1786. Being already in our proper latitude, we kept {landing to the
— — ■ Weftward, with a fine leading breeze ; and at feven o’clock in the-
morning of the 24th, we faw Owhyhee, the principal of the Sandwich
Iflands, bearing Well, diftance about fourteen leagues. A t
noon, the North-Eaft point bore North, at three leagues diftance.
As it was well known that this ifland afforded every thing we
wanted in abundance, the fight of it put every perfon on board in
frelh fpirits Aftei; Handing along the fliore two days, with light
winds, frequently inclining to- calm, we came to anchor on the
Weft fide o f the ifland, in Karakkakopa Bay, at one o’clock on-
the 26th, in eight fathom water, the Weft point of the Bay bearing
Weft by North, and the South point, South half Weft, at about a-
mile diftant from fhore. In the afternoon we were furrounded by-
an innumerable quantity of canoes, and vaft numbers of both fexes,.
in the water'; many of thefe, no doubt, came to fee us through-
curiofity, but numbers brought various commodities tq fell, fuch-
as hogs, fweet potatoes, plaintains; bread, fruit, &e. thefe we pur-
chafed with toes, fifh-hooks, nails, and other articles of trifling
value : the people bought fifhing-lines, mats, and various other
curiofities.
Early in the morning of the 27th, we began to prepare for
watering, intending to difpatch that with all expedition; but
Captain Dixon going on board the King George, was informed,
to our very great difappointment, that the inhabitants were
grovving troublefome, and that they had already tabooed the
watering place. This ceremony of tabooing is performed by their
priefts, and is done by flicking a number o f fmall wands, tipt with
a tuft of white hair, round any place they want to keep private,
after which, no perfon prefumes to approach the place, and I believe
the punifhment is death for an offence of this kind. We were
afraid
afraid at firft, that this treatment might proceed from a remem- 1786.
brance of the Ioffes they fuftained after the melancholy death of .
Captain Cook, who was killed in this harbour ; but that was not
the cafe: the reafon they gave for this proceeding was, that all
their Chiefs being abfent, engaged in war with a neighbouring
ifland, they durft not, on any account, fuffer ftrangers to come on
lhore.
One of our principal objects being thus fruftrated, our Captains
are determined to leave this place as foon as polfible ; mean while,
we keep purchafing hogs, fowls, vegetables, &c, in abundance;
and I believe every, perfon on board has already began to feel the
good effects of frefh victuals, but fcarcely any one more than
thine, &c.
W . B.
Sandwich I slands, 1
28th May. 3
L E T T E R XIV.
BE F O R E I proceed with my narration, give me leave to
obferve to thee, that the Sandwich Iflands were difcovered by
the late Captain Cooke, in his laft Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.
Owhyhee, the principal, is the firft to the Southward and Eaftward;
the reft run in a direftion nearly North-Weft. The names of the
principals are, Mowee, Moretoy, Ranai, Whahoo, Attooi, and
Oneehow. This will, I prefume, be fufficient for thy information
at prefent.
At