THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



257 



mclofed in fuch a manner, that the fences running; parallel 1777- 



" ^ May 



to each other, form fine fpacious public roads, that would « /' < 



appear ornamental in countries where rural conveniences 

 have been carried to the greateft perfedion. We obferved 

 large fpots covered with the paper mulberry-trees ; and the 

 plantations, in general, were well flocked with fuch roots 

 and fruits as are the natural produce of the ifland. To thefe 

 I made fome addition, by fowing the feeds of Indian corn, 

 melons, pumpkins, and the like. At one place was a 

 houfe, four or five times as large as thofe of the common 

 fort, with a large area of grafs before it ; and, I take it for 

 granted, the people refort thither on certain public occafions. 

 Near the landing-place, we faw a mount, two or three feet 

 high, covered with gravel ; and on it flood four or five fmall 

 huts, in which, the natives told us, the bodies of fome of 

 their principal people had been interred. 



The ifland is not above feven miles long ; and, in fome 

 places, not above two or three broad. The Eaft fide of it, 

 which is expofed to the trade-wind, has a reef, running to 

 a confiderable breadth from it, on which the fea breaks 

 with great violence. It is a continuation of this reef thac 

 joins Lefooga to Foa, which is not above half a mile diftant; 

 and, at low water, the natives can walk upon this reef, 

 which is then partly dry, from the one ifland to the other. 

 The fhore itfelf is either a coral rock, fix or feven feet high, 

 or a fandy beach; but higher than the -Weft fide; which, 

 in general, is not more than three or four feet from the 

 level of the fea, with a fandy beach its whole length. 



When I returned from my excurfion into the country, and 

 went on board to dinner, I found a large failing canoe faft 

 to the fliip's ftern. In this canoe was Latooliboula, whom 



Vol. I. LI I had 



