314 VOYAGE TO THE 



restoratives required ; and, as these seldom failed in 

 their effects, it obtained a reputation in Otaheite, no 

 iy2g' less famous than that of the celebrated spring of 

 eternal youth, which Ponce de Leon so long sought 

 in vain. From the proximity of the islands of 

 Tethoroa, Otaheite, and Eimeo, we were enabled to 

 connect them trigonometrically. Upon the latter 

 there is a peak with a hole through it, to which 

 a curious history is attached, connected with the 

 superstition of early times. It is asserted that the 

 great god, Oroo, being one day angry with the Tii, 

 or the little God of Eimeo, he threw his spear 

 across the water at him, but the activity of the Tii 

 evaded the blow, and the spear passed through the 

 mountain, and left the hole which we saw. The 

 height of this peak is 4,041 feet. 



On the 27th, we were within six miles of the 

 situation in which Arrowsmith has placed Hogge- 

 wein'shigh Island of Recreation ; but nothing was 

 in sight from the mast-head. In all probability this 

 island, which answers so well in its description, ex- 

 cepting as to its size, is the Maitea of Mr. Turnbull, 

 situated nearly in the same latitude. From this 

 time we endeavoured to get to the eastward, and 

 to cross the equator in about 150° W. longitude, so 

 that when we met the N. E. tradewind, we might 

 be well to windward. There is, otherwise, some 

 difficulty in rounding Owyhee, which should be 

 done about forty miles to the eastward to ensure 

 the breeze. 



The passage between the Society and Sandwich 

 groupes differs from a navigation between the same 

 parallels in the Atlantic, in the former being ex- 

 empt from long calms which sometimes prevail 



