The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VII. Being the Third of the Third VoyageKing, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. VII. Being the Third of the Third Voyage
King, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
During the course of the day, we were visited by several of the natives,
who came off to sell provisions; and we soon found, that they had heard
of our late unfortunate transactions at Owhyhee. They were very curious
to learn the particulars from a woman who had concealed herself on board
the Resolution, in order to take her passage to Atooi; inquiring eagerly
after Pareea, and some other chiefs, and appearing much shocked at the
death of Kaneena, and his brother. We had, however, the satisfaction to
find, that in whatever light the woman might have represented this
business, it had no bad effect on their behaviour, which was remarkably
civil and submissive.
The weather continued variable during the night; but in the morning of
the 25th, having the wind at east, we ran along the south side of Ranai,
till near noon; after which, we had calms and baffling winds till
evening, when we steered, with a light easterly breeze, for the west
part of Morotoi. In the course of the day, the current, which, from the
time we left Karakakooa Bay, had set from the north-east, changed its
direction to the south-east.
During the night the wind was again variable; but early next morning, it
settled at east, and blew so fresh as to oblige us to double-reef the
topsails. At seven, on hauling round the west point of Morotoi, we
opened a small bay, at the distance of about two leagues, with a fine
sandy beach; but seeing no appearance of fresh water, we stood on to the
north, in order to get to the windward of Woahoo, an island which we had
seen at our first visit, in January 1778.
At two in the afternoon, we saw the land, bearing west by north, eight
leagues distant; and having tacked as soon as it was dark, we again bore
away at day-light on the 27th; and at half past ten, were within a
league of the shore, near the middle of the north-east side of the
island.
The coast, to the northward, is formed of detached hills, rising
perpendicularly from the sea, with ragged and broken summits; the sides
covered with wood, and the valleys between them of a fertile and well
cultivated appearance. To the southward, we saw an extensive bay,
bounded by a low point of land to the south-east which was covered with
cocoa-nut trees; and off it stood a high insulated rock, about a mile
from the shore. The haziness of the weather prevented our seeing
distinctly the land to the southward of the point; we could only
perceive that it was high and broken.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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