ly proves: for to
the friendly and endearing behaviour of these people may be ascribed the
motives for that event which effected the ruin of an expedition that
there was every reason to hope would have been completed in the most
fortunate manner.

To enter into a description of the island or its inhabitants I look upon
as superfluous. From the accounts of former voyages and the facts which I
have related the character of the people will appear in as true a light
as by any description in my power to give. The length of time that we
remained at Otaheite, with the advantage of having been there before,
gave me opportunities of making perhaps a more perfect vocabulary of the
language than has yet appeared; but I have chosen to defer it for the
present as there is a probability that I may hereafter be better
qualified for such a task.

We left Otaheite with only two patients in the venereal list, which shows
that the disease has not gained ground. The natives say that it is of
little consequence, and we saw several instances of people that had been
infected who, after absenting themselves for 15 or 20 days, made their
appearance again without any visible symptom remaining of the disease.
Their method of cure I am unacquainted with; but their customary diet and
mode of living must contribute towards it. We saw a great many people
however with scrofulous habits and bad sores: these they denied to be
produced from any venereal cause; and our surgeon was of the same
opinion.

The result of the mean of 50 sets of lunar observations taken by me on
shore gives for the Longitude of Point Venus 210 degrees 33 minutes 57
seconds east.

Captain Cook in 1769 places it in 210 degrees 27 minutes 30 seconds east.

In 1777, his last voyage, 210 degrees 22 minutes 28 seconds east.

The tide in Toahroah harbour was very inconsiderable and not regular. The
greatest rise that I observed was 11 inches; but what was most singular
the time of high-water did not appear to be governed by the moon, it
being at the highest every day between noon and two o'clock. The variable
winds and weather at this time of the year has no doubt an influence on
the tides: on some days scarce any rise was perceptible.

CHAPTER 12.

At the Island Huaheine.
A Friend of Omai visits the Ship.
Leave the Society Islands.
A Water-spout.
The Island Whytootackee discovered.
Anchor in Annamooka Road.
Our Parties on Shore robbed by the Natives.
Sail from Annamook