ftift mud, had both her cables much fretted and damaged by the rocks at
the bottom; and not far to the eaftward of our eafternmoft anchor was
found alfo a patch of rocky bottom, in fome places not deeper than 4
fathoms, though furrounded by a depth of from go to 40 fathoms.
Although a lituation more convenient to the Ihore, in a lefs depth of
water and with a muddy bottom, might have been taken within the
Difcovery’s ftation, and is to be. found by keeping the fteep banks of the
river not Ihut in, but juft a little open; yet, from the lurking-patches of
rocks that have been found near the fame fort of bottom, it is evident
that great caution Ihould be obferved to avoid thofe hidden dangers ;
which mayferve to account for the cables of former veflels having been
out through, without reforting to an operation which appears to me incredible,
and I believe impoffible to have been effected.
It had been pofitively alferted, and I doubt not as pofitively believed,
that the natives were capable of diving to the depth o f 40 fathoms,
and there cutting through a twelve or fourteen inch cable; they have
not only been fufpe&ed and accufed of accomplifhing this talk, but
have been fired upon by fome whofe, cables have been firppofed to be
thus injured; an a£l not to be juftified by common humanity, or common
fenfe. Thefe people are however very expert fwimmers, and al-
moft as dexterous as fifh in the water, but their efforts are chiefly confined
to the furface; though fome of them dive exceedingly well, yet they
are not capable of defcending to fuch a depth, or of remaining under
water a fufficient time to cut through a cable.
One of the beft divers o f the country in Tamaakmaak’s eftimation, I
faw endeavour at Karakakooa to recover a caulking iron that had been
dropped in 12 fathoms water; and in order to induce his utmoft exertion,
a great reward was offered to him if he fuceeeded; but after two
unfuccefsful attempts he was fo tired and exhaufted, that he was unable
to make a third trial then, though he promifed to renew his exertions the
next day; the fame reward was then again offered to him, but he could
not be prevailed upon to make another effort, and the caulking iron
remained at the bottom,
About
About two in the afternoon we anchored off the weft fide of Onehow,
in t8 fathoms water, foft fandy bottom; the north-weft point of the '— ^---->
ifland bearing by compafs N. 25 e„ half a league diftant; the neareft
fnore e.s.e., about a mile and a quarter ;. its weft point s, 15 E. ; Ta-
hoorowa s. 43 ,w. ; and the outer part of the reef that extends from the
north-weft point of Onehow, N. 8 E.
In the evening, Mr- Puget, who I had dire&ed to examine the north-
weft fide of this ifland, in the Chatham joined us, and acquainted me
that the Chatham was very crank.
We had now aceomplifhed our furvey of the Sandwich i(lands-; and
as our expectations were difappointed in the promifed fupply of yams, in
the evening of the 14th we took our leave of Onehow. Friday 11-
In the fituation where we had anchored, our cables had not received
any damage ; but the Chatham, at anchor near us, hooked a rock under
water, which engaged them fome time, and was with difficulty cleared;
after great danger of lofing the anchor, as the cable was nearly chafed
through by the rocks. It is here neceffary to remark, that although
this ftation has been the general rendezvous of the feveral veffels that
have reforted hither,: for the yams and other refrefhments that Onehow
once afforded, it is in all refpe&s greatly inferior to the 'place of our
anchorage on our former v ifit; the bottom here being at a greater
depth, and very rocky, and the fituation open, and expofed to all the
violence of the north and north-weft winds, and the fwell of the ocean.
The other fituation is protected from this inconvenience, with the additional
advantages of a lefs depth o f water, and a clear bottom of good
holding ground. It is not, however, quite fo central for the inhabitants
to bring the produce of the ifland to market; but this is of little
importance, for when they have any to difpofe of the diftance is not
regarded by them.
At the anchorage we had juft quitted, we left the Wafhiagion and
an American fhip called the Nancy ; the latter had arrived.only a fhort
time before our departure; and as it was natural to fuppofe that {he
muft have recently quitted the civilized world, her approach produced
»0 fmall degree of anxiety in the hope of obtaining fome, European intelligence.
.