rom our workmen.

On the 25th, two boats, which I had sent to look for a channel, by which
we might, most commodiously, get to sea, returned. The masters, who
commanded them, reported, that the channel to the north, by which we
came in, was highly dangerous, being full of coral rocks from one side
to the other; but that, to the eastward, there was a very good channel,
which, however, was very much contracted in one place by the small
islands, so that a leading wind would be requisite to get through it;
that is, a westerly wind, which, we had found, did not often blow here.
We had now recruited the ships with wood and water, we had finished the
repairs of our sails, and had little more to expect from the inhabitants
of the produce of their island. However, as an eclipse of the sun was to
happen upon the 5th of next month, I resolved to defer sailing till that
time had elapsed, in order to have a chance of observing it.

Having, therefore, some days of leisure before me, a party of us,
accompanied by Poulaho, set out, early next morning, in a boat for Mooa,
the village where he and the other great men usually reside. As we rowed
up the inlet, we met with fourteen canoes fishing in company, in one of
which was Poulaho's son. In each canoe was a triangular net, extended
between two poles; at the lower end of which was a cod to receive and
secure the fish. They had already caught some fine mullets, and they put
about a dozen into our boat. I desired to see their method of fishing,
which they readily complied with. A shoal of fish was supposed to be
upon one of the banks, which they instantly inclosed in a long net like
a seine, or set-net. This the fishers, one getting into the water out of
each boat, surrounded with the triangular nets in their hands, with
which they scooped the fish out of the seine, or caught them as they
attempted to leap over it. They shewed us the whole process of this
operation, (which seemed to be a sure one,) by throwing in some of the
fish they had already caught; for, at this time, there happened to be
none upon the bank that was inclosed.

Leaving the prince and his fishing party, we proceeded to the bottom of
the bay, and landed where we had done before, on our fruitless errand to
see Mareewagee. As soon as we got on shore, the king desired Omai to
tell me, that I need be under no apprehensions about the boat, or any
thing in her, for not a single article would be touched by any one; and
we af