Both Mr Cooper and myself being on shore at noon, Mr Wales could not wind up the watch at the usual time; and, as we did not come on board till late in the afternoon, it was forgotten till it was down.  This circumstance was of no consequence, as Mr Wales had had several altitudes of the sun at this place, before it went down; and also had opportunities of taking some after.

At day-break on the 29th, having got under sail with a light breeze at west, we stood to the north for the two high islands; but the wind, scanting upon us, carried us in amongst the low isles and shoals; so that, we had to ply, to clear them.  This gave time for a great many canoes to get up with us.  The people in them brought for traffic various articles; some roots, fruits, and fowls, but of the latter not many.  They took in exchange small nails, and pieces of any kind of cloth.  I believe, before they went away, they stripped the most of our people of the few clothes the ladies at Otaheite had left them; for the passion for curiosities was as great as ever.  Having got clear of the low isles, we made a stretch to the south, and did but fetch a little to windward of the south end of Anamocka; so that we got little by this day’s plying.  Here we spent the night, making short boards over that space with which we had made ourselves acquainted the preceding day.

On the 30th at day-break, stretched out for Amattafoa, with a gentle breeze at W.S.W.  Day no sooner dawned than we saw canoes coming from all parts.  Their traffic was much the same as it had been the day before, or rather better; for out of one canoe I got two pigs, which were scarce articles here.  At four in the afternoon, we drew near the island of Amattafoa, and passed between it and Oghao, the channel being two miles broad, safe, and without soundings.  While we were in the passage, we had little wind and calms.  This gave time for a large sailing double canoe, which had been following us all the day, as well as some others with paddles, to come up with us.  I had now an opportunity to verify a thing I was before in doubt about, which was, whether or no some of these canoes did not, in changing tacks, only shift the sail, and so proceed with that end foremost, which before was the stern.  The one we now saw wrought in this manner.  The sail is latteen, extending to a latteen yard above, and to a boom at the foot; in one word, it is like a whole mizzen, supposing the whole foot to be extended to a boom.  The yard is slung nearly in the middle, or upon an equipoise.  When they change tacks they throw the vessel up in the wind, ease off the sheet, and bring the heel or tack-end of the yard to the other end of the boat, and the sheet in like manner; there are notches, or sockets, at each end of the vessel in which the end of the yard fixes.  In short, they work just as those do at the Ladrone Islands, according to Mr Walter’s description.[1] When they want to sail large, or before the wind, the yard is taken