CAPTAIN COOK ’S LAST VOYAGE. 729
This group confifts of eleven iflands. They are called by the natives; 1. Owhyhee.2. Mowee. 3. Ranai, or Ornai. 4. Morotinnee, or Morokinne. 5. Kahowrowee, orTahoorowa. 6. Morotoi, or Morokoi. 7. Woahoo, or Oahoo. 8. Atooi, Atowi,or Towi, and fometim'es Kowi. 9. Meeheehow, or Oneeheow. 10. Oreehoua, orReehoua ; and 11. Tahoora; and are all inhabited, except Morotinnee and Tahoora.Belides the iflands above enumerated, we were told by the Indians, that there is anothercalled Modoopapapa, or Kornodoopapapa, which is low and fandy, and vifited only forthe purpofe of catching turtle and fea-fowl.
Tney were named by Captain Cook the Sandwich Iflands, in honour of the Earl ofSandwich, under whofe admini ft ration he had enriched geography with fo many fplendidand important difcoveries; a tribute juftly due to that noble perfon for the liberalfupport thefe voyages derived from his power, in whatever could extend their utility,or promote their fuccefs; for the zeal with which he feconded the views of that greatnavigator ; and, if I may be allowed to add the voice of private gratitude, for thegenerous protection, which, fince the death of their unfortunate commander, he hasafforded all the officers that ferved under him.
Owhyhee, the eafternmoft, and by much the largeft of thefe iflands, is of a triangularffiape, and nearly equilateral. Its greatelt length is 2.8f leagues; its breadth is 24leagues ; and it is about 255 geographical, or 293 Englilh miles in circumference.
The coaft to the north-eaft, which forms the eaftern extremity of the ifland, is lowand flat; the acclivity of the inland parts is very gradual, and the whole country coveredwith cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees. This, as far as we could judge, is the fineft partof the ifland, and we were afterward told that the King had a place of refidence here.On doubling the eaft point of this ifland, we faw a mountain called Mouna Roa,which is fuppofed to be at leaft 16,020 feet high, which exceeds the height of thePico de Teyde, or Peak of Teneriffe , by 724 feet, according to Dr. Heberden’scomputation.
The coaft of Kaoo prefents a profped of the mod horrid and dreary kind: the wholecountry appearing to have undergone a total change, from the efteCts of fome dreadfulconvullion. The ground is every where covered with cinders, and interfered in manyplaces with black ftreaks, which feem to mark the courfe of a lava that has flowed,not many ages back, from the mountain Roa to the Ihore. The fouthern promontorylooks like the mere dregs of a volcano. The projecting headland is compofed of brokenand craggy rocks, piled irregularly on one another, and terminating in lharp points.
The neighbouring fea abounds with a variety of mod excellent filh, with which, aswell as with other provifions, we were always plentifully fupplied. Off this part ofthe coaft we could find no ground at lefs than a cable’s length from the Ihore, with ahundred and fixty fathoms of line, excepting in a finall bight to the eaftward of thefouth point.
The quadrupeds in thefe, as in all the other iflands that have been difcovered in theSouth Sea, are confined to three forts, dogs, hogs, and rats. The dogs are of thefame fpecies with thofe of Qtaheite, having ffiort crooked legs, long backs, and prickedears. I did not obferv'e any variety in them, except in their Ikins ; fome having longand rough hair, and others being quite fmooth. They are about the fize of a commonturnfpit; exceedingly fluggiffi in their nature ; though perhaps this may be moreowing to the manner in which they are treated, than to any natural difpofition in them.They are in general fed and left to herd with the hogs; and I do not recoiled onehiftance in which a dog was made a companion in the manner we do in Europe . In-deed, thecuftom of eating them is an infuperable bar to their admiffion into fociety ;
vol. xi. 5 a and