172 AVOYAGETO 



Return of the Mejfcngers, from the Commander < — 

 Extraordinary Mode of travelling, — Vifit from a 

 Merchant, and a Gennan Servant belonging to the 

 Commander. 



M 779 h (~\^ r ^ e I '^ t ^ 1 G ^ March, at f cven m f,ne morning, we 



' , ' V^/ weighed anchor, and palling to the North of Tahoora, 



1$ ' flood on to the South Weft, in hopes of falling in with the 

 ifland of Modoopapappa, which, we were told by the natives, 

 lay in that direction, about five hours fail from Tahoora. 

 At four in the afternoon, we were overtaken by a ftout ca- 

 noe, wLrh ten men, who were going from Oneeheow to 

 Tahoora, to kill tropic and man-of-war birds, with which 

 that place was faid to abound. It has been mentioned be- 

 fore, thai the feathers of thefe birds are in great requeft, 

 being much ufed in making their cloaks, and other orna- 

 mental parts of their drefs. 



At eight, having feen nothing of the ifland, we hauled 

 the wind to the Northward, till midnight, and then tacked, 

 and flood on a wind to the South Eall, till day-light next 

 TucfJayi6. morning, at which time Tahoora bore Eall North Eall, five 

 or fix leagues dillant. We afterward fleered Wefl South 

 Well, and made the Difcovery's fignal to fpread four miles 

 upon our llarboard beam. At noon, our latitude was 21° 27', 

 and our longitude 198° 42' ; and having flood on till five, in 

 the lame direction, we made the Difcovery's fignal to come 

 under our ftern, and gave over all hopes of feeing Modoopa- 

 pappa. We conceived, that it might probably lie in a more 

 •Southerly direction from Tahoora, than that in which we 

 had fleered ; though, after all, it is poffible, that we might 

 h.ave palled it in the night, as the illanders defcribed it 



.to 



