TH'E PACIFIC OCEAN. 545 



all left us, toward the evening, we ran a few miles down '779- 



'^ Januar/. 



the coaft ; and then fpcnt the night (landing oif and on. « .— —i 



The next morning, the natives vilited us again, bringing Wednef. s. 

 with them the fame articles of commerce as before. Being 

 now near the fliore, I fent Mr. Bligh, the Mafter, in a boat, 

 to found the coaft, with orders to land, and to look for frcfh 

 water. Upon his return, he reported, that, at two cables 

 lengths from the fhore, he had found no foundings with a 

 line of one hundred and fixty fathoms; that, when he 

 landed, he found no dream or fpring, but only rain-water, 

 depofitcd in holes upon the rocks ; and even that was 

 brackifh, from the fpray of the fea; and that the furface of 

 the country was entirely compofed of flags and aflics, with 

 a few plants here and there interfpcrfcd. Between ten and 

 eleven, we faw with pleafure the Difcovery coming round 

 the South point of the ifland ; and, at one in the afternoon, 

 fhe joined us. Captain Clerke then coming on board, in- 

 formed me, that he had cruifed four or five days where we 

 were feparated, and then plied round the Eaft fide of the 

 ifland ; but that, meeting with unfavourable winds, he had 

 been carried to fome diftance from the coaft. He had one 

 of the iflanders on board, all this time ; who had remained 

 there from choice, and had re fu fed to quit the fliip, though 

 opportunities had ofTered. 



Having fpcnt the night ftanding off and on, we ftood Thurfdayy. 

 in again the next morning, and when we were about a 

 league from the fliore, many of the natives vifited us. At 

 noon, the obferved latitude was ig° i', and the longitude, 

 by the time-keeper, was 203° 26' ; the ifland extending from 

 South, 74° Eaft, to North, j 3° Weft ; the neareft part two 

 leagues diftant. 



Vol. II. 4 A At 



