually been 

 observed to be the case, when this operation is at- 

 tempted in hot countries. Neither did we find any 

 dews of consequence, which may, in some measure, 

 be accounted for, by the lower part of the country 

 being destitute of trees. 



The rock that forms the sides of the valley, and 

 which seems to be the same with that seen by us at 

 different parts of the coast, is a greyish black, pon- 

 derous stone ; but honey-combed, with some very 

 minute shining particles, and some spots of a rusty 

 colour interspersed. The last gives it often a reddish 

 cast, when at a distance. It is of an immense depth, 

 but seems divided into strata, though nothing is in- 

 terposed. For the large pieces always broke off to a 

 determinate thickness, without appearing to have 

 adhered to those below them. Other stones are pro- 



