In the country was an elevated saddle hill, whose summit appeared above the clouds.  From this hill, the land fell in a gentle slope, and terminated in a steep rocky coast, against which the sea broke in a dreadful surf.  Finding that we could not weather the island, I bore up, and ranged along the coast to the westward.  It was not long before we saw people on several parts of the shore, and some houses and plantations.  The country seemed to be both well wooded and watered, and running streams were seen falling into the sea in various places.

As it was of the last importance to procure a supply of provisions at these islands; and experience having taught me that I could have no chance to succeed in this if a free trade with the natives were to be allowed; that is, if it were left to every man’s discretion to trade for what he pleased, and in the manner he pleased; for this substantial reason, I now published an order, prohibiting all persons from trading, except such as should be appointed by me and Captain Clerke; and even these were enjoined to trade only for provisions and refreshments.  Women were also forbidden to be admitted into the ships, except under certain restrictions.  But the evil I meant to prevent by this regulation, I soon found, had already got amongst them.

At noon, the coast extended from S., 81 deg.  E., to N. 56 deg.  W.; a low flat, like an isthmus, bore S., 42 deg.  W.; the nearest shore three or four miles distant; the latitude was 20 deg. 59’, and the longitude 203 deg. 50’.  Seeing some canoes coming off to us, I brought-to.  As soon as they got alongside, many of the people, who conducted them, came into the ship, without the least hesitation.  We found them to be of the same nation with the inhabitants of the islands more to leeward, which we had already visited; and, if we did not mistake them, they knew of our having been there.  Indeed, it rather appeared too evident; for these people had got amongst them, the venereal distemper; and, as yet, I knew of no other way of its reaching them but by an intercourse with their neighbours since our leaving them.

We got from our visitors a quantity of cuttle-fish for nails and pieces of iron.  They brought very little fruit and roots; but told us that they had plenty or them on their island, as also hogs and fowls.  In the evening, the horizon being clear to the westward, we judged the westernmost land in sight to be an island, separated from that off which we now were.  Having no doubt that the people would return to the ships next day, with the produce of their country, I kept plying off all night, and in the morning stood close in shore.  At first, only a few of the natives visited us; but, toward noon, we had the company of a good many, who brought with them bread-fruit, potatoes, tarro, or eddy roots, a few plantains, and small pigs; all of which they exchanged for nails and iron tools.  Indeed, we had nothing else to give them.  We continued trading with, them till four o’clock in the afternoon, when, having disposed of all their cargoes, and not seeming inclined to fetch more, we made sail, and stood off shore.