358 'AVOYAGETO 



7u7* ^^^^'^ water, in many little holes ; and, no doubt, great 

 *-— -V ' plenty might be found, by digging. 



From the elevation, to which we had afcended, wc had a 

 full view of the whole illand, except a part of the Soutli 

 point. The South Eafl: fide, from which the higheft hills, we 

 were now upon, are not far diftant, rifes with very great in- 

 equalities, immediately from the fea ; fo that the plains and 

 meadows, of which there are here fome of great extent, lie 

 all on the North Weft fide ; and, as they are adorned with 

 tufts of trees, intermixed with plantations, they form a very 

 beautiful landfcape, in every point of view. While I was 

 furveying this delightful profped, I could not help flatter- 

 ing myfelf with the pleafmg idea, that fome future naviga- 

 tor may, from the fame llation, behold thefe meadows 

 Hocked with cattle, brought to thefe iflands by the fhips of 

 England ; and that the completion of this lingle benevolent 

 purpofe, independently of all other confiderations, would fuf- 

 ficiently mark to pofterity, that our voyages had not been 

 ufelefs to the general interefts of humanity. Befides the 

 plants common on the other neighbouring iflands, we 

 found, on the height, a fpecies of acrojiicum, melojloma, and 

 fern tree ; with a few other ferns and plants, not common 

 lower down. 



Our guides informed us, that all, or moft of the land, on 

 this ifland, belonged to the great Chiefs of Tongataboo; 

 and that the inhabitants were only tenants, or vafllds, to 

 them. Indeed, this feemed to be the cafe at all the other 

 neighbouring ifles, except Annamooka, where there v/ere 

 fome Chiefs, who feemed to a(5l with fome kind of inde- 

 pendence. Omai, who was a great favourite with Fecnou, 

 and thefe people in general, was tempted v/ith the ofl'er of 



being 



