'W - this dav, gave the mean refult of the fix fets 213° z 1'30", which was i° 10'
i__,i eaft of the watch; our latitude .at this time was 250 20.
“ At eight the next morning, land was feen from the maft-head bearing,
by compafs, w. by s. an hour afterwards it was vifible from
the deck bearing w. s.w.-t-w. at the diftance of about 10 leagues. It
proved to be a fmall high ifland; its northern part formed an elevated
hummock, from the fall o f which the land continued level, and then gradually
decreafed to the other extreme point.
“ The watch, with its error, gave the longitude, at the time the above
bearings were taken, 211° 6', 0 a ( 213°l6', our latitude by eftimation
at this time 23"36'. The fun being within a few minutes of the zenith at
noon, our obfervation was indifferent, and could by no means be depended
upon. I did not think it proper, on the prefent occafion, to give
any name to this illand. I had fome reafon to doubt the accuracy of our
longitude. On our arrival at Otaheke I Ihould be enabled to determine
whether this ifland might not be Tobouai feen by Captain Cook, or the
land fuppofed to have been feen to the fouth-eaftward, whilft the Refolu-
tion was off that ifland.
“ The wind principally between e .n .e . and s.E. blew very frefh, attended
with fqualls, a gloomy atmofphere, and an almoft inceffant rain,
Monday 26. until feven in the morning o f the 26th ; when the weather clearing, gave
us a view of Maitea or Ofnaburgh ifland; bearing, by compafs, e . s . e ,
diftant only about 6 or 8 leagues. We immediately fleered for Otaheite,
which was feen about eight bearing w .{ n . The wind was now eaftwardly,
accompanied by Ihowers of rain. At noon, the land over point Venus
bore weft, diftant 7 or 8 leagues. The latitude now obferved (being the
firft time ftnee the 23d,) varying only 5' from the dead reckoning, was
17° 29', longitude 211° 45', by the watch 2to” 39'. In the afternoon, the
wind became fouthwardly, with dark gloomy weather. Having reached,
by five o’clock, within four or five miles o f the Ihore, a little to the eaft-
ward of point Venus, fome canoes came off, and brought fome cocoa-nuts,
and two fmall hogs, which were inftantly purchafed. Towards fon-fet,
the breeze died away, and it continued calm until midnight, when it again
frefhened from the eaftward; with which, under an eafy fail, we plied
until
until the morning, when all our canvafs was fpread for Matavai bay.
About eight o’clock we rounded the Dolphin bank in zj- fathoms wa- '— „— >
ter, and worked up into the bay. About nine we anchored in 8 fathom,
black muddy bottom; point Venus bearing by compafs N. 1 5 e . ; the
Dolphin bank n . 70 w .; and One-Tree hill s. 31 w . This being the
place of rendevous appointed by Captain Vancouver, we experienced no
fmall degree o f difappointment on not finding the DifcOvery in p o r t;
and our folicitude for her welfare was greatly increafed, when we adverted
to her fuperiority in failing, which had given us reafon to believe
her arrival would have preceded ours, at leaft a week.
« We fcarcely anchored, when the natives flocked around us in the molt
civil and friendly manner, bringing with them an ample fupply of the
different refrelhments their country afforded. Some trifling thefts being
committed by fome of our numerous vifitors, we were under the neceflity
of obliging them to retire to their canoes alongfide, with which they
complied in the greateft good humour. The whole o f the afternoon was
a continued rain, as heavy as any one on board ever beheld, accompanied
with a very fevere tempeft. On our firft arrival, the whole of the
Ihore was one uninterrupted beach ; but, towards evening, the torrents
of rain which had fallen, caufed an inundation of the river, which
broke its bank about half way, between point Venus and One-Tree h ill;
and through the breach an immenfe quantity of water was difeharged,
which brought with it a great number of large trees, that were fcattered
in various direftions over the bay. A great concourfe of the inhabitants
had affembled and beheld the bank give way, upon which they all {flouted,
feemingly with acclamations of great jo y ; for had not this event
taken place, their houfes and plantations would probably have been
much incommoded by the overflowing of the river.
“ Our cutter was moored alongfide. In the courfe of the night one
of the trees drifted athwart her, broke the iron chain, with, which fhe
was fecured, ftove in her broadfide and ftern; and, on her filling, the
furniture was waffled away. This circumftance, little to the credit of
the gentlemen who had the watch oh deck, was not difeovered until the
morning, when, after fome hours fearch in the launch, the party return- Wcdnef, =8.
ed without finding the loft materials.
“ From
f