ing them at Kotoo, to sound along the reef that spits off
from that island for anchorage; for I was full as much tired as they
could be with beating about amongst the surrounding isles and shoals,
and determined to get to an anchor somewhere or other if possible. While
the boat was absent, we attempted to turn the ships through the channel,
between the sandy isle and the reef of Kotoo, in expectation of finding
a moderate depth of water behind them to anchor in. But, meeting with a
tide or current against us, we were obliged to desist, and anchor in
fifty fathoms water, with the sandy isle bearing E. by N. one mile
distant.

We lay here till the 4th of June. While in this station we were several
times visited by the king, by Touboueitoa, and by people from the
neighbouring islands, who came off to trade with us, though the wind
blew very fresh most of the time. The master was now sent to sound the
channels between the islands that lie to the eastward; and I landed on
Kotoo to examine it in the forenoon of the 2d.

This island is scarcely accessible by boats, on account of coral reefs
that surround it. It is not more than a mile and half, or two miles,
long, and not so broad. The N.W. end of it is low, like the islands of
Hapaee; but it rises suddenly in the middle, and terminates in reddish
clayey cliffs at the S.E. end, about thirty feet high. The soil, in that
quarter, is of the same sort as in the cliffs, but in the other parts it
is a loose black mould. It produces the same fruits and roots which we
found at the other islands; is tolerably cultivated, but thinly
inhabited. While I was walking all over it, our people were employed in
cutting some grass for the cattle; and we planted some melon seeds, with
which the natives seemed much pleased, and inclosed them with branches.
On our return to the boat we passed by two or three ponds of dirty
water, which was more or less brackish in each of them; and saw one of
their burying-places, which was much neater than those that were met
with at Hepaee.

On the 4th, at seven in the morning, we weighed, and, with a fresh gale
at E.S.E., stood away for Annamooka, where we anchored next morning,
nearly in the same station which we had so lately occupied.

I went on shore soon after, and found the inhabitants very busy in their
plantations, digging up yams to bring to market; and, in the course of
the day, about two hundred of them had assembled on the beach, and
traded with