420 



A VOYAGE TO 



V. 



1777- I can aflign no reafon why the variation is fo much lefg 



-J^Il^ at, and near, Annamooka,. than at either of the other two 

 places. I can only fay, that there is no fault in the ob- 

 fervations ; and that the variation ought to be more at An- 

 namooka than the above, as it has been found to be fo to the 

 Northward, Southward, Eaftward, and Weflwardof it. But 

 difagreements in the variation, greater than this, even in 

 the fame needle, have been often obferved. And I fliould 

 not have taken notice of this inftance, but from a belief 

 that the caufe, whatever it is, exifts in the place, and not 

 in the needles ; for Mr. Bayly found the fame, or rather 

 more difference. 



The tides are more confiderable at thefe iflands, than at 

 any other of my difcoveries in this ocean, that lie within 

 the tropics. At Annamooka it is high water, on the 

 full and change days, nearly at fix o'clock ; and the tide 

 rifes and falls there, upon a perpendicular, about fix feet. 

 In the harbour of Tongataboo, it is high water, on the 

 full and change days, at fifty minutes paft fix. The tide 

 rifes and falls, on thofe days, four feet nine inches ; and 

 three feet fix inches at the Quadratures. In the channels be- 

 tween the iflands, which lie in this harbour, it flows near 

 tide and half tide ; that is, the flood continues to run up 

 near three hours, after it is high water by the fliore; and 

 the ebb continues to run down, after it is flood by the 

 lliore. It is only in thefe channels, and in a few ottiei* 

 places near the fliores, that the motion of tlie water or 

 tide is perceivable ; fo chat I can only guefs at the quarter 

 from which the flood comes. In the road of Annamooka, it 

 fets Weil South Weft, and the ebb the contrary ; but it falls 

 into the harbour of Tongataboo from the North Weft, 

 5 pafles 



