146 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



island of Eooatiahe, which, including its reef, is II miles in length, bj 

 half a mile wide ; it offers no inducements to visit, and is seldom 

 resorted to by the natives except in the turtle season. 



EOA. 



The Island of Eoa lies to the east of Tongatabou 10 miles. By its 

 first discoverers it was named Middleburg. There is a small island 

 on its southwest side, called Kaloo, and between it and Eoa there is a 

 clear passage. Eoa is elevated 350 feet above the sea, and is 30 miles 

 in circumference, its length lying nearly north and south ; it rises to 

 a central ridge. Owing to its height it can be seen in fair weather at 

 a distance of 30 miles. Eoa, in comparison to Tongatabou, offers but 

 little for the residence of the natives, and very few of them reside 

 upon it. It is of volcanic formation, and has very little space for cul- 

 tivation. A small village is situated on the northwest side, abreast 

 of which Cook anchored, in what he called English Road. There 

 is considerable intercourse with Tongatabou, by whose chief it is 

 governed. A vessel would, however, be disappointed in obtaining 

 supplies here. It is as well to caution the navigator, that frequently 

 he may meet with severe squalls in the strait between Eoa and 

 Tongatabou ; there are no dangers, however, but in case of being too 

 late to make the passage through the Astrolabe Gut, I would advise 

 a long stretch to the southward during the night, rather than expe- 

 rience the flaws and calms that a vessel would be subjected to by 

 too near an approach to Eoa. 



HONGA TONGA AND HONGA HAABAI, 



The islands of Honga Tonga and Honga Haabai are situated to the 

 northwest of Tongatabou. They are high islands, and almost bare 

 rocks, lying nearly northeast and southwest of each other, and sepa- 

 rated by a channel about 3 miles wide, which is free from dangers. 

 These islands have a shore-reef, and are inhabited. There is a small 

 space, at the foot of the high and rocky bluffs, that enables the natives 

 to raise some productions on the easternmost. 



To the north of these islands is a reef of 6 miles in extent, trending 

 northwest and southeast : its south point is 10 miles from Honga 

 Tonga. Breakers are generally found on it : at times these are very 



