A VOYAGE TO 
142. 
r 777 . made, which later and repeated obfervation has been able to 
number, re< ^fy. an q that, even now, we are Hr angers to many of 
the moil important inftitutions that prevail among!! thefe 
people. The truth is, our vilits, though frequent, have 
been but traniient; many of us had no inclination to make 
inquiries ; more of us were unable to diredl our inquiries 
properly; and we all laboured, though not to the fame 
degree, under the difadvantages attending an imperfec! 
knowledge of the language of thofe, from whom alone 
we could receive any information. The Spaniards had it 
more in their power to furmount this bar to inftruciion ; 
feme of them having relided at Otaheite much longer 
than any other European viliters. As, with their fuperior 
advantages, they could not but have had an opportunity 
of obtaining the fulled: information on moil fubjecls relat¬ 
ing to this ill and, their account of it would, probably, con¬ 
vey more authentic and accurate intelligence, than, with 
our beft endeavours, any of us could poBibly obtain. But, 
as I look upon it to be very uncertain, if not very unlikely, 
that we lh.aU ever have any communication from that quar¬ 
ter, I have here put together what additional intelligence, 
about Otaheite, and its neighbouring ifLands, I was able 
to procure, either from Omai, while on board the Blip, 
or by convening with the other natives, while we re¬ 
mained among!! them. 
The wind, for the greateft part of the year, blows from 
between Eaft .South Eaft, and Eaft North Eaft. This is 
the true trade wind, or what the natives call Maaraee ; and 
it fometimes blows with confiderable force. When this is 
the cafe, the weather is often cloudy, with Browers of 
rain ; but when the wind is more moderate, it is clear, 
fettled, and ferene. If the wind Brould veer farther to the 
Southward, 
