266 cook's first voyage august, 



the other h'es between the two northernmost. I was 

 told that there were more harbours at the south end 

 of this island, but I did not examine whether the 

 report was true. 



Otaha affords two very good harbours, one on the 

 east side, and the other on the west. That on the east 

 side is called Ohamene, and has been mentioned 

 already ; the other is called Oherurua, and lies about 

 the middle of the south-west side of the island ; it is 

 pretty large, and affords good anchorage in twenty 

 and twenty-five fathom, nor is there any want of fresh 

 water. The breach in the reef, that forms a channel 

 into this harbour, is about a quarter of a mile broad, 

 and, like all the rest, is very steep on both sides : in 

 general there is no danger here but what is visible. 



The island of Bolabola lies N. W. and by W. from 

 Otaha, distant about four leagues *, it is surrounded by 

 a reef of rocks, and several small islands, in compass 

 together about eight leagues. 1 was told, that, on 

 the south-west side of the island, there is a channel 

 through the reef into a very good harbour, but I did 

 not think it worth while to examine it, for the reasons 

 that have been just assigned. This island is rendered 

 very remarkable by a high craggy hill, which appears 

 to be almost perpendicular, and terminates at the top 

 in two peaks, one higher than the other. 



The land of Ulietea and Otaha is hilly, broken, 

 and irregular, except on the sea-coast, yet the hills 

 look green and pleasant, and are, in many places, 

 clothed with wood. The several particulars in which 

 these islands, and their inhabitants, differ from what 

 we had observed, at Otaheite, have been mentioned 

 in the course of the narrative. 



We pursued our course without any event worthy 

 of note till the 13th, about noon, when we saw land 

 bearing S. E., which Tupia told us was an island 

 called Oheteroa. About six in the evening, we 

 were within two or three leagues of it, upon which I 

 shortened sail, and stood off and on all night j the 



