;>s cook's second voyage icily, 



order to pass between Montagu Isle and the north 

 end of Sandwich Island. At noon we were in the 

 middle of the ehannel, and observed in latitude 17° 

 31' South. The distance ftpftl one island to the 

 other is about tour or five miles; but the ehannel is 

 not much above half that breadth, being contracted 

 bv breakers. We had no soundings in it with a line 

 of forty fathoms. 



As we passed Montagu Isle several people eame 

 down to the sea-side, and, by signs, seemed to invite 

 us ashore. Some were also seen on Sandwich Island, 

 which exhibited a most delightful prospeet, being 

 spotted with woods and lawns, agreeably diversified, 

 over the whole surfaee. It hath a gentle slope from 

 the hills, which are ot' a moderate height, down to 

 the sea-eoast. This is low and guarded by a ehain 

 ot' breakers, so that there is no approaching it at this 

 part. But more to the west, beyond Hinehinbrook 

 Island, there seemed to run in a bay sheltered from 

 the reigning winds. The examining it not being so 

 much an object with me as the getting to the south, 

 in order to find the southern extremity of the Archi- 

 pelago, with this view I steered S.S. E. being the 



direction of the coast ot Sandwich Island. We had 



but just got through the passage, before the west 

 wind left us to variable light airs and ealms ; so that 

 we were apprehensive ot being earned baek again 

 by the currents, or rather of being obliged to return 



in order to avoid being driven on the shoals, as there 



was no anchorage, a line ot' an hundred and sixty 

 fathoms not reaehing to the bottom. At length a 

 breeze springing up at S.W. we stood to S. E. and 

 at sun-set the Monument bore N. 11" Sff M'est, and 

 Montagu Island N. 88* West, distant three leagues. 

 We judged we saw the S.F.. extremitv of Sandwieh 

 Island bearing about S. by E. 



\Ye continued to stand to S.E. till four A. M. on 

 the »?th, when we taeked to the west. At sun-rise 

 having discovered a new land bearing south, anil 

 making in three hills, this occasioned lis to tack and 



