THE PACIFIC OCEAN. . 52^ 



circuit, fomewhat oblon?, though, b}'' much, broadefl at »777' 



July. 



the Eafl end ; and its greateft length from Eaft to Weft. The u 

 South fliore, which I faw in i Tj2i-> is ftraight, and confifts of 

 coral rocks, eight or ten feet high, terminating perpendicu- 

 larly, except in fome places where it is interrupted by fmall 

 fandy beaches ; on which, at low water, a range of black 

 rocks may be feen. The Weft end is not above five or fix 

 miles broad, but has a lliore fomewhat like that of the 

 South fide ; whereas the whole North fide is environed with 

 Ihoals and iflands, and the fliore within them low and 

 fandy. The Eaft fide or end is, moft probably, like the 

 South ; as the fhore begins to afTume a rocky appearance, 

 toward the North Eaft point, though not above feven or 

 eight feet high. 



The ifland may, with the greateft propriety, be called a 

 low one, as the trees, on the Weft part, where we now lay 

 at anchor, only appeared ; and the only eminent part, 

 which can be feen from a fhip, is the South Eaft point ; 

 though many gently rifing and declining grounds are ob- 

 fervable by one who is afhore. The general appearance of 

 the country does not afford that beautiful kind of landfcape 

 that is produced from a variety of hills and valleys, lawns, 

 rivulets, and cafcades ; but, at the fame time, it conveys to 

 the fpe6lator an idea of the moft exuberant fertility, whe- 

 ther we refpecT: the places improved by art, or thofe ftill in 

 a natural ftate ; both which yield all their vegetable pro- 

 du(5lions v>?ith the greateft vigour, and perpetual verdure. 

 At a diftance, the furface feems entirely clothed with trees 

 of various fizes ; fome of which are very large. But, above 

 the reft, the tall cocoa-palms aKvays raife their tufted 

 heads ; and are far from being the fmalleft ornament to 

 any country that produces them. The hoogo^ which is a 



Vol. I. U u fpecies 



