THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 



beach, within the reef, is compofed of a white coral fand ; ^777- 



above which, the land within does not rife above fix or v— ^ll. 

 feven feet, and is covered with a light reddifli foil ; but is 

 entirely deflitute of water. 



The only common trees found there were cocoa-palms, 

 of which there were feveral cluflers ; and vaft numbers of 

 the ivharra. There were, likewife, the callophyllum, furiana, 

 gtiettarda, a fpecies of toiirnefort'ia, and tahcrnx montance^ with a 

 few other flirubs ; and fome of the etoa tree feen at Wateeoo. 

 A fort of hind'iveed over-ran the vacant fpaces ; except in 

 fome places, where was found a confiderable quantity of 

 treacle-mujlard, a fpecies of /purge, with a few other fmall 

 plants, and the mor'mda citrlfoUa ; the fruit of which is eaten 

 by the natives of Otaheite in times of fcarcity. Omai, who 

 had landed with the party, drefled fome of it for their din- 

 ner ; but it proved very indifferent. 



The only bird feen amongfl the trees, was a beautiful 

 cuckoo, of a chefnut brown, variegated with black, which 

 was fliot. But, upon the fhore, were fome egg-birds ,- a 

 fmall fort of curlew ; blue and white herons ; and great 

 numbers of noddies ; which laft, at this time, laid their eggs, 

 a little farther up, on the ground, and often refted on the 

 ivharra tree. 



One of our people caught a lizard, of a moll forbidding 

 afpecl, though fmall, running up a tree; and many, of an- 

 other fort, were feen. The buflies toward the fea, v/ere 

 frequented by infinite numbers of a fort of moth, elegantly 

 fpeckled with red, black, and white. There were alfo fe- 

 veral other forts of moths, as well as fome pretty butter- 

 flies ; and a few other infefts. 



Though 



S07 



