*34 A V O Y A G E T O T H E
1787. magnify this piece of fervice, and was rewarded accordingly, though
we were not without roots, having luckily bought a large quantity
o f taro before the had weather came on.
The weather being fo exceedingly unpromiling, it was determined
to leave this place; fo at three o’clock in the morning of
the 12th, Captain Portlock making fignal, we weighed anchor, and
made fail, ftretching to the Southward with a light breeze at
North Weft.
From the 12th to the 15th, we kept plying towards Oneehow,
but were prevented from making it, by light variable winds.
During this time, we had clofe, fultry, cloudy weather.
In the forenoon o f the 16th, a frelh breeze fpringing up at
North Eaft, we flood right for Oneehow j and in the afternoon,
came to anchor in Yam Bay, in twenty-nine fathom water, over a
fandy bottom; the extremes o f the bay bore from South 20 deg.
Eaft to North 1 j deg. Eaft 5 the body of Oreehoura North 40 deg.
Eaft; and Tahoura South 30 deg. Weft, about two miles diftant
from lhore.
Our grand object at this place was to recover the anchors which
Captain Portlock left here; fo at day-break in the morning of the
17th, the boats from both fhips were lent to fearch for them:
fortunately the weather was moderate, and the fea tolerably fmooth,
fo that by two o’clock in the afternoon, the King George had got
both her anchors on board, which was a moft lucky circumftance,
abd more Imperially, as the anchor we had left at Atoui might almoft
be given over for loft.
2
During
N O R T H W E S T C O A S T OF A ME R I C A .
During this time, we were bufily employed on board, in pur- ^7*7*
chafing yams and water from the natives, who had attended us ^ t
pretty numeroufly, and brought a good quantity of yams, which
proved a very feafonable fupply, moft of our roots being expended.
About three o’clock in the afternoon, the wind Ihifting to the
Southward, we weighed anchor, and ftretched towards the North
Weft, intending, fhould Southerly winds continue, to make Atoui,
through the pafiage by Oreehoura, and try to recover our anchor;
but we now had frelh reafon to fuppofe, that the wind near thefe
illands is always variable; for from the 17th to the 23d, we had
light variable winds, frequent calms intervening, fo that we kept
Handing to the Northward and Eaftward, making longer or Ihortev
boards, as occafion required. Atoui generally bore about South
South Eaft, and Oneehow, South Weft.
Whilft we were plying in this uncertain ftate, we had an opportunity
of viewing the North Coaft of Atoui, or that part of the
ifland direrily oppofite Wymoa Bay. The lhore down to the water’s
edge, is in general mountainous, and difficult of accefs: I
could not fee any level ground, or the leaft fign of this part of the
ifland being inhabited, at leaft by any confiderable number o f peo-
' pie; fo that there is every reafon to fuppofe the South fide of the
ifland contains nearly the whole of the inhabitants.
During the 24th and 25th, we had moderate weather, and generally
light winds; a frelh breeze at Eaft North Eaft fometimes
intervening.
In the morning of the 26th, we worked through the paflage
between Oreehoura and Atoui. At noon, the extremes of the
latter