The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VI. Being the Second of the Third VoyageCook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VI. Being the Second of the Third Voyage
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
It is worthy of observation, that the islands in the Pacific Ocean,
which our late voyages have added to the geography of the globe, have
been generally found lying in groups or clusters; the single
intermediate islands, as yet discovered, being few in proportion to the
others; though, probably, there are many more of them still unknown,
which serve as steps between the several clusters. Of what number this
newly-discovered Archipelago consists, must be left for future
investigation. We saw five of them, whose names, as given to us by the
natives, are Woahoo, Atooi, Oneeheow, Oreehoua, and Tahoora. The last is
a small elevated island, lying four or five leagues from the south-east
point of Oneeheow, in the direction of south, 69° W. We were told, that
it abounds with birds, which are its only inhabitants. We also got some
information of the existence of a low, uninhabited island, in the
neighbourhood, whose name is Tammata pappa. Besides these six, which we
can distinguish by their names, it appeared, that the inhabitants of
those with whom we had intercourse, were acquainted with some other
islands both to the eastward and westward. I named the whole group the
Sandwich Islands, in honour of the Earl of Sandwich. Those that I saw,
are situated between the latitude of 21° 30ʹ, and 22° 15ʹ N., and
between the longitude of 199° 20ʹ, and 201° 30ʹ East.
Of Woahoo, the most easterly of these islands seen by us, which lies in
the latitude of 21° 36ʹ, we could get no other intelligence, but that it
is high land, and is inhabited.
We had opportunities of knowing some particulars about Oneeheow, which
have been mentioned already. It lies several leagues to the westward of
our anchoring place at Atooi; and is not above fifteen leagues in
circuit. Its chief vegetable produce is yams; if we may judge from what
was brought to us by the natives. They have salt, which they call
_patai_; and is produced in salt ponds. With it they cure both fish and
pork; and some salt fish, which we got from them, kept very well, and
were found to be very good. This island is mostly low land, except the
part facing Atooi, which rises directly from the sea to a good height;
as does also the south-east point of it, which terminates in a round
hill. It was on the west side of this point where our ships anchored.
Of Oreehoua we know nothing more than that it is a small elevated
island, lying close to the north side of Oneeheow.
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