less than a hatchet; because, though these people fet a high value upon fpike nails, yet these being an article with which many people in the fhip were provided, the women found a much more eafy way of procuring them than by bringing down provifions.

The best articles for traffick here are axes, hatchets,. fpikes, large nails, looking-glaffes, knives, and beads, for fome of which, every thing that the natives have may be procured. They are indeed fond of fine linen cloth, both white and printed; but an ax worth half a crown, will fetch more than a piece of cloth worth twenty fhillings..

CHAP.

1769.

CHAP. XVII.

A particular Description of the Island; its Produce and
Inhabitants; their Drefs, Habitations, Food,

W

domeftic Life and Amufements.

E found the longitude of Port-Royal bay, in this island, as fettled by Captain Wallis, who difcovered it on the 9th of June 1767, to be within half a degree of the truth. We found Point Venus, the northern extremity of the island, and the eastern point of the bay, to lie in the longitude of 149° 13′ this being the mean result of a great number of obfervations made upon the fpot. The ifland is furrounded by a reef of coral rock, which forms several excellent bays and harbours, fome of which have been particularly defcribed, where there is room and depth of water for any number of the largest fhips. Port-Royal bay, called by the natives Matavai, which is not inferior to any in Otaheite, may easily be known by a very high mountain in the middle of the island, which bears due fouth from Point Venus. To fail into it, either keep the west point of the reef that lies before Point Venus, clofe on board, or give it a birth of near half a mile, in order to avoid a small shoal of coral rocks, on which there is but two fathom and an half of water. The best anchoring is on the eastern side of the bay, where there is fixteen and fourteen fathom upon an oufey bottom. The shore of the bay is a fine fandy beach, behind which runs a river of fresh water, fo that any number of fhips may water here without incommoding each other; but the only wood for firing, upon the whole island, is that of fruit

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