1793* depth, but could not afcertain the faft, as the February. . * . . wind blew with too much
— v— —i violence, and the agitation of the fea was too great, to venture on a
more minute examination, either with the {hip or the boats; and, as the
adjacent Ihores afford no Ihelter for veffels, there can be no neceffity for
approaching within a league of them.
Having paffed this point, fituated, by our corrected furvey, in latitude
20° 18', longitude 204*, we hauled into Toeaigh bay, and at feven
o’clock anchored about feven miles to the fouth of the point above
mentioned, in 41 fathoms water, brown fandy bottom, with fmall pieces
of coral.
The night proved very boifterous, attended .with very heavy guffs
and flurries of wind direftly off the land : in one-of thefe, about three
Thurfday*4. jn tjje morning, we drove from the bank, but as it was my defign to
acquire every information that could be obtained refpefting this Bay,
the anchor was weighed, and we: turned up into it, againft a very ftrong
s.E, gale.
As the day advanced, it moderated, and the weather became ferene
and pleafant. The adjacent -Ihores, forming the north-weftern part of
the Bay, feemed to be very fruitful, whilft the number of habitations
indicated them to be well peopled; yet none of-the natives ventured
near us. As we confidered the taboo to be at an end, I began to be ap-
prehenfive that the fhynefs of the inhabitants originated from fome more
ferious caufe; about ten o’clock however a canoe was feen paddling towards
the fhip ; we immediately brought to, and on her coming along-
fide, we were informed by thofe in her that they belonged to Kahow-
motoo, who was then- refiding at a village, on an eftate of his, in the
bottom of the Bay, named Toeaigh; off which there was good
anchorage, and excellent water eafily to be procured. Thele people,
without the leaft hefitation, faid that the- reafon of our not having
been vifited before was, that the whole of the ifland was under a very
ftrift taboo, that prohibited the inhabitants from uling their canoes, or
quitting the fliore by any other means ; but that the rank and confe-
quence of their mafter Kahowlnotoo, authorized him to difpenfe with
the reftriftions on the prefent occafion ; as he entertained hopes, that
the
the veffel in fight was die fame in which his favorite fervant Terehooa ’793-
had embarked ; he had therefore fent- them to make the neceffary inqui- .FeWuar> j
ries, and in cafe his expe&ations fhould be confirmed, a prefent of a
hog and fome vegetables: was in the canoe for Terehooa, ; whoft gratitude
for fuch a mark of remembrance was inftantly teftified, by the tears
that flowed on his receiving the meffage. This was accompanied by
a prefling requeff, that I would' ftand in and anchor off Kahowmotoo
s village,, where I Ihould be fupplied with every refrelhment the
ifland afforded;, as foon as the taboo was- at an end ; which had now
exifted four days, but would intirely ceafe at fun-rife the day after the
next.
I had not the leaff objeffion to accept this invitation, and a breeze
favoring my defign we fleered for the village of Toeaigh. Mr. Whid-
bey, who was in the cutter founding for the beft anchorage, foon made
the fignal for an eligible fituation, .where, about half paft two, we anchored,
in 25 fathoms water on a bottom of fine brown fand and mud:
the points of the bay -bore by compafs » . 36 w. and.Sv 31 w. • the morai,.
which is alfo confpicuous in pointing out this ftation, n. 67, E,; and the
watering place at the diftance of a mile and'a quarter,, being the neareft
fhore, s. 87 E. On founding round the fhip, about half a cable’s lengthto
the s.w. of us was -found a, very-fmall patch of coral! rocks, where the
water was only. 10 fathoms in depth, but inereafed fuddenly to 20 fathoms,
all around it. On theoppofite fide,, however,, was clear cr00d anchorage
for near a. mile, where many veffels- might ride without- inconvenience
from the bottom, though neverthelefs expofed to the violence
of the winds and fea between the limits above mentioned,, comprehending
1-U30 in the weftern quarter.
Soon: after the fhip had- anchored;, our old acquaintance. JSahow^
motoo paid us a vifit, and brought, with him half a dozen very fine
hogs; and- a handfome fupply of vegetables; Notwithftanding that I
took an early opportunity to acquaint Kaliowmotoo that arms- and ammunition
were flail tabooed, who feemed much to regret the continuance
of thefe reftri&ions ; yet it did-not. appear to. influence his hofpitality ;
as he allured me, that if I, would remain, a few. days-at Toeaigh we
V0L: U ’ 2 • fhould