two ships left for Bolabola on 7th December to get an anchor left by
De Bougainville, in order to make hatchets for exchange, as the demand
had been so great their stock was running short. They had no difficulty
in purchasing it, and it was good enough for their purpose, though not so
heavy as they expected.

They crossed the line on the 23rd in longitude 203 degrees 15 minutes
East without having seen land since leaving Bolabola. Two days after they
picked up a low island and managed to get some turtle, and also a rather
unsatisfactory observation of an eclipse of the sun, the clouds
interfering with the view of the commencement. Their position had been
settled by other observations, so the ill-luck was unimportant. About
three hundred turtle were obtained, averaging from 90 to 100 pounds each,
and as much fish as they could consume during their stay was caught.
Coconuts, yams, and melons were planted, and the island received the name
of Christmas Island.

SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Leaving on 2nd January they did not sight land till the Sandwich Islands
were reached, in latitude 21 degrees 12 minutes 30 seconds North. At the
second one seen, called Atoui by the natives, they were quickly
surrounded by canoes; the occupants, very like the Otaheitans in
appearance and language, were armed with stones, which they threw
overboard as soon as they found they were not likely to be wanted, and
though none could be persuaded to come on board the ships, they freely
parted with fish for anything they could get in exchange. As the ships
sailed on, more canoes came out bringing further supplies, and Cook
rejoiced at arriving at a land of plenty, for his stock of turtle was
just finished, and he was anxious to save his sea stores. At length some
were tempted on board, and were greatly astonished at what they saw, but
their wonder did not last long, and stealing soon broke out as usual.
When they came to an anchor Cook landed and found a favourable place for
watering, so a party was set to work the next day, and found no
difficulty in getting assistance from the islanders, whilst at the same
time a brisk trade was carried on in pigs and potatoes. Cook says: "No
people could trade with more honesty than these people, never once
attempting to cheat us, either ashore or alongside the ship." They seem
to have dropped their thieving very quickly. At night a nasty sea got up,
and as Cook did not like the position of his ship he weighed to run a