330 



1777- 

 July. 



A VOYAGE TO 



fpecies of fig, with narrow pointed leaves, is the largeft 

 fized tree of the ifland ; and on the uncuhivated fpots, efpe- 

 cially toward the fea, the moft common bufhes and fmall 

 trees are the pandanus ; feveral forts of hihifcus ; the faitanoo, 

 mentioned more than once in the courfe of our voyage ; 

 and a few ethers. It ought alfo to be obferved, that though 

 the materials for forming grand landfcapes are wanting, 

 there are many of what might, at lead, be called neat pro- 

 fpedls, about the cultivated grounds and dwelling-places ; 

 but, more efpecially, about the fatookas ; where foxTietimes 

 art, and fometimes nature, has done much to pleafe the 

 eye. 



From the fituation of Tongataboo, toward the tropic, the 

 climate is more variable, than in countries farther within 

 that line ; though, perhaps, that might be owing to the 

 feafon of the year, which was now the winter folftice. The 

 winds are, for the moft part, from fome point between 

 South and Eaftj and, when moderate, are commonly at- 

 tended with fine weather. When they blow freiher, the 

 weather is often cloudy, though open ; and, in fuch cafes, 

 there is frequently rain. The wind fometimes veers to the 

 North Eaft, North North Eaft, or even North North Weft, 

 but never lafts long, nor blows ftrong from thence •, though it 

 is commonly accompanied by heavy rain, and clofe fultry 

 weather. The quick fucceffion of vegetables has been al- 

 ready mentioned ; but I am not certain that the changes of 

 weather, by which it is brought about, are confidefable 

 enough to make them perceptible to the natives as to their 

 method of life, or rather that they lliould be very fenfible 

 of the different feafons. This, perliaps, may be inferred 

 from the ftate of their vegetable productions, which are 

 never fo much affeded, with refped to the foliage, as to flied 

 J that 



