1779. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 105 



them from being scorched by the sun. They saw a 

 few scattered huts amongst the plantations, which ser- 

 ved for occasional shelter to the labourers; but no 

 villages at a greater distance than four or five miles 

 from the sea. Near one of them, about four miles 

 from the bay, they found a cave forty fathoms long, 

 three broad, and of the same height. It was open at 

 both ends ; the sides were fluted, as if wrought with 

 a chissel, and the surface glazed over, probably by the 

 action of fire. 



Having giving this account of the most material 

 circumstances that occurred on the expedition to the 

 snowy mountain, I shall now return to the other 

 islands that remain to be described. 



The island next in size, and nearest in situation, to 

 Owhyhee, is Mo wee; which lies at the distance of 

 eight leagues north north-west from the former, 

 and is 140 geographical miles in circumference. A 

 low isthmus divides it into two circular peninsulas, of 

 which that to the east is called Whamadooa, and is 

 double the size of the western peninsula, called 

 Owhyrookoo. The mountains in both rise to an ex- 

 ceeding great height, having been seen by us at the 

 distance of upward of thirty leagues. The northern 

 shores, like those of Owhyhee, afford no soundings ; 

 and the country presents the same appearance of ver- 

 dure and fertility. To the south-east, between this 

 and the adjacent isles, we had regular depths, with a 

 hundred and fifty fathoms, with a sandy bottom. 

 From the west point, which is low, runs a shoal, 

 stretching out toward Ranai, to a considerable dis- 

 tance; and to the southward of this is a fine spacious 

 bay, with a sandy beach, shaded with cocoa-nut trees. 

 It is probable that good anchorage might be found 

 here, with shelter from the prevailing winds, and that 

 the beach affords a convenient place for landing. 

 The country behind presents a most romantic appear- 

 ance. The hills rise almost perpendicularly, in a 

 great variety of peaked forms ; and their steep sides, 



