much farther to the eastward, and ended at Cocos and Horn Islands.  It was not surprising, that when I visited Tongataboo, in 1773, I should find a bit of iron there, as we knew that Tasman had visited it before me; but let us suppose, that he had never discovered the Friendly Islands, our finding iron, amongst them would have occasioned much speculation; though we have mentioned before the method by which they had gained a renewal of their knowledge of this metal, which confirms my hypothesis.  For Neeootaboo taboo, or Boscawen’s Island, where Captain Wallis’s ships left it, and from whence Poulaho received it, lies some degrees to the north-west of Tongataboo.  It is well known, that Roggewein lost one of his ships on the Pernicious Islands; which, from their situation, are probably not unknown to, though not frequently visited by, the inhabitants of Otaheite and the Society Islands.  It is equally certain, that these last people had a knowledge of iron, and purchased it with the greatest avidity, when Captain Wallis discovered Otaheite; and this knowledge could only have been acquired through the medium of those neighbouring islands where it had been originally left.  Indeed, they acknowledge that this was actually the case; and they have told us since, that they held it in such estimation before Captain Wallis’s arrival, that a chief of Otaheite, who had got two nails into his possession, received no small emolument, by letting out the use of these to his neighbours for the purpose of boring holes, when their own methods failed, or were thought too tedious.[3] The men of the Society Islands whom we found at Wateeoo, had been driven thither, long after the knowledge and use of iron had thus been introduced amongst their countrymen; and though probably they had no specimen of it with them, they would naturally, and with ease, communicate at that island their knowledge of this valuable material by description.  From the people of Wateeoo, again, those of Hervey’s Island might derive that desire to possess some of it, of which we had proofs during our short intercourse with them.

[Footnote 2:  Captain King, we are told, purchased this, and had it in his possession at the time of publishing this account.—­E.]

[Footnote 3:  A similar instance of profitable revenue, drawn from the use of nails by the chiefs of the Caroline Islands, is mentioned by Father Cantova:  “Si, par hazard, un vaisseau etranger laisse dans leurs Isles quelques vieux morceaux de fer, ils appartiennent de droit aux Tamoles, qui en font faire des outils, le mieux qu’il est possible.  Ces outils sent un fond le Tamole tire un revenu considerable, car il les donne a louage, et ce louage se paye assez chere.”—­P. 314.]