Accounts of Otaheite still imperfect.—The prevailing Winds.— 131 Beauty of the Country.—Cultivation.—Natural Curiosities.—The Persons of the Natives.—Diseases.—General Character.—Love of Pleasure.—Language.—Surgery and Physic.—Articles of Food.— Effects of drinking Ava.—Times and Manner of Eating.— Connections with the Females.—Circumcision.—System of Religion.—Notions about the Soul and a future Life.—Various Superstitions.—Traditions about the Creation.—An Historical Legend.—Honours paid to the King.—Distinction of Ranks.— Punishment of Crimes.—Peculiarities of the neighbouring Islands.—Names of their Gods.—Names of Islands they visit.— Extent of their Navigation CHAP. X. Progress of the Voyage, after leaving the Society Islands.— 166 Christmas Island discovered, and Station of the Ships there.—Boats sent ashore.—Great Success in catching Turtle.— An Eclipse of the Sun observed.—Distress of two Seamen who had lost their Way.—Inscription left in a Bottle.—Account of the Island.—Its Soil.—Trees and Plants.—Birds.—Its Size.— Form.—Situation.—Anchoring-ground CHAP. XI. Some Islands discovered.—Account of the Natives of Atooi, 176 who come off to the Ships, and their Behaviour on going on board.—One of them killed.—Precautions used to prevent Intercourse with the Females.—A Watering-place found.— Reception upon landing.—Excursion into the Country.—A Morai visited and described.—Graves of the Chiefs, and of the human Sacrifices there buried.—Another Island, called Oneehow, visited.—Ceremonies performed by the Natives, who go off to the Ships.—Reasons for believing that they are Cannibals.—A Party sent ashore, who remain two Nights.— Account of what passed on landing.—The Ships leave the Islands, and proceed to the North CHAP. XII. The Situation of the Islands now discovered.—Their Names.— 204 Called the Sandwich Islands.—Atooi described.—The Soil.— Climate.—Vegetable Productions.—Birds.—Fish.—Domestic Animals.—Persons of the Inhabitants.—Their Disposition.— Dress—Ornaments.—Habitations.—Food.—Cookery.—Amusements.— Manufactures.—Working-tools.—Knowledge of Iron accounted for.—Canoes.—Agriculture.—Account of one of their Chiefs.— Weapons.—Customs agreeing with those of Tongataboo, and Otaheite.—Their Language the same.—Extent of this Nation throughout the Pacific Ocean.—Reflections on the useful Situation of the Sandwich Islands CHAP. XIII.