ast, there were many little heaps of stones,
piled up in different places along the coast. Two or three of the uppermost
stones in each pile were generally white, perhaps always so, when the pile
is complete. It will hardly be doubted that these piles of stone had a
meaning; probably they might mark the place where people had been buried,
and serve instead of the large statues.

The working-tools of these people are but very mean, and, like those of all
the other islanders we have visited in this ocean, made of stone, bone,
shells, &c. They set but little value on iron or iron tools, which is the
more extraordinary, as they know their use; but the reason may be, their
having but little occasion for them.

CHAPTER IX.

_The Passage from Easter Island to the Marquesas Islands. Transactions
and Incidents which happened while the Ship lay in Madre de Dios, or
Resolution Bay, in the Island of St Christina._

1774 March

After leaving Easter Island, I steered N.W. by N. and N.N.W., with a fine
easterly gale, intending to touch at the Marquesas, if I met with nothing
before I got there. We had not been long at sea, before the bilious
disorder made another attack upon me, but not so violent as the former. I
believe this second visit was owing to exposing and fatiguing myself too
much at Easter Island.

On the 22d, being in the latitude of 19 deg. 20' S., longitude 114 deg. 49' W.,
steered N.W. Since leaving Easter Island, the variation had not been more
than 3 deg. 4', nor less than 2 deg. 32' E.; but on the 26th, at six a.m., in
latitude 15 deg. 7' S., longitude 119 deg. 45' W., it was no more than 1 deg. 1' E.;
after which it began to increase.

On the 29th, being in the latitude of 10 deg. 20', longitude 123 deg. 58' W.,
altered the course to W.N.W., and the next day to west, being then in
latitude 9 deg. 24', which I judged to be the parallel of Marquesas; where, as
I have before observed, I intended to touch, in order to settle their
situation, which I find different in different charts. Having now a steady
settled trade-wind, and pleasant weather, I ordered the forge to be set up,
to repair and make various necessary articles in the iron way; and the
caulkers had already been some time at work caulking the decks, weather-
works, &c.

1774 April

As we advanced to the west, we found the variation to increase but slowly;
for, on the 3d of April, it was only 4 deg. 40' E., being then in the latitude
of 9 deg. 32',