Man* W^h perfons circumftanced as we were, was not only o f material im-
<- —t——i portance, but was abfolutely indifpenfable.
As the day advanced, which was delightfully pleafant, the wind gradually
veered round to the north-eaftward, which enabled us Ihortly after noon to
fteer for the fouth point o f Owhyhee, then bearing by compafs N. 8 w. 14
leagues diftant. Our latitude was now 18° 9', longitude per dead reckoning
209° 33'; by the chronometer 204° 19', which latter is to be received
as the true longitude, notwithftanding the difference of 5° 14'; for fo
much had we been affefted by weftern or lee currents, in performing
this very long and tedious paffage. About midnight, we paffed to the
weftward of the fouth point o f Owhyhee; and, in the hope o f procuring
fome provilions and refrefhments, as we failed paft the weft coaft of this
ifland we kept dole in fliore.
Friday 2. In the morning, with a light breeze from the land, at the diftance of
about 3 miles, we ftood along fliore to the northward. Several canoes
came off with a fupply o f pigs, and vegetables ; amongft the latter were
fome very excellent water melons: the natives, however, demanded a
very exorbitant return for thefe refrelhments, and feemed very indifferent
about trading, or having any other communication with us. A t
Saturday 3. noon on faturday, with very pleafant weather and light breezes, generally
from off the land, Karakakooa bore north about 5 miles diftant; and
we had now the fatisfaftion of finding our chronometer, allowing the
Otaheitean rate, to agree within a few feconds of its longitude as fettled
by Captain Cook. The Portfmouth rate made it 1° 18 'to the eaftward.
On board the Chatham, Mr. Arnold’s chronometer erred 24' to the
weftward; according to its rate o f going as fettled at Otaheite.
The fteep precipice which forms the north fide o f Karakakooa bay,
renders it too remarkable to be eafily miftaken, efpecially as the interior
country rifes thence more abruptly than from the coaft'to the north
or fouth o f the b a y ; which, although prefenting both wood-land and
cultivated country above the barren rocky Chores where the habitations
o f the natives are chiefly fituated, is, neverthelefs, in a great degree def-
titute of that diverfity of profpeft which might have been expefted here,
and which is alfo the general character of all this fide of the ifland.
Several
Several canoes having ftood to fea after us in the morning, we now
brought to, for the purpofe of trading with them; and were foon honored *
with avifit from Tianna, the perfon mentioned in Mr. Mears’s voyage.
He was received in a manner agreeable to the diftinguilhed charafter he
had been reprefented to fupport, and which, from his grateful inquiries
after his patron, he appeared to deferve. This complimentary converfa-;
tion he feemed. defirous of fpeedily putting amend to, being very anxious
to acquaint us, that, fince his return from China, he had refided
on this ifland, where many fevere conflicts had taken place; in which
he had taken part with Tamaah-maaha, againft Teamawheere, who, it
feemed, had, fince the death of Tereeoboo, ftiared the government with
Tamaah-maaha. In one of thefa battles Tianna having (hot Teamawheere,
a complete viftory was gained, and thefe two chiefs agreed to divide
the ifland between them. Tamaah-maaha becoming the fovereign over
the three northern, and Tianna of the three fouthem diftrifts.
Underftanding that I purpofed going direftly to the Leeward lflands,
Tianna requefted he might be permitted to accompany us, and, with
his wives and retinue, to fleep on board; with which requeft I thought
proper to comply. From the charaHer given of this chief *, I was not
a little furprized to find him totally ignorant of our language, and unaable
to pronounce a Angle word articulately ; but by our knowledge of his
fpeech we foon underftood, that, fince the preceding autumn, not any
veffel had arrived; that about that’ time three or four American brigs, and
one, in which was Mr. Colnett, belonging' to Macao, had vifited the
iflands ; and, that it was not poflible for any veffels to touch at the
other iflands, without himfelf and the people o f Owhyhee being informed
of their arrival. This intelligence made me defpair o f meeting the
ftore-lhip, and the hope which I had fo long indulged, as a compenfa-
tion for the tardy progrefs which circumftances had hitherto compelled
us to make, now feemed intirely to vanifti. _ _
Tianna:viewed every tranfaftion on board with attentive admiration,
whilft our numbers feemed to create in his mind a degree of furprize he
was unable, to fubdue. In the courfe o f the evening he held frequent
converfations with Towereroo, and during the night he was feveral times
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