1794* directed our courfe towards' the north-eaft part o f Attowai, which at '^Isrch . *
-v__i day-light in the morning bore by compafs from N, 84 w . to S.40W.
Friday 7. we approached its fhores, the fame influence was felt from a northerly
current, as we had before experienced; but the wind being to the
fouthward, it did not prevent our pafhng to the north of the Aland,
which, at noon, bore by compafs from s. 75 w. to s. 25 e .; and the
north-eaft extremity of the ifland, extending from the forked hill mentioned
on our laft vifit hither, s. 13 e:, diftant three miles, and a half. In
this flotation the obferved latitude was 220 15', longitude 200° 36'. Here
we rejoined the American brig Wafhington, which had failed with us
■ from Karakakooa, but had directed her courfe to the fouthward of the.
■ iflands, for Whyteete in Woahoo, where fhe had remained five days.
Amongft other articles that Mr. Kendrick had procured whilft there,
was eighty pounds weight of very fine bees wax, that had drifted by the
•fea on to the fhores of that ifland, and had very recently been picked up
by the natives? and I now underftood that fome pieces had alfo been
procured from the natives of the other iflands by Mr. Kendrick, who in
a great meafure confirmed the account contained in Mr. Brown’s letter
to me, o f the’ very improper conduft of the merchant feamen who had
deferted, orotherways quitted the veffels to which they had belonged, for
the purpofe o f refl-ding amongft thefe iflanders. In this number were
fome whom he had formerly left at Attowai, but he now feemed to
be determined that they fhould no longer remain on that ifland.
The wind during the afternoon was light and variable, confequently
we made little progrefs. In the .courfe of the day we procured a fmali
fupply of hogs, yams, and vegetables. At fun-fet a fmali iflet lying
near the fhore, and fituated from the north-eaft point of the ifland
s.'55 w., fix miles and a half diftant, bore by compafs s. 33 w 1., about
two miles from us, and the fhores of the ifland, which are alternately
cliffs and beaches, bore from s, go e. to s. 71 w.
The night was pafled as ufual in preferving our ftatiori, and in the
■ Saturday 8. morning we again flood in for the land; about eight o’clock we were off
a fmali deep bay; its eaft point lies from the above iflet weft, diftant four
miles;
miles; this bay is nearly half a league wide,, and about the fame depth; *794-
but being expofed to the violence of the north-wefterly winds, and the ■ 1
oceanic fwell, is ineligible for (hipping, and therefore we did not examine
it further; but continued our route with a fine breeze from the n. e .
at the diftance of about two miles from the fhore, palling fome rocks and
breakers, that extend a fmali diftance from the weft point of the bay;
where the coaft of AttoWai aflumes a very rugged and romantic appearance,
riling fuddenly to lofty abrupt cliffs, that jet out into a variety of
fteep, rugged, rocky points, apparently deftitute of both foil and verdure,
but terminating nearly in uniform even fummits, on which, as
well as in the vallies or cljafms that were formed between the points, were
fmali patches o f lively green that produced a very Angular effeft. This
fort o f coaft continued to the north-weft point'of the ifland. As we approached
this point, the regular trade wind being intercepted by thefe
lofty fhores, we were retarded by light variable breezes, and were frequently
becalmed. At noon the obferved latitude was 22° 12', longitude
200° 10-j. The ifland of Onehow bore by compafs from S.34W. to
s. 44 w.'; Oreehooa, s. 31 w . ; and Attowai, from N. 78 E. to s .g e. ;
its north-weft point being the neareft fhore, s. 37 e., diftant three miles.
From this point the country aflumed a very different afpeft; it de-
fcended fuddenly from the mountains, and terminated in a low fandy
fhore, fomewhat diverfifled by eminences, and a few fcattered habitations,
but wearing a fteril and defolate appearance.
In the afternoon we were favored with a gentle northerly breeze; which
by fun-fet brought us to the weft point of the ifland, fituated, according
to our obfervations, in latitude 22° 4k longitude 200° 10’ ; off which
extends a reef of rocks, about half a mile from the fhore.
Having now completed the furvey of Attowai, we met the regular
trade wind, with which we flood to windward for Whymea bay, in that
ifland; where, at nine the next morning, we anchored in 23 fathoms, Sunday 9.
foft bottom, and moored with a cable each way ; the points of the bay
bore by compafs n. 77 w. to s. 65 E ; the river s. 35 e., diftant half a
leagued ’ Here we again met the Wafhington; Mr. Kendrick, having
beaten round the eaft end of the ifland, had arrived two days before us.
V ol. III. L Our