NEW ZEALAND AGAIN 211 



that glided gently along, seemingly with the 

 most perfect security. The colours of the differ- 

 ent sorts were the most beautiful that can be 

 imagined; the yellow, blue, red, black, &c., far 

 exceeding anything that art can produce. Their 

 various forms, also, contributed to increase the 

 richness of this submarine grotto, which could 

 not be surveyed without a pleasing transport, 

 mixed, however, with regret, that a work, so 

 stupendously elegant, should be concealed, in a 

 place where mankind could seldom have the op- 

 portunity of rendering the praises justly due to so 

 enchanting a scene." 



On leaving Palmerston Island, where the 

 beauties of Nature had made him almost lyrical. 

 Cook set sail in a westerly direction, intending 

 to put in at Annamooka, that pearl of the 

 Friendly Islands which he had visited during 

 his preceding voyage and of which he retained 

 the most happy memories. 



Having called at the island of Komango and 

 seen innumerable little islets. Cook anchored on 

 May ist ofl the coast of Annamooka, in the same 

 bay where he had stopped three years previously. 

 He was reassured. Provisions were not going to 

 fail him. 



