Provifions of all kinds were, at this time, very ica'rce ; k’nd fomè óf thè fnhäi
bitants almoft famiihed. This fcarcity was principally occafioned by fupplying us
too liberally with bread-fruit, which obliged the inhabitants to eât ehëe, roâftèd,
in its Ììeàd, which taffés much like our chefnut : but, as the bread-free was full of
young fruit, we were in hopes that they would foon have another crop to rèfieV'e them.
On the fi/ftof July, in the evening, thè captain and Mr. Banks rétûrnëd from-
fafVeying thè iflànd, which thèy found to be larger than they expe&ed, and brought
tJvith theiii fevèràì hogs, and could have obtained m'o’rè with more hatchets. In
their tour round thè iflànd, they difcovered that it conflits óf two pénìnfulas, con-
ùe'ded by a low märfby ìfìhmùs, through which Mr. Banks fuppOÎed-Cânoès might
fee drawn. From Port-Royal, which is fituafé at the weil end, the CO'a'il extends'
È. ’by 'S. about nineteen miles to àreèf of three fmalliflands, forming a bay, called
Society-Bay. From this the land inclines into a deep bay, at the ifthmus ór juncture
of the two divifions, of which the fmalleft is nearly oval, and furrounded by a
reef, which runs parallel to the fhore at about two miles diffartce : This has féVeral
apertures, or paffages,, which afford fafe anchorage withih. The north fide 'of the
ifland is likewife defended by a fimilar reef; but the ground within is foul, and
unfafe for veffels of burthen. The whole length of the ifland is about fifteen
leagues ; and its circumference forty leagues. Befides the above-mentioned, they
faw feveral other bays ; fomè of them very good, and one, in particular, in which a
large fleet blight have rode with eafe and fafety : the name the natives give it is.
Pap'ara.
They alfo -learned, that the iflan'd is divided into two principalities, one of which,
comprehending-the largeft penihfula, is called Otahéite Nöoa, or Great Otaheitc ;
the other, comprehending the fmalleft peninfula, is termed Otaheite Eetee, or
Lhtle Otaheite. The former of tEefe divifions is alfo called Obóreano, in honour of
of queen Oboreah, who is regent of it. The other divifion is alfo governed by a
woman named Teideede ; ihe is younger than Oboreah. The people of the two
divifions -do'not feern to be upon good terms, 'having but little communication with
each others
I d
In their voyage they alfo faw a large monument, of a pyramidal form, of po-
liihed ftone, which they were tofd was the morai,of Oboreah and Oamo, and the
•people there faid they were brother and-fifter.
On the 6th of July, in the evening, a young woman came to the entrance of
■the fort, whom we -found to be a daughter of Oamo. The natives complimented
her o.n her arrival, by uncovering their ihoulders. We invited her to the
tent, but ilie did not accept of it.
On the 9th, two of our marines being enamoured with a girl, one of the natives
deferted from the fort, and fled to the weft part of the ifland, and intended
to haive ftaid there. On the fame day one of the natives ftole a knife from one of
our-failors, and wounded iiim with it in the forehead, almoft through his fkull:— a
ffray-enfued, and the Indians ran away.
On this day, Mr. Banks and Dr. Monkhoufe went many miles to a v,aljey .to-»
ward Orowhaina: at length they came to a waterfall, and could proceed no farther.
-At this fpot'-the mpuntajns were almoft perpendicular ; ..and from feveral
parts of them hung fome ropes, defigned, as was apprehended, to affift tbofe who
iliould attempt to afcend them in times of fcarcity, to get fayhee, or wild plantain.
The ftones and foil, on fome of the higheft mountains, appeared as if they had been -
burnt, or calcined: and, on the lower ones, where I have been, the earth is a fort
of red-ochre covered with various plants, but chiefly with fern.
Moil of the materials which compofed'the fort having been taken down, and put
on board the fhip, we prepared to fet fail.
On the 1 oth, hearing no tidings of the two men who deferted us, we refolveJ
to feize feveral of the principal people, and detain them till we could recover
them: we alfo fent a party in the pinnace who apprehended Tootahau, and
„brought him to the fhip; upon which Oboreah, and feveral other of the chiefs,
Tent out their fervants, who returned in the eyening with one of them, and re-
F I ported