failed towards the two high iflands, which we had difco-
vered whilft we lay at anchor. In the afternoon three canoes
came up with us again ; and one of them, with ;o
men on board, traded with us juft as we were in the narrow
paffage between both iflands. The larger, to the fouth-
ward, which is called Tofooa, appeared to be inhabited.
Borne of the natives on board our fhip told us it had frefh
water, together with coco-nut, banana, and bread-fruit trees.
We faw indeed a number of palms, and a great quantity of
the club-wood. The whole ifland, though fteep, was in
Lome places covered with verdure or fhrubbery. Towards the
fea, and efpecially towards the other ifland, the rocks feemed
burnt, and black fand covered the fhore. We approached
within a cable’s length of it, but found a depth of eighty
fathom, which prevented our coming to an anchor. The
rocks towards the paffage, which was not above a mile
acrofs, were cavernous, and in fome places had a rude columnar
Ihape. The day was fomewhat hazy, and the top
of the ifland was therefore covered with clouds. The fmoke
however rolled up with impetuofity, and feemed, before we
had paffed the ftrait, to iffue from the other fide of the
mountain. As foon as we had palled it, it appeared to arife
from the fide which we had juft left. This deception
proves, that the top of the mountain was hollow, or formed
a crater, from whence the vapour was thrown up. There
was a fpot on the N. W. fide of the ifland, fomewhat below
the
the place where we faw the fmoke come out, which had
the appearance of being lately burnt: it was deftitute of
verdure, though the mountain on both fides of it was covered
with various plants. When we came exactly into
the line in which the fmoke was carried by the wind, we
had a fmall fhower of rain, and many of us felt it very
biting and lharp, when it dropped into our eyes. It is
probable from thence, that it carried down with it fome
particles which the volcano had ejedted.. The wind being
at S. S. E. and frefhening, we left this ifland, without being
able to make any farther obfervations upon it; though it
well deferved the attention of the learned, who make the
revolutions which our globe has undergone, the objedt of
their ufeful and curious enquiries.-
We failed to the W. S. W. and continued the fame courfe
all the next day. The following day, very near noon, we
difeovered land, which, from the diredlion of our track, had
never been feen by other navigators. We ran toward ir,
and before night approached pretty near i t ; but found
breakers before us, which obliged us to tack all night, for
fear of an accident. Several lights which appeared on
fhore as foon as it was dark, announced to us that the ifland
was inhabited.
The next morning we bore down upon it again, and
came round its eaft end. It appeared to be about feven
miles long, and had two fmall hills of very gentle afsenr,
Voc. II. C c wholly
*7?4-
JULY.
Friday i-
Suoday 3.