breaking on some detached rocks almost
right a-head. This obliged us to keep away a league and a half, when
we again steered to the northward; and, after passing over a bank,
with nineteen fathoms water, stood for a passage between Mowee and an
island called Ranai. At noon the latitude was by observation, 20 deg. 42'
N., and the longitude 203 deg. 22' E.; the southern extremity of Mowee
bearing E.S.E. 1/4 E.; the southern extremity of Ranai W.N.W. 1/4 W.;
Morotoi, N.W. and by N.; and the western extremity of Tahoorowa, S.
by E., seven miles distant. Our longitude was accurately deduced from
observations made by the time-keeper before and after noon, compared
with the longitude found by a great many distances of the moon from
the sun and stars, which were also observed the same day.

In the afternoon, the weather being calm, with light airs from the W.,
we stood on to the N.N.W.; but at sun-set, observing a shoal, which
appeared to stretch to a considerable distance from the W. point
of Mowee, toward the middle of the passage, and the weather being
unsettled, we tacked, and stood toward the S.

The S.W. side of this island, which we now had passed without being
able to get near the shore, forms the same distant view with the N.E.,
as seen on our return from the N., in November 1778; the mountainous
parts, which are connected by a low flat isthmus, appearing at first
like two separate islands. This deception continued on the S.W. side,
till we approached within eight or ten leagues of the coast, which,
bending inward to a great depth, formed a fine capacious bay. The
westernmost point, off which the shoal we have just mentioned runs, is
made remarkable by a small hillock, to the southward of which there
is a fine sandy bay, with several huts on the shore, and a number of
cocoa-nut trees growing about them.

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; enquiring 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, w