THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
85 
which are conne&ed by a low, flat ifthmus, appearing at j 779 . 
firft like two feparate iflands. This deception continued , February ' 
on the South Weft fide, till we approached within eight 
or ten leagues of the coaft, which, bending inward, to a 
great depth, formed a fine capacious bay. The Weftern- 
moft point, off which the Ihoal we have juft mentioned 
runs, is made remarkable by a fmall hillock, to the South¬ 
ward of which there is a fine fandy bay, with feveral huts 
on the fhore, and a number of cocoa-nut trees growing 
about them. 
During the courfe of the day, we were vifited by feveral 
of the natives, who came off to fell provisions; and we foon 
found, that they had heard of our late unfortunate tranf- 
adlions at Owhyhee. They were very curious to learn the 
particulars, from a woman who had concealed herfelf on 
board the Refolution, in order to take her paffage to Atooi; 
inquiring eagerly after Pareea, and fome other Chiefs, and 
appearing much Shocked at the death of Kaneena, and his 
brother. We had, however, the fatisfadtion to find, that, in 
whatever light the woman might have reprefented this bu- 
finefs, it had no bad effedt on their behaviour, which was 
remarkably civil and fubmifiive. 
The weather continued variable, during the night; but 
in the morning of the 25th, having the wind at Eaft, TMayzs. 
we ran along the South fide of Ranai, till near noon; af¬ 
ter which, we had calms and baffling winds till evening, 
when we Steered, with a light Eafterly breeze, for the 
Weft part of Morotoi. In the courfe of the day, the cur¬ 
rent, which, from the time we left Karakakooa Bay, had 
fet from the North Eaft, changed its direction to the South 
Eaft. 
During the night, the wind was again variable; but early Friday 26, 
next 
