8o 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. Poonohoo. It runs in South, or South by Eaft, between 
September^ t p e above two miles. For fecurity, and goodnefs of 
its bottom, it is not inferior to any harbour that I have met 
with at any of the iilands in this ocean; and it has this ad¬ 
vantage over molt of them, that a fhip can fail in and out, 
with the reigning trade wind; fo that the accefs and recefs 
are equally ealy. There are feveral rivulets that fall into it. 
The one, at the head, is fo confiderable as to admit boats to 
go a quarter of a mile up, where we found the water per¬ 
fectly frefh. Its banks are covered with the pooroo tree, as 
it is called by the natives, which makes good , firing, and 
which they fet no value upon; fo that wood and water are 
to be got here with great facility. 
On the fame fide of the ifland, and about two miles to 
the Eaft ward, is the harbour of Parowroah, much larger 
within than that of Taloo; but the entrance, or opening 
in the reef (for the whole ifland is furrounded by a reef 
of coral rock) is confiderably narrower, and lies to lee¬ 
ward of the harbour. Thefe two defects are fo ftriking, 
that the harbour of Taloo mull always have a decided 
preference. It is a little extraordinary, that I fhould have 
been three times at Otaheite before, and have once fent a 
boat to Eimeo, and yet not know, till now, that there 
was a harbour in it. On the contrary, I always under- 
ftood, there was not. Whereas, there are not only the 
two above mentioned, but one or two more, on the South 
fide of the ifland. But thefe laft are not fo confiderable as 
the two we have juft defcribed, and of which a fketch has 
been made, for the ufe of thofe who may follow us in fuch 
a voyage. 
We had no fooner anchored, than the fhips were crowd¬ 
ed with the inhabitants, whom curiofity alone brought on 
board; 
