THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
211 
large, and well built. In the conftrucftion of the ftern, they 1777. 
bear fome refemblance to thofe of Wateeoo ; and the head Apnl> 
projects out nearly in the fame manner; but the extremity 
is turned up inftead of down. 
Having but very little wind, it was one o’clock before we 
drew near the North Weft part of the ifland; the only part 
where there feerned to be any probability of finding an¬ 
chorage for our fhips, or a landing-place for our boats. In 
this pofition, I fent Lieutenant King, with two armed boats, 
to found and reconnoitre the coaft, while we ftood off and 
on with the fhips. The inftant the boats were hoifted out, 
our vifiters in the canoes, who had remained along-fide all 
the while, bartering their little trifles, fufpended their traf¬ 
fic, and, pulhing for the Ihore as fall as they could, came 
near us no more. 
At three o’clock, the boats returned; and Mr. King in¬ 
formed me, u That there was no anchorage for the fliips ; 
and that the boats could only land on the outer edge of the 
reef, which lay about a quarter of a mile from the dry 
land. He faid, that a number of the natives came down 
upon the reef, armed with long pikes and clubs, as if they 
Intended to oppofe his landing. And yet, when he drew 
near enough, they threw fome cocoa-nuts to our people, 
and invited them to come on Ihore; though, at the very 
fame time, he obferved that the women were very bufy 
bringing down a frelh fupply of fpears and darts. But, as 
he had no motive to land, he did not give them an oppor¬ 
tunity to ufe them.” 
Having received this report, I confidered, that, as the 
fliips could not be brought to an anchor, we fhould find 
that the attempt to procure grafs here, would occafion much 
delay, as well as be attended with fome danger. Befides, 
E e 2 we 
