While we were lying-to, though the wind blew fresh, I observed that the ships drifted to the east, consequently there must have been a current setting in that direction.  This encouraged me to ply to windward, with a view to get round the east end of the island, and so have the whole lee-side before us.  In the afternoon of the 30th, being off the N.E. end of the island, several canoes came off to the ships.  Most of these belonged to a chief, named Terreeoboo, who came in one of them.  He made me a present of two or three small pigs; and we got, by barter, from the other people, a little fruit.  After a stay of about two hours they all left us, except six or eight of their company, who chose to remain on board.  A double-sailing canoe came soon after to attend upon them, which we towed astern all night.  In the evening, we discovered another island to windward, which the natives call Owhyhee.  The name of that, off which we had been for some days, we were also told is Mowee.

On the 1st of December, at eight in the morning, Owhyhee extended from S., 22’ E, to S. 12 deg.  W.; and Mowee from N. 41 deg. to N. 83 deg.  W. Finding that we could fetch Owhyhee, I stood for it; and our visitors from Mowee not choosing to accompany us, embarked in their canoe, and went ashore.  At seven in the evening, we were close up with the north side of Owhyhee; where we spent the night, standing off and on.

In the morning of the 2d, we were surprised to see the summits of the mountains on Owhyhee covered with snow.  They did not appear to be of any extraordinary height; and yet, in some places, the snow seemed to be of a considerable depth, and to have lain there some time.  As we drew near the shore, some of the natives came off to us.  They were a little shy at first; but we soon enticed some of them on board; and at last prevailed upon them to return to the island, and bring off what we wanted.  Soon after they reached the shore, we had company enough; and few coming empty-handed, we got a tolerable supply of small pigs, fruit, and roots.  We continued trading with them till six in the evening; when we made sail, and stood off, with a view of plying to windward round the island.

In the evening of the 4th, we observed an eclipse of the moon.  Mr King made use of a night-telescope, a circular aperture being placed at the object end, about one-third of the size of the common aperture.  I observed with the telescope of one of Ramsden’s sextants; which, I think, answers this purpose as well as any other.  The following times are the means, as observed by us both: 

Longitude.
6^h 3’ 25” beginning of the eclipse 204 deg. 40’ 45”
8 27 25 end of the eclipse 204 25 15
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Mean 204 35 0