commencement of the eclipse was only observed by the other three
gentlemen; and by them, with an uncertainty of several seconds, as
follows:--

H. M. S.
By Mr Bayly, at 11 46 23 1/2 }
Mr King, at 11 46 28 }Apparent time.
Capt. Clerke, at 11 47 5 }

Mr Bayly and Mr King observed, with the achromatic telescopes, belonging
to the board of longitude, of equal magnifying powers; and Captain
Clerke observed with one of the reflectors. The sun appeared at
intervals, till about the middle of the eclipse, after which it was seen
no more during the day, so that the end could not be observed. The
disappointment was of little consequence, since the longitude was more
than sufficiently determined, independently of this eclipse, by lunar
observations, which will be mentioned hereafter.

As soon as we knew the eclipse to be over, we packed up the instruments,
took down the observatories, and sent every thing on board that had not
been already removed. As none of the natives had taken the least notice
or care of the three sheep allotted to Mareewagee, I ordered them to be
carried back to the ships. I was apprehensive, that, if I had left them
here, they run great risk of being destroyed by dogs. That animal did
not exist upon this island, when I first visited it in 1773; but I now
found they had got a good many, partly from the breed then left by
myself, and partly from some, imported since that time, from an island
not very remote, called Feejee. The dogs, however, at present, had not
found their way into any of the Friendly Islands, except Tongataboo; and
none but the chiefs there had, as yet, got possession of any.

Being now upon the eve of out departure from this island, I shall add
some particulars about it, and its productions, for which I am indebted
to Mr Anderson. And, having spent as many weeks there, as I had done
days,[169] when I visited it in 1773, the better opportunities that now
occurred, of gaining more accurate information, and the skill of that
gentleman, in directing his enquiries, will, in some measure, supply the
imperfection of my former account of this island.

[Footnote 169: From the 4th to the 7th of October.]

"Amsterdam, Tongataboo, or (as the natives also very frequently called
it) Tonga, is about twenty leagues in circuit, somewhat oblong, though
by much broadest at