more than probable that these 6 Proes were built at some of these Islands. In these Proes, or Pahies as they call them, from all the accounts we can learn, these people sail in those Seas from Island to Island for several hundred Leagues, the Sun serving them for a Compass by day, and the Moon and Stars by night. When this comes to be proved, we shall be no longer at a loss to know how the Islands lying in those Seas came to be peopled; for if the inhabitants of Ulietea have been at Islands laying 2 or 300 Leagues to the Westward of them, it cannot.be doubted but that the inhabitants of those Western Islands may have been at others as far to Westward of them, and so we may trace them from Island to Island quite to the East Indies.
Tupia tells us that during the months of Nov., Dec. and Jan. Westerly winds, with rain, prevail; and as the inhabitants of the Islands know very well how to make the proper use of the winds, there will no difficulty arise in Trading or Sailing from Island to Island, even tho' they lie in an East and West direction.[1]
Remarkable Occurrences in the South Seas.
Thursday, August 10th.—P.M., Light Airs and Calm, remainder fresh breezes and Cloudy. At 6 p.m. the South end of Ulietea S.E. ½ E., distant 4 Leagues; but I take my departure from the Harbour, saild from in Lat. 16° 46′ S., and Long. 151° 27′ W. At 7 a.m. found the Variation to be 5° 50′ E. Wind Easterly; course S. 16° W.; distance 50 m.; Lat. obs. 17° 34′ S., long. 151° 41′ W.
Friday, 11th.—Fresh breezes and Clear weather. Wind E.; course S. 4° W.; distance 85 m.; lat. 18° 59′ S., long. 151° 45′ W.
Saturday, 12th.—Gentle breezes and fair weather. Wind E., E. by N.; course S. 16° E.; distance 77 m.; lat. 20° 15′ S., long. 151° 36′ W.
Sunday, 13th.—Moderate breezes and Clear weather. Variation 5° 40′ East. Wind E. by N.; course S. 16° E.; distance 96 m.; lat. 21° 47′ S., long. 151° 9′ W.
Monday, 14th.—Fresh breezes and fair weather. At 2 p.m. saw land bearing S.E., which Tupia calls the Island of Ohetiroa.[2] At 6 was within 2 or 3 Leagues of it, the Extreams bearing from S. by E. to S.E.; shortned sail and stood off and on all night; at 6 a.m. made Sail and stood in for the Land and run to Leeward
- ↑ This paragraph is from the Admiralty copy of Cook's Journal. This fact is now well known. The islands here described, the Society Islands of Cook, and now known as the Leeward Group of the Society Islands, were generally under the dominion of Tahiti. At the time of Cook's visit, the chief of Bolabola was supreme over most of the group, and their tie to Tahiti was but slight. They are all very beautiful and fertile. Within the last decade they have formally been recognised as belonging to France.
- ↑ Rurutu, one of the Tubuai or Austral Group. They are now under French protectorate.
