fourth o f a mile; in this is 10 fathoms water; but the entrance is again
further contracted by a funken rock, ftretching nearly into mid-channel
from the northern ftiore, with which it is connected; on this was found
only two feet water, although the depth is 10 fathoms within a few
yards o f it. From the entrance, this little harbour about a quarter of
a mile wide, took anorth-wefterly direction for about a mile ; the depth
from 10 to 15 fathoms,'muddy bottom; it then feemed to fpread out,
and to terminate in two bays, about a mile further to the northward,
forming a very (hug and convenient little port. Unfortunately, the
bar without renders it fit only for the reception o f very fmall craft.
Mr. Whidbey, under this impreflion, loft no time in any further examination,
but returned to the fhip ; and as I was now very anxious
to proceed on our voyage, no delay for matters of little importance
could be admitted. Mr. Whidbey obferved, that the foil in the neighbourhood
of the harbour appeared of a loofe fandy nature; the country
low for fome 'diftance, and, from the number of houfes within. the
harbour, it (hould feem to be very populous; but the very few inhabitants
who made their appearance was an indication of the contrary.
A t the time the bar was founded, it was low water, and Mr. Whidbey being
unacquainted with the rife and fall, was not able to fay what depth
there might be on the bar at high tide.
The other opening to the eaftward, called by the natives Honoonoono,
Tomohomoho reprefented as being much more {hallow, and a fmaller place ;
this induced me to pafs it without examination ; but to {hew how liable we
are to be miftaken in fuch inquiries amongft the natives, I was afterwards
informed, by Mr. Brown of the Butterworth, that although it is fmaller,
and of lefs depth of water, yet it admits o f a paflage from fea a fathoms
deep between the reefs ; and opens beyond them into a fmall but commodious
bafon, with regular foundings from 7 to 3 fathoms, clear and
good bottom, where a few veflels may ride with the greateft fafety; but
the only means of getting in or out is by warping,.
About noon, with a light breeze from the s .s .w ., we weighed, and
flood to windward; and in the afternoon, our very attentive and ufe-
ful friend Tomohomoho, having executed all his commiflions, and rendered
dered -ui- every.fervice and afliftanee. in his power,, bad us farewel. On ^793-
this occalion I prefented him with fuch an affortment o f articles as 1 J
afforded him the hjgheft fatisfaCtion. j O f thefe he was richly deferring,
from the uniformity and integrity of conduCt that he had fupported
from the firft to the-laft moment of his being with us.
We found the weftern fide, of Woahoo lie in. a direction from its s.w.
point n . 25 w., 6 leagues to- the weft point of the ifland, which forms
alio the s.w. point, o f Whymea bay. The s.w. fide, o f the ifland is
principally compofed of fteep craggy mountains,: fome defcending abruptly
into the fea, others terminating at a fmall diftance from.it, whence
a low border of land extends to the fea-fhore, formed by fandy beaches,
chiefly bounded by.rocks, over which the furf breaks with great violence.
From thefe Chores we were vifited by fome: of the natives, in the moft
wretched canoes I had ever yet feen amongft the South-Sea iflanders ; they
correfponded however with the appearance o f the country, which from
the commencement o f the high land to the weftward of Opooroah, was
compofed o f one barren rocky wafte, nearly deftitute o f verdure, cultivation,
or inhabitants;. with little variation all the way ,to the; weft point of
the ifland. Not far'from the s. w. pointis a fmall grove of.fhabby cocoa-
nut trees, and along thofe ftiores are a few {haggling filhcrmen’s huts.
Nearly in the middle o f this fide o f the: ifland is’ the only village we had
feen weftward from Opooroah. In. its neighbourhood the bafes of the
mountains retire further from the.fea-fhore, and a narrow valley, prefent-
ing a fertile-cultivated afpeft, feemed to feparate, and wind fome diftance
through, the hills. The Chore here forms a fmall fandy bay. On its
fouthern fide, between the two high rocky precipices, in a grove of cocoa-
nut and other trees, is fituated the village, and,, in the center o f the bay,
about a mile to the north of the village, is a high rock, remarkable for
its projecting from a fandy beach. A t a diftance it appears to be detached
from the land. Between this and the high rocky point to the fouth
of the village, is a fmall bank o f foundings, that ftretches fome diftance
into the lea. On the fouth fide o f this bank the foundings were irregular,
from 25 to 8 fathoms, rocky bottom; but, to the north o f it,
Y o l . II. F f near