THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
225 
over it, and frequently on the other parts, feems to put it 
beyond all doubt, that there is a fufficient fupply of water; 
and that there are fome running ftreams which we did not 
fee, efpecially in the deep valleys, at the entrance of which 
the villages commonly hand. From the wooded part to 
the fea, the ground is covered with an excellent fort of 
grafs, about two feet high, which grows fometim.es in tufts, 
and, though not very thick at the place where we were, 
fieemed capable of being converted into plentiful crops of 
fine hay. But not even a fhrub grows naturally on this 
extenfive fpace. 
In the break, or narrow valley, through which we had 
our road to the moral, the foil is of a brownifh black co¬ 
lour, fomewhat loofe; but as we advanced upon the high 
ground, it changed to a reddifh brown, more ftiff and clayey, 
though, at this time, brittle from its drynefs. It is moft 
probably the fame all over the cultivated parts; for what 
adhered to moft of the potatoes, bought by us, which, no 
doubt, came from very different fpots, was of this fort. Its 
quality, however, may be better underftood from its pro- 
duffs, than from its appearance. For the vale, or moift 
ground, produces taro , of a much larger fize than any we 
had ever feen; and the higher ground furnifhes fweet po¬ 
tatoes, that often weigh ten, and fometimes twelve or four¬ 
teen pounds ; very few being under two or three. 
The temperature of the climate may be eafily gueffed 
from the fituation of the ifland. Were we to judge of it 
from our experience, it might be faid to be very variable; 
for, according to the generally-received opinion, it was 
now the feafon of the year, when the weather is fuppofed 
to be moft fettled, the fun being at his greateft annual dif- 
tance. The heat was, at this time, very moderate; and 
Vql. II. G g few 
1778. 
February. 
