nt heights and forms, are planted with
cocoanuts and other trees, and the houses of a larger size than we had
usually seen on the islands in these seas; were on the tops of hills of
moderate height. We passed from S.E. end to the East, round to the North
and N.W.

Landing appeared to be very indifferent until we came near the N.W.,
where the land formed itself into a kind of bay, and where the landing
appeared to be better. The natives brought on board cocoanuts and
plantains, all of which I bought, and made them a present of a few
articles of iron. They told us that they had water, hogs, fowls and yams
on shore and plenty of wood. They spoke nearly the same language as at
the Friendly Islands. It lies in latitude 15 deg. 53' S. and longitude 175 deg.
51' W. I was now convinced that I was rather further to the Westward than
I expected, and examining the island had carried me still further that
way. I therefore gave up my intention of visiting Boscowen's and Keppel's
islands,[63-1] as the regaining the Easting necessary would take up more
time than would be prudent to allow at this advanced time of the season,
and as soon as I had made the necessary inquiries, &c., after the
_Bounty_, &c., our course was shaped with a view to fall in to the
Eastward of Wallis' Island,[63-2] and the next day, the 5th, a little
before noon saw that island bearing West by South, estimated by the
master at ten leagues, but I did not myself suppose it to be more than
seven leagues from us at that time.

Canoes came off to us and brought us cocoanuts and fish, which they sold
for nails, and I also made them a present of some small articles which I
always made a rule to do to first adventurers, hoping that it might turn
out advantageous to future visitors, but they went away before I had
given them all I intended. They told us that there was running water,
hogs and fowls on shore. They spoke the language of the Friendly Islands,
and I observed that one of the men had both of his little fingers cut
off, and the flesh over his cheekbones very much bruised after the manner
of the natives of those islands.[64-1]

In the evening I bore away and made sail to the Westward intending to run
between Espiritu Santo and Santa Cruz, and to keep between the tracks of
Captain Carteret and Lt. Bligh, and on the 8th at 10 at night saw land
bearing from the W. by S. We had no ground at 110 fathoms. At daylight I
bore away and passed round the East end and ran