t half east one
mile distant.

This passage of fifty-two days from Van Diemen's Land may be rated as
moderate sailing. We passed New Zealand with the spring equinox and the
winds, though strong, were at no time violent. To the southward of 40
degrees 0 minutes south they were variable; between the latitudes of 40
and 33 degrees south the wind kept in the north-west quarter; afterwards
till we got into the trade the winds were variable, mostly from the
eastward, but light and inclinable to calms. The ship was 3 degrees 22
minutes in longitude to the eastward of the dead reckoning, which the
timekeeper almost invariably proved to be owing to a current giving us
more easting than the log. Our track was as distant from any course of
former ships as I could conveniently make it and, though we made no new
discoveries, except the small cluster of islands near New Zealand, yet in
other parts of the track, as has been noticed, we met with signs of being
in the neighbourhood of land.

It may not be unworthy of remark that the whole distance which the ship
had run by the log, in direct and contrary courses, from leaving England
to our anchoring at Otaheite, was twenty-seven thousand and eighty-six
miles which, on an average, is at the rate of a hundred and eight miles
each twenty-four hours.

CHAPTER 6.

Account of an English Ship lately sailed from Otaheite.
Death of Omai.
Captain Cook's Picture sent on board.
Otoo visits the Ship.
His Visit returned.
Natives well disposed towards us.
Account of the Cattle left by Captain Cook.
Breadfruit plants promised.
Visit to the Earee Rahie.
Presents made to the Arreoys.

1788. October. Sunday 26.

The ship being anchored, our number of visitors continued to increase;
but as yet we saw no person that we could recollect to have been of much
consequence. Some inferior chiefs made me presents of a few hogs and I
made them presents in return. We were supplied with coconuts in great
abundance but breadfruit was scarce.

Many enquiries were made after Captain Cook, Sir Joseph Banks, and many
of their former friends. They said a ship had been here from which they
had learnt that Captain Cook was dead; but the circumstances of his death
they did not appear to be acquainted with; and I had given particular
directions to my officers and ship's company that they should not be
mentioned. The ship spoken of, they informed me, stayed at Otaheite one
month and had been gone four months, by