46 cook's second voyage august, 



night making short boards. At sun-rise, we disco- 

 vered a high table land (an island) bearing E. by S., 

 and a small low isle in the direction of N. N. E. which 

 we had passed in the night without seeing it. Traitor's 

 Head was still in sight, bearing N. 20° West, distant 

 fifteen leagues, and the island to the south extended 

 from S. 7° West to S. 87° West, distant three or four 

 miles. We then found that the light we had seen in 

 the night, was occasioned by a volcano, which we 

 observed to throw up vast quantities of fire and smoke, 

 with a rumbling noise heard at a great distance. We 

 now made sail for the island ; and, presently after, 

 discovered a small inlet which had the appearance of 

 being a good harbour. In order to be better inform- 

 ed, 1 sent away two armed boats, under the command 

 of Lieutenant Cooper, to sound it; and, in the mean 

 while, we stood on and off with the ship, to be ready 

 to follow, or give them any assistance they might 

 want. On the east point of the entrance, we ob- 

 served a number of people, and several houses and 

 canoes ; and when our boats entered the harbour 

 they launched some, and followed them, but came 

 not near. It w T as not long before Mr. Cooper made 

 the signal for anchorage; and we stood in with the 

 ship. The wind being at w r est, and our course 

 S. S. W., we borrowed close to the west point, and 

 passed over some sunken rocks, which might have 

 been avoided by keeping a little more to the east, or 

 about one-third channel over. The wind left us as 

 soon as we were within the entrance, and obliged us 

 to drop an anchor in four fathoms water. After this, 

 the boats were sent again to sound ; and, in the mean 

 time, the launch was hoisted out, in order to carry 

 out anchors to warp in by, as soon as we should be 

 acquainted with the channel. 



While we were thus employed, many of the na- 

 tives got together in parties, on several parts of the 

 shore, all armed with bows, spears, &c. Some swam 

 off to us, others came in canoes. At first they were 



