THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
235 
This illand is fomewhat higher than the other fmall illes 
that furround it; but, ftill, it cannot be admitted to the 
rank of tliofe of a moderate height, fiich as Mangeea and 
Wateeoo. The fhore, at that part where our fhips lay, is 
compofed of a fteep, rugged coral rock, nine or ten feet 
high, except where there are two fandy beaches, which 
have a reef of the fame fort of rock extending crol's their 
entrance to the fhore, and defending them from the fea. 
The fait water lake that is in the centre of the illand, is 
about a mile and a half broad; and round it, the land rifes 
like a bank, with a gradual afcent. But we could not trace 
its having any communication with the fea. And yet, the 
land that runs acrols to it, from the larged fandy beach, 
being flat and low, and the foil fandy, it is moil: likely that 
It may have, formerly, communicated that way. The foil 
on the riling parts of the illand, and efpecially toward 
the fea, is either of a reddilh clayey difpolition, or a black, 
loofe mould; but there is, no where, any Itream of frelh 
water. 
The illand is very well cultivated, except in a few places; 
and there are fome others, which, though they appear to 
lie wafte, are only left to recover the llrength exhaulled by 
conllant culture; for we frequently faw the natives at work 
upon thefe fpots, to plant them again. The plantations 
conlill chiefly of yams and plantains. Many of them are 
very extenlive, and often inclofed with neat fences of reed, 
dilpofed obliquely acrofs each other, about lix feet high. 
Within thefe we often faw other fences of lefs compals, 
furrounding the houfes of the principal people. The bread¬ 
fruit, and cocoa-nut trees, are interfperfed with little order; 
but chiefly near the habitations of the natives; and the 
other parts of the illand, efpecially toward the fea, and 
H h 2 about 
