Transcription

Remarkable Occurrences in the South Seas~

We steer'd to the Southw.d [Left Note in margin]

PM. Light Airs & Calm. remainder fresh breezes & Cloudy at 6 PM the South end of Ulietea I E½E.t dist. 4 Leagues but take my departure from the Harbour saild from in Lat.de 16o:46' Sº. & Long.de 151o.27'W.t at 7AM found the Var.n to be 5o:50'E.t


Fresh breezes & Clear weather~
Gentle breezes & fair weather~
Mod.te breezes & Clear weather Variation o5:40' East~
Fresh breezes & fair wea.r at 2PM saw land bearing SE.t which Tupia calls the Island of Ohetiroa at 6 was within 2 or 3 Leagues of it, the Extreams bearing from SbE to SE shortened sail & stood off & on all night at 6 AM made Sail & stood in for the Land & run to Leeward of the Island keeping close in shore all the time saw several of the Natives as we run along shore but in no great Numbers. at 9 hoisted out the Pinnace & sent Lieutenant Gores Mr Banks & Tupia to endeavour to land upon the Island & to speak with the Natives & to try if they could learn from them what lands lay to the Southward of us. & likewise to see if there was Anchorage in a Bay which appear'd to our View, not that I intended to Anchor or make any stay here ~
Fresh breezes & fair wea.r at 2PM the Pinnace return'd onboard without landing not but what it was practicable but they did not think it Altogether safe with only one Boat as it would have been attended with some danger on acco.t of the Surf & Rocks upon the Shore, the Natives were Arm'd & Shewd no Signs either of fear or Friendship. some of them came off to the Boat in a Canoe & had some Nails & Beads given them but with these they were not Satisfied thinking that they had a right to every thing in the Boat & at last grew so troublesome that in order to get clear of them our People were obliged to fire some Musquets. but with no intent to hurt any of them however it so hapned that one Man was slightly wounded in the head. the firing had the desir'd effect & they thought fit to retire, after this as the Boat lay near the Shore some of them waded off to her & brought with them some Trifles which they parted with for small Nails &ct. They seem'd desirous that our People should land, but this was looked upon as a peice of Policy in them to get the whole Boat Crew in their power, however this was not attempted as I had given orders to run no Risk the Bay they went into which lies on the W, side of the Island had in it 25 fa.m Water but the bottom was very foul & Rocky we had now made the Circuit of the Island/ which did not appear to the best advantage & I found that there was neither a Harbour or safe Anchorage about it therefore I thought the landing upon it would be attended with no advantage either to our selves or any future

 

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