x , 4 AVOYAGETO 



'779- ter from the prevailing winds, and that the beach affords a. 

 convenient place for landing. The country behind prefents 

 a moll romantic appearance. The hills rife almoft perpen- 

 dicularly, in a great variety of peaked forms ; and their 

 fteep fides, and the deep chafms between them, are covered 

 with trees, amongft which thofe of the bread-fruit were 

 obferved particularly to abound. The tops of thefe hills are 

 entirely bare, and of a reddifh. brown colour. We were in- 

 formed by the natives, that there is an harbour to the 

 Southward of the Eaft point, which they affirmed to be 

 fuperiour to that of Karakakooa ; and we were alfo told, 

 that, on the North Weft fide, there was another harbour, 

 called Keepoo-keepoo. 



Tahoorowa is a fmall ifland lying off the South Weft part 

 of Mowee, from which it is diftant three leagues. This 

 ifland is deftitute of wood, and the foil feems to be fandy and 

 barren. Between Tahowrowa and Mowee lies the fmall urn- 

 inhabited ifland Morrotinnee. 



Morotoi is only two leagues and a half from Mowee to the 

 Weft North Weft. The South Weftern coaft, which was the 

 only part near which we approached, is very low ; but the 

 land rifes backward to a confiderable height ; and, at the 

 diftance from which we faw it, appeared to be entirely 

 without wood. Its produce, we were told, confifts chiefly 

 of yams. It may, probably, have frefh water, and, on the 

 South and Weft fides, the coaft forms feveral bays, that pro- 

 mife good flicker from the trade winds. 



Ranai is about three leagues diftant from Mowee and Mo- 

 rotoi, and lies to the South Weft of the paffage between 

 thefe iflands. The country, to the South, is high and 

 craggy ; but the other parts of the ifland had a better af- 



8 peft, 



