1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 4^7 



land at day-break. At ten o'clock in the morning, 

 we were met by the islanders with fruit and roots ; 

 but in all the canoes were only three small pigs. Our 

 not having bought those which had been lately brought 

 offj may be supposed to be the reason of this very 

 scanty supply. We brought to for the purposes of 

 trade ; but soon after our marketing was interrupted 

 by a very hard rain ; and, besides, we were rather too 

 far from the shore. Nor durst I go nearer; for I 

 could not depend upon the wind's remaining where 

 it was for a moment ; the swell also being high, and 

 setting obliquely upon the shore, against which it 

 broke in a frightful surf. In the evening the weather 

 mended ; the night was clear, and it was spent in 

 making short boards. 



Before day-break, the atmosphere was again loaded 

 with heavy clouds ; and the new year was ushered in 

 with very hard rain, which continued, at intervals, 

 till past ten o'clock. The wind was southerly ; a 

 light breeze, with some calms. When the rain ceased 

 the sky cleared, and the breeze freshened. Being at 

 this time about five miles from the land, several ca- 

 noes arrived with fruit and roots ; and, at last, some 

 hogs w r ere brought off. We lay to, trading with them 

 till three o'clock in the afternoon ; when, having a toler- 

 able supply, we made sail, with a view of proceeding to 

 the N. W. or lee-side of the island, to look for the 

 Discovery. It was necessary, however, the wind 

 being at S., to stretch first to the eastward, till mid- 

 night, when the wind came more favourable, and we 

 went upon the other tack. For several days past, 

 both wind and weather had been exceedingly un- 

 settled ; and there fell a great deal of rain. 



The three following days were spent in running 

 down the south-east side of the island. For during 

 the nights we stood off and on ; and part of each day 

 was employed in lying to, in order to furnish an op- 

 portunity to the natives of trading with us. They 

 sometimes came on board, while we were five league* 



VOL. VI. K K 



