y were subject to
Teerevatooeah, king of Wateeoo.[155] According to the account that they
gave, their articles of food are cocoa-nuts, fish, and turtle; the
island not producing plantains, or bread-fruit, and being destitute of
hogs and dogs. Their canoes, of which near thirty were, at one time, in
sight, are pretty large, and well built. In the construction of the
stern, they bear some resemblance to those of Wateeoo; and the head
projects out nearly in the same manner, but the extremity is turned up
instead of down.

[Footnote 155: The reader will observe, that this name bears little
affinity to anyone of the names of the three chiefs of Wateeoo, as
preserved by Mr Anderson.--D.]

Having but very little wind, it was one o'clock before we drew near the
N.W. part of the island, the only part where there seemed to be any
probability of finding anchorage for our ships, or a landing-place for
our boats. In this position I sent Lieutenant King, with two armed
boats, to sound and reconnoitre the coast, while we stood off and on
with the ships. The instant the boats were hoisted out, our visitors in
the canoes, who had remained alongside all the while, bartering their
little trifles, suspended their traffic, and, pushing for the shore as
fast as they could, came near us no more.

At three o'clock the boats returned, and Mr King informed me, "That
there was no anchorage for the ships, and that the boats could only land
on the outer edge of the reef, which lay about a quarter of a mile from
the dry land. He said that a number of the natives came down upon the
reef, armed with long pikes and clubs, as if they intended to oppose his
landing. And yet, when he drew near enough, they threw some cocoa-nuts
to our people, and invited them to come on shore, though, at the very
same time, he observed that the women were very busy bringing down a
fresh supply of spears and darts. But, as he had no motive to land, he
did not give them an opportunity to use them."

Having received this report, I considered, that, as the ships could not
be brought to an anchor, we should find that the attempt to procure
grass here would occasion much delay, as well as be attended with some
danger. Besides, we were equally in want of water; and though the
inhabitants had told us that there was water on their island, yet we
neither knew in what quantity, nor from what distance we might be
obliged to fetch it. And, after all, supposing no other obstruction