1769- ROUND THE WORLD. 255 



which, Tupia says, there is a channel into a very good 

 harbour, which lies within the reef, and appearances 

 confirmed his report. 



As I discovered a broad channel between Otaha 

 and Bolabola, I determined rather to go through it, 

 than run to the northward of all ; but the wind being 

 right a-head, I got no ground. 



Between five and six in the evening of the 26th, 

 as I was standing to the northward, I discovered a 

 small low island, lying N. by W. or N. N. W. distant 

 four or ^ve leagues from Bolabola. We were told 

 by Tupia that the name of this island isTuBAi; that 

 it produces nothing but cocoa-nuts, and is inhabited 

 only by three families ; though it is visited by the in- 

 habitants of the neighbouring islands, who resort thi- 

 ther to catch fish, with which the coast abounds. 



On the 27th, about noon, the peak of Bolabola 

 bore N. 25 W, and the north end of Otaha, N. 80 W. 

 distant three leagues. The wind continued contrary 

 all this day and the night following. On the 28th, 

 at six in the morning, we were near the entrance of 

 the harbour on the east side of Otaha, which has 

 been just mentioned ; and finding that it might be 

 examined without losing time, I sent away the master 

 in the long-boat, with orders to sound it ; and, if the 

 wind did not shift in our favour, to land upon the 

 island, and traffic with the natives for such refresh- 

 ments as were to be had. In this boat went Mr. 

 Banks and Dr. Solander, who landed upon the island, 

 and before night purchased three hogs, twenty-one 

 fowls, and as many yams and plantains as the boat 

 would hold. Plantains we thought a more useful re- 

 freshment even than pork ; for they were boiled and 

 served to the ship's company as bread, and were now 

 the more acceptable as our bread was so full of ver- 

 min, that notwithstanding all possible care, we had 

 sometimes twenty of them in our mouths at a time, 

 everyone of which tasted as hot as mustard. The island 

 seemed to be more barren than Ulietea, but the pro- 



