^o8 AVOYAGETO 



'777- Though there were, at this time, no fixed inhabitants 



L_. "-^J- ' .» upon the ifland, indubitable marks remained of its being, 

 at Icaft, occafionally frequented. In particular, a few empty 

 huts were found. There were alfo feveral large Itones 

 ere(5ted, like monuments, under the fhade of fome trees ; 

 .and feveral fpaces inclofed with fmaller ones ; where, pro- 

 bably, the dead had been buried. And, in one place, a 

 ^reat many cockle-fliells, of a particular fort, finely groov- 

 ed, and larger than the fifl, were to be feen ; from which 

 it was reafonable to conjecture, that the ifland had been 

 vifited by perfons who feed, partly, on fhell-fifli. In one of 

 the huts, Mr. Gore left a hatchet, and fome nails, to the full 

 . value of what we took away. 



As foon as the boats were hoiftcd in, I made fail again to 

 the northward, with a light air of wind Eailerly ; intend- 

 ing to try our fortune at Hervey's Ifland, which was difco- 

 vered in 1773, during my lafl voyage*. Although it was 

 not above fifteen leagues diftanr, yet we did not get fight of 

 Sunday 6. it till day-break in the morning of the 6th, when it bore 

 Weft South Weft, at the diftance of about three leagues. 

 As we drew near it, at eight o'clock, we obferved feveral 

 <:anoes put off from the fliore ; and they came direcStly to- 

 ward the fliips. This was a fight that, indeed, furprized 

 me, as no figns of inhabitants were feen when the ifland 

 was firft difcovered ; which might be owing to a pretty 

 briflc wind that then blew, and prevented their canoes ven- 

 turing out, as the fliips pafTed to leeward ; whereas now we 

 were to windward. 



* See Captain Cook''s Vopge, Vol. i. p. igo. where this ifland is faid to be about 

 fix leagues in circuit. 



As 



