14* AVOYAGETO 



„ >777- later and repeated obfcrvation has been able to redlify ; and 



December. * ' 



that, even now, we are ftrangers to many cf the mofl im- 

 portant inftitutions that prevail amongft thcfe people. The 

 truth is, our vifits, though frequent, have been but tran- 

 fient ; many of us had no inclination to make inquiries ; 

 more of us were unable to direclour inquiries properly; 

 and we all laboured, though not to the fame degree, under 

 the difadvantages attending an imperfect knowledge of the 

 language of thofe, from whom alone we could receive any 

 information. The Spaniards had it more in their power to 

 furmount this bar to infl.ru(5lion ; fome of them having re- 

 fided at Otaheite much longer than any other European 

 vifiters. As, with their fupcrior advantages, they could 

 not but have had an opportunity of obtaining the fulleft 

 information on moft fubjedts relating to this illand ; their 

 account of it would, probably, convey more authentic and 

 accurate intelligence, than, with our beft endeavours, any 

 of us could pollibly obtain. Bur, as 1 look upon it to be very 

 uncertain, if not very unlikely, that we fliall ever have any 

 communication from that quarter, I have here put toge- 

 ther what additional intelligence, about Otaheite, and its 

 neighbouring iflands, 'I was able to procure, either from 

 Omai, while on board the ihip, or by converfing with the 

 other natives, while we remained amongft them. 



The wind, for the grcateft part of the year, blows from 

 between Eaft South Eaft, and Eaft North Eait, This is 

 the true trade wind, or what the natives call ALujraee ; and 

 it fomctimes blows v/iili confiderable force. When this is 

 the cafe, the weather is often cloudy, with ihowers of 

 rain ; but when the wind is more moderate, it is clear, 

 fettled, and fcrcne. If the wind fliould veer farther to tlie 



Southward, 

 3 



