THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 303 



This ifland is called Wateeoo by the natives. It lies, in Yj77- 



•' Apr.1i. 



the latitude of 20° i' South, and in the longitude qoi" 45' ' ,r— «# 



Eaft, and is about fix leagues in circumference. It is a 

 beautiful fpot, with a furface compofed of hills and plains, 

 and covered with verdure of many hues. Our gentlemen 

 found the foil, where they palTed the day, to be light and 

 fandy. But farther up the country, a different fort, per- 

 haps, prevails; as we faw from the fhip, by the help of 

 our ghilfes, a reddilh call upon the rifing grounds. There 

 the inhabitants have their houfes ; for we could perceive 

 two or three, which were long and fpacious. Its prodtice, 

 ■with the addition of hogs, we found to be the fame as at 

 the lafl ifland we had vifited, which the people of this, to 

 whom we pointed out its pofition, called Owhavarouah ; a 

 name fo different from Mangeea Nooe Nainaiwa, which we 

 learnt from its own inhabitants, that it is highly probable 

 Owhavarouah is another ifland. 



From the circumdances already mentioned, it appears, 

 that Wateeoo can be of little ufe to any fliip that wants re- 

 frefliment, unlefs in a cafe of the moll abfolute neceffity. 

 The natives, knowing now the value of fome of our com- 

 modities, might be induced to bring off fruits and hogs, to 

 a fliip ftanding off and on, or to boats lying off the reef, as 

 ours did. It is doubtful, however, if any frefh water could 

 be procured. For, though fome was brought, in cocoa nut 

 fliells, to the gentlemen, they were told, that it was at a 

 confiderable diftance ; and, probably, it is only to be met 

 with in fome flagnant pool, as no running ftream was any 

 where feen. 



According to Omai's report of what he learnt in conver- 

 fation with his three countrymen, the manners of thefe 



D d 2 iflandcrs. 



