A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

abounding, I have been told, with fish and turtle, on which the inhabitants subsist, and sometimes exchangethe latter with the high islanders for cloth, &c. These inland seas would be excellent harbours, were theynot shut up from the access of shipping, which is the case with most of them, if we can believe the reportof the inhabitants of the other isles. Indeed, few of them have been well searched by Europeans; the littleprospect of meeting with fresh water having generally discouraged every attempt of this kind. I, who haveseen a great many, have not yet seen an inlet into one.[3][3] "The lagoon within this island was very spacious, and several canoes sailed about upon it. Itappears to me, that the most elevated and richest spots on the coral ledges, are generally to leeward,sheltered from the violence of the surf. In this sea, however, there are seldom such violent storms, asmight make these isles uncomfortable places of abode; and when the weather is fair, it must be verypleasant sailing on the smooth water in the lagoon, whilst the ocean without is disagreeablyagitated."--G.F.This island is situated in the latitude of 15° 26', longitude 146° 20'. It is five leagues long in the direction ofN.N.E. and S.S.W. and about three leagues broad. As we drew near the south end, we saw from the masthead,another of these low isles bearing S.E., distant about four or five leagues, but being to windward wecould not fetch it. Soon after a third appeared, bearing S.W. by S., for which we steered; and at two o'clockp.m. reached the east end, which is situated in latitude 15° 47' S., longitude 146° 30' W. This island extendsW.N.W. and E.S.E., and is seven leagues long in that direction; but its breadth is not above two. It is, in allrespects, like the rest; only here are fewer islets, and less firm land on the reef which incloses the lake. Aswe ranged the north coast, at the distance of half a mile, we saw people, huts, canoes, and places built,seemingly for drying of fish. They seemed to be the same sort of people as on Ti-oo-kea, and were armedwith long spikes like them. Drawing near the west end, we discovered another or fourth island, bearing N.N.E. It seemed to be low, like the others, and lies west from the first isle, distant six leagues. These fourisles I called Palliser's Isles, in honour of my worthy friend Sir Hugh Palliser, at this time comptroller ofthe navy.Not chusing to run farther in the dark, we spent the night making short boards under the top-sail; and onthe 20th, at day-break, hauled round the west end of the third isle, which was no sooner done than wefound a great swell rolling in from the south; a sure sign that we were clear of these low islands; and as wesaw no more land, I steered S.W. 1/2 S. for Otaheite, having the advantage of a stout gale at east, attendedwith showers of rain. It cannot be determined with any degree of certainty whether the group of isles wehad lately seen, be any of those discovered by the Dutch navigators, or no; the situation of their discoveriesnot being handed down to us with sufficient accuracy. It is, however, necessary to observe, that this part ofthe ocean, that is, from the latitude of 20° down to 14° or 12°, and from the meridian of 138° to 148° or150° W., is so strewed with these low isles, that a navigator cannot proceed with too much caution.We made the high land of Otaheite on the 21st, and at noon were about thirteen leagues E. of Point Venus,for which we steered, and got pretty well in with it by sun set, when we shortened sail; and having spentthe night, which was squally with rain, standing on and off, at eight o'clock the next morning anchored inMatavai Bay in seven fathoms water. This was no sooner known to the natives, than many of them made usa visit, and expressed not a little joy at seeing us again.[4][4] The following passage both strikingly expresses the satisfaction experienced on again visitingOtaheite, and affords a lively idea of its peerless beauty. "Every person on board gazed continuallyat this species of tropical islands; and though I was extremely ill of my bilious disorder, I crawled ondeck, and fixed my eyes with great eagerness upon it, as upon a place where I hoped my pains would