f On the 28th, the wind blowing full from the weft, and being often becalmed,
we could not weather the point, the wind hauling round the ifland, and meeting
us as we tacked about.
In the evening, Mr. Banks, Dr. Soîander, and the Mafter, went on fliore, in
the pinnace, to Otahau, and, not returning fo foon as expeded, we fired a cannon
at. nine o’clock ; and, ftill neither feeing nor hearing of them, we fired another,
and hung out a light in the ihrouds. We were foon anfwered by them with a,
mufket, by which we found they had got out t^-fea j and about ten they arrived,
and brought with them three hogs, fifteen fowls, with a great quantity of plantains,
cocoa-nuts, and taro.
This iftand is but thinly inhabited, and feme parts of it very barren.— We had a
great fwell among thefe iilands.
On the 30th, we went round to Bolobola, and beat up to windward, to get to
the other fide of Yoolee-Etea, and had a iharp breeze from the S. E. all night.
This day wefaw the ifland of Maowrooah-, confifting of à large round hill, with a
final! one on the fide of it.
On the 1 ft of Auguft, after fo long beating to wind ward, we at laft got along-
fide of Yoolee-Etea I but even then we could not get into the bay which we de-
figned to enter ; and, the wind being againft us, we were obliged to caft anchor
at the entrance of it, between two reefs. In the afternoon we attempted to warp the
/hip into the bay, but endeavouring to heave the anchor, we found it was fattened
to fome rock, where we left it till , the next morning. The natives camé off to us
in great numbers, and we bought of them ten hogs, for ten fpikes each, with
plenty of coooas, and plantains, and they feemed very joyful at our arrival.
Early on the 2d, we attempted again to. get up the anchor; with fome difficulty
happily fucceeded ; and, afterwards, warpt the ihip into the hay, which is
called Amameenee, and moored her in a proper ftation, about a mile from (hore.
The natives flocked to us again; appeared highly delighted, and were-fo fond of
our commodities, that, for a few fmall nails, they gave us many things of confi-
derable value amongft them; and whatever we gave them, whether nails, pewter,
watches,“or other toys, were immediately hung upon their ears.
On the 4th, we went on'ihore, and took a walk up into the country, which
is-very pleafant, and faw a great quantity of Taro and Eape growing: Wefaw
alio a great quantity of the true Yam, which is fo common in the Weft-Indies;
and bread-fruit trees, which were nearly in perfection; ¿hough the crop o f fruit
upon them did not appear to be fo large as I have feen.
There are feveral Morais in this part of the ifland ; in one of which we faw a
firing of jaw-bones hung up on the Afale, or houfe, o f the Ethooa, with feveral fkulls
laid in rows: and we met a man of a fair complexion, whofe hair was white as milk j
alfo their Aree Dehei, or king, who is called Oorea, and his ion; the former
appeared to be a very modeft fort of a man, and the latter as handfome a youth
as I ever faw. Opoone, who is king of Bolobola, ftays in the next bay ; they fay
he is a very old man, and we fuppofe the people of this ifland have fubmitted
to him *.
The border of low land round the hills is very narrow here, and not very populous
; but feveral of the inhabitants are comely, and in a much more flouriihing
* Toobaiah informed us, that, fome years paft, the chiefs of Otaheite, and the neighbouring iilands,
haniihed fuch of their criminals as were convidled of thefts, and other crimes which they thought
did not deferve death, to an adjacent ifland called Bolobola, which, before the commencement of that
law, was almoft barren and uninhabited; which praflice continued feveral years. In procefs of time
.their numbers fo greatly increafed, that the ifland was infufficient for their iubfiftence. , Being men of
defperate fortunes, they made themfelves canocs, turned pirates, and made prifoners fuch of the people
of the ¡(lands near them as had the misfortune to fall in their way, and feized their canoes and effects.
Opoone, who was one of the worft of thefe criminals, by artful infinuaiions fo wrought on the reft,
that he was admitted their chief, or king; and, growing ftill more powerful, by frequent aequifitions '
of prifoners, he adventured to make war on the people of Otahaw, a neighbouring ifland, who, not
cxpe&ing fo fudden an invafion, were not prepar.ed for defence, and were obliged to fubmit to be
tributaries to him. He afterwards conquered Yoolee-etea, and other iilands, which he annexed to
his dominion of Bolobola.
L