James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 127

Discription of the Islands Ulietea Otaha & Bolabola
1769
so called by the Natives & it was not thought adviseable to give them any other Names but these three together with Huaheine Tubai & Mauena as they lay contiguous to one another I have named Society Isles,
[Margin note] Society Isles ~
they are situated between Latde. of 16º:10' & 16 55 S. & between the Longde. of 137º:00 & 151º:42'W from the Meridian of Greenwich, Ulietea & Otaha lay close to each other & are both inclosed within a Reef of Coral Rocks & all the distance between the one & the other is near 2 Miles yet there is no pafsage for Shipping by means of this reef are found several excellent Harbours the entrance into them are but narrow but when a Ship is once in nothing can hurt her, those on the East side have been already described on the W. side of Ulieta which is the largest Island of the 2, are 3 the Northernmost of which I called Oreatanue we lay in, the Channell leading in na ¼ of a Mile wide & lies between 2 low sandy Islands which are the Northernmost small Islands on the side you have good Anchorage between or just within the 2 islands in 20 fa.m  soft Ground this harbour tho' but small yet it is preferable to any on the Island on account of the easy getting of fresh Water & being seated in the most fertile part of the Island. The other 2 harbours lay to the Southward of this & not far from the S. end of the Island in both of them are good Anchorage in 10:12 & 14 fam  water, they are readily known by 3 small
[Margin note] Ulietea
wooded Islands that lay at their entrance, the Southernmost Harbour lies within & to the Southward of of the Southernmost Island & the other lies between the 2 Northern most. There are more Harbours at that end of this Island  and I am inform'd but there were not examin'd by us.
[Margin note] Otaha
Otaha affords 2 very good Harbours, one on the E. side & the other on the W. side that on the E. side called Ohamane hath been already mentioned the other is called Oharurua & lies about the middle of the SW. side of the Island it is pretty large & affords good Anchorage in 20 or 25 fam, & there is no want of fresh Water the breach in the Reef which forms a Channell into this Harbour is ¼ of a Mile broad steep too on both sides & the same may be said of all the others & in general there is no danger but what is Visible ~
[Margin note] Botabola [sic]
The Island of Bolabola lies NW6W from Otaha dist. 4 Leagues it is incompafsed by a reef of Rocks & several small Islands & the Circuit of the whole appear'd to be about 8 Leagues on the SW side of the Islands/ as I am inform'd/ is an opening in the Reef which admits of a Channell into a very good Harbour. This Island is very remarkable on account of a high Craggy hill upon it which Terminates at Top in 2 Peaks one higher than other this hill is so perpendicular that it appears to be quite inafsefsible [inaccessible], the land on Ulietea & Otaha is of a very hilly, broken & uneven surface, except