179=. apparent fterility of the ifland, and the few fcattered miferable habita-
i i tions which we were able with our glaffes to difcern, indicated the part
o f it now prefentedto our view to be very thinly inhabited, and incapable
of affording any o f its productions to ftrangers. During the afternoon
we proceeded to the north along the weft fide of Ranai; and, towards
fun-fet again 'met the trade wind, which about midnight brought
us in fight of Woahoo, bearing by compafs weft 6 or 7 miles diftant.
Wether. 7. We plied until day light, when we directed our courfe along the fouth
fide of that ifland, whofe eaftern fhores bear a fimilar defolate appearance
tothofe of Ranai, and are principally compofed of barren rocks and high
precipices, which fall perpendicularly into the fea. We did not pafs at a
■ greater diftance than a league, yet verdure or cultivation was not any
where to be feen. From its eaft point the north eaft fide of Woahoo
takes a direftion N. 35 w . off which are fcattered fome fmall detached
iflets and rocks; the northernmoft of thefe which we few, is a low flat
rock, lying from the,eaft point N.22 w. 3 or 4 leagues diftant; and near
the fhore was a hill-whole fummit bears the appearance, of a volcanic
eratér. The land to the north of the eaft point feemed much indented,
but whether capable of affording any fhelter or not, we,were too far off
to difcern. On the'fouth eaft part of this ifland are two remarkable promontories,
which lie from each Other s.81 w . and n.8 i e . about 7 miles
afunder; the firft or eafternmoft of thefe is formed of barren rocky cliffs,
riling fo fuddenly from the fea, that to all appearance veffels might brulh
their fides in pafling them; whence the land falls a little back, and forms a
fhallow bay in a northern direftion, where the different colours in the
water indicated a rocky bottom; on the beach the furf broke very
violently, behind which a lagoon extended fome diftance to the northward.
Should the bottom be found good, veffels might ride in this bay
tolerably well protefted againft the general trade wind; but as our place
of rendezvous was round the fecond promontory, we did not examine
it in a more particular manner. Continuing our courfe, about nine we
hauled round the; reef which lies about a quarter o f a mile from that
point, and had foundings from 22 to 10 fathoms ; in which latter depth
o f water we anchored about ten o’clock, the bottom land and pieces of
fmall.
fmall coral. This promontory, which is the fouth point of the ifland,
has alfo on its top the appearance of a crater, formed by volcanic t_— — 1
eruptions ; this bore by compafs N. 82 E .; the outward part of the reef
s. 81 e . ; the wefternmoft part of the land in fight n . 82 w . ; a break in
the reef, which extends at irregular diftances along the fhore, N.20 w. ;
a low fondy point, near the weft end of a large Indian village n. 7 w . ;
and the middle o f the village, (where, the natives informed us, we might
land in perfeft fafety with our boats,) N. N. E. about 2 miles diftant.
We examined a confiderable fpace around the fliip, and found in fhore
the fame defcription of bottom, though the coral which principally
compofed it was o f fo foft a nature, as to caufe little apprehenfion
for the fafety of our cables. The depth o f water within us gradually
decreafed to 6 fathoms, and without, to the diftance o f nearly a mile,
as gradually increafed to 25 and 30 fathoms, where the bottom was found
to be a fine grey fend.
As our quarter deck required caulking, the carpenters were immediately
employed on this bufinefs. Some few of the natives vifited us from
the fhore, who brought in their canoes a very fparing fupply o f re-
frefhments, amongft which, the mufk- and water melons made no in-
confiderable part, and were very excellent of their kinds. The fituation
occupied by us in this bay, which the natives call Whyteete, feemed
nearly as eligible as moft of the anchoring places thefe iflands are generally
found to afford. The inhabitants were exeeflively orderly and
docile, although there was not a chief or any perfon of diftinftion amongft
them to enforce their good behaviour ; neither man nor woman attempted
to come on board, without firft obtaining permiffion;'■■ and when
-this was refufed, they remained perfeftly quiet in their’ canoes alongfide.
The information obtained at Owhyhee, that Titeere and Taio, with
moft of the principal chiefs and warriors of this ifland, and thofe to leeward,
were on a hoftile expedition at Morotoi and Mowee, was here
confirmed; but differed as to the immediate caufe o f their abfence, which
was now reprefented to be for the purpofe' o f repelling an invafion
likely to take place from Owhyhee, by Tamaah-madha, Kahowmotoo,
and Tianna. This, in a great meafure, feemed to account for the fmall
Von. I. Y number