THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 



451 



coming hither. In the afternoon, a fudden guft of wind l 7*°- 



111/1 111 i'ii • r- January. 



broke the itream-cable, by which the Difcovery was riding, ; „ 



and obliged us to moor with the bower anchors. 



None of the natives having yet* made their appear- 

 ance, notwithstanding a fecond gun had been fired, Captain 

 Gore thought it advifeable to land, and go in fearch of 

 them, that no time might be loft in opening a trade forfuch 

 provifions as the place could afford : with this view, he ap- 

 pointed me to accompany him, in the morning of the 22d ; Sunday «. 

 and, as the wind at this time blew ftrong from the Eaft, we 

 did not think it prudent to coafl in our boats to the towm 

 which is fituated in the Eaft fide of the ifland, but rowed 

 round the North point of the harbour. We had proceeded 

 about two miles along the more, when obferving a road 

 that led into a wood, we landed. Here I quitted Captain 

 Gore, taking with me a Midfhipman, and four armed 

 failors, and purfued the path, which feemed to point di- 

 rectly acrofs the ifland. We proceeded through a thick 

 wood, up a fteep hill, to the diftance of a mile, when, after 

 defcending through a wood of the fame extent, on the 

 other fide, we came out into a flat, open, fandy country, 

 interfperfed with cultivated fpots of rice and tobacco, and 

 groves of cabbage palm-trees, and cocoa-nut- trees. We 

 here fpied two huts, fituated on the edge of the wood, to 

 which we directed our courfe ; and before we came up to 

 them, were defcried by two men, who immediately ran 

 away from us, notwithftanding all the peaceable and fup- 

 plicating geftures we could devife. 



On reaching the huts, I ordered the party to ftay without, 

 left the fight of fo many armed men fiiould terrify the inha- 

 bitants, whilft I entered and reconnoitred alone. I found, 



3 M 3 in 



