manoeuvre was equally neceflary ; but it is much to be lamented
that the voyages of Europeans cannot be performed
without being fatal to the nations whom they vifit.
After breakfaft we weighed the anchor, and prepared to-
Rand' farther into the bay, our boats having found convenient
anchorage nearer to the watering-place. All the
weftern- coaft of the bay was covered with thoufands of
palms, which had a beautiful effeft, and appeared to be
different from the coco-palm. We foon came in fight of
the place where the engagement had happened. A few natives
who Rood here and there on the fhore, ran into the
woods on feeing the fhip. We faw the two oars which they
had taken out of the boat Ruck in the ground and leaning
on the bufhes; but it was not thought proper to fend a boat
in quefi of them, though the coafl was clear. After we
had entertained hopes of coming to an anchor again for
fome time, the captain gave orders to put about, and flood
to the eaflward round the faddle-peak, which was now called
Traitor’s Head. We tacked all the morning, in order to
weather that point, but could not accomplifh it till three
o’clock in the afternoon, when we opened a bay immediately
to the eaflward of it. This bay extended very far
inland, and feemed to contain feveral fnug creeks or harbours.
The lands on both fides were covered with the
thickeft woods, which had a moft fertile and enchanting
appearance. To the fouth, the land Hoped very gently, offering
fering a fine expofure of vaft extent almoft wholly cultivated,
and in all likelihood rich in vegetable produdfions.
We were juft abreaft of this bay, and perhaps in doubt
whether we fhould not go in, when the ifland appeared in
fight again to the fouth, which we had already difcovered
on the 28th of July. Captain Cook now refolved to re-
linquifh the nearer ifland, and to proceed to the more distant
one, in order to leave as little unexplored as poflible.
The breeze was very frefh, and we left the ifland with great
rapidity. It is fituated in 1 8° 48' fouth latitude, and 1 690
20' eaft longitude*, and is nearly of a fquare figure, which
meafures at leaft 3® leagues in circuit. We flood foutherly
towards the new ifland, with ftudding fails fet, which had
been in difufe with us ever fince we arrived among this
group of ifles. Several fires appeared upon the ifland at
night, one of which blazed up from time to time, like the
tlie flame of a volcano.
At day-break we faw a low ifland to the north-eaftward
of us, having palled clofe to it during the night, and a high
one nearly eaft of us, at the diftance of eight or nine
leagues. The low ifland was covered with coco-palms,
but we could not determine whether it confifted of a circular
reef or not. The large ifland, towards which we Rill
* W e have given it the name o f I-r r om a n g a , for, as we. after wards Jeamt
on an adjacent ifland, this is the name by which it is-known among the natives.
See the next chapter.
* 774-
A ug ust ,
Friday-5.
L -1 2 •diretfted