‘ 794* and the preference was decided in favor of mutton, only by the calling
____— i voice of Tamaakmdah.
I was very anxious to quit this llation, which is fituated in latitude
19° 37 z > longitude 203° 542-', left the rocky bottom Ihould damage our
cables; but light breezes from the fea, fucceeded by calms, prevented
our moving until midnight, when, with a gentle breeze from the Ihore,
we proceeded flowly along the coaft to the northward.
Th.uncb.y2-. j n tl,e forenoon of the 27th, we had a light breeze from the weftward;
with this we fteered for the anchorage at Toeaigh, but a ftrong current
fetting to the fouth-weftward, we approached it very flowly; the weather
however was fair and pleafant, and the objects about us were cheerful
and entertaining, notwithftanding the adjacent Ihores were uninte-
refting, being chiefly compofed o f volcanic matter, and producing only
a few detached groves of cocoa nut trees, with the appearance o f little
cultivation, and very few inhabitants. The deficiency of the population
on Ihore was amply compenfated by the number of our friends that accompanied
us afloat in canoes of all deferiptions; thefe ftill preferving
the Tame orderly behaviour and cheerful good humour, our change of
fituation was fcarcely perceivable, as the fame fociability and friendly in-
tercourfe continued which had exiffied at Karakakooa.
As this evening was to be devoted to an appointed taboo that would
continue until the morning of the i l l of march, the king and the reft of
our friends went on Ihore for the purpofe, of attending their religious
duties. The weather in the evening being fqually, with variable winds
and alternate calms, gave me reafon to believe it very probable that we
Ihould not reach our deftination before it was dark; on intimating this to
Tamaahmaah, he promifed to have a light placed in fuch a fituation, as
would conduct us to it with fafety.
Friday 28. It was not however until near four the next morning that we gained
foundings, when we anchored in 30 fathoms water, fandy bottom. After
it was day-light we removed to the bell anchorage in this bay, whofe
north-weft point bore by compafs N. 36 w., and the morai, N. 68 e . ;
this is a confpicuous object, and a good leading mark to this anchorage';
it is fituated on a barren eminence to the fouthward of the village, and
3 “
is to be kept in a line with a fmall faddle hill, on the eaftern land de-
feending from the higher parts, over the village of Toeaigh, on the north
fide o f this fpacious open bay. Its fouth point defeending gradually from
Worroray, and forming a low point, bore by compafs s. 31 w . ; within
this point on the riling land are fome elevated hummocks ; the third of
thefe, from the point forming a kind of faddle hill in a line with a low,
projecting, black, rocky point, in the middle of the bay, bearing s. 22 w.,
is a further dire&ion, and a crofs mark for this anchorage; from whence
the watering place lies s. 79 e „ a mile and a half diftant. The fummit
o f Mowna-kaah alfo bore by compafs s. 68 e. ; Mowna Roa, s. 33 e . ;
and Worroray, s. 5 w; In this fituation the depth of water was 25 fathoms,
the bottom a ftiff clay, and good holding ground; incommoded
by the patch o f rocky bottom, Hated on our former viflt to be at the
depth of to fathoms only; but on a more minute fearch, this was now
difeovered to Ihoal fuddenly, and the depth to decreafe to 7, 4, and 3
fathoms, about the fourth of a mile to the fouth-weftward of the Ration
we had taken; and confequently to be a very great inconveniency to the
roadftead, which at bell, in my opinion, is but a very indifferent one; being
intirely expofed to the north-weft winds, and the weftern oceanic
fwell, which beats with great violence on the reefs-' that encompafs the
Ihores. Thefe reefs ftretch "out a mile or upwards, leaving between them
and the land a narrow channel, that affords comfortable and commodious
landing for fmall boats and canoes; but the landing is at too great
a diftance from the place of anchorage to allow of protedling any debarkation
from the fhip.
The only circumftances that feem to render this a defirable flopping
place, are the run of water, which however does not conftantly flow;
and the probability of procuring refrefhments, from its contiguity to the
fertile, and populous weftern part of the diftriEl o f Koaarra, and the
plains of Whymea, lying behind the land that conftitutes this part of
the fea coaft.
The country rifes rather quickly from the fea fide, and, fo far as it
could be feen on our approach, had no very promifing afpeft; it forms a
ind of glacis, or inclined plane in front of the mountains, immediately
behind
February.
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