on its fouthern fide the afcen't is not fo. fteep and abrupt; and near its
wetlern extremity is a finall Tandy beach, where in fine weather, and with a
finooth Tea, a landing might probably be effected. At this place there was
the appearance of a little verdure, though it was deftitute of tree or fhrub;
every other part was apparently without foil, and confifted only of the
naked rock. Its whole circumference does not exceed a league, andit is
fituated in latitude 23“ 6', longitude 198° 88 When this rock was firft
difcovered in 1788, there were on board the Prince of Wales fome of the
natives of Attowai, who expreffed great , furprize that there dhould be
land fo near to their iflands (it lying from Onehow N. 51 w . at the distance
of 39 leagues only,) and of which not only themfelves,-. but all
their countrymen were totally ignorant.
This intelligence was communicated on their return in the autumn of
.that year; and it excited in the aftive mind of Taio a ftrong defire Mr pay
it a vifit, to eftablilh a colony there, and to' annex it to his dominions ;
but on his being made thoroughly acquainted with its extent arid, fteri-
lity by the officers of that veffel, his projeft was abandoned. Thofe people
however, recognize it under the appellation of Modoo- Mannoo, that is,
Bird ifland;. and from its great diftance from all other land, and its proximity
to their iflands, it leems to . claim ■ fome diftant pretenfions to be
ranked in the group of the Sandwich iflands, of which we now took
leave, purfuant to theidetermination already Hated.
CHA PTER
C H A P T E R IV.
Quit the Sandwich iflands— Part company with the Chatham-—Indications o f
land— See Tfcherikow iJland— Pafs Trinity ijles — Proceed along the
" coajl— Enter and. proceed up Cook's river. '
H A V IN G bid farewell to the. Sandwich iflands, our courfe was direfled
to the northward, with a freffi breeze>from the n. e. by e,; but as the
Chatham was fome diftance a-ftern, the topfails were double reefed, and
in the courfe of die evening the jib and ftay-fails were taken in, under
the idea that with fuch reduced fail the Chatham would foon overtake us ;
but as flie did not make her appearance by ten at night, nor.anfwer a falfe.
fire then burnt, themainfail was hauled up, and we continued under the
forefail and double-reefed topfails only, in the hope of feeing our confprt
at day-light; but in this we were difappointed, and I was much at a lofs
to account for the caufe that had produced our reparation. It was a
matter of extreme uncertainty what ^courfe would prove; moft likely to
effefil our meeting again,' as it was not improbable that by the low fail
we had. carried during the night, (he might have paffed us „unobferved,
and was then a-head; this was as likely to have happened, as that fome
accident had occafioned her Ihortening fail, and that file was yet a-ftern.
The latter .would probably have been announced by fignal; under this
impreffion we made the belt of our way towards the coaft of America,
with the hope of rejoining our confort at the appointed rendezvous.
The trade wind between n. e., e. n. e,, and eaft, blowing a moderate
gale, with fqually and fometimes, rainy weather, attended us until the
following friday, when towards midnight, having then advanced to the
M2 ................■ ' ' .'35°
1794*
March. 1__v ----J
Saturday 15.
Friday 21»