out of the socket and squared.  It most be observed, that all their sailing vessels are not rigged to sail in the same manner.  Some, and those of the largest size, are rigged, so as to tack about.  These have a short but pretty stout mast, which steps on a kind of roller that is fixed to the deck near the fore-part.  It is made to lean or incline very much forward; the head is forked; on the two points of which the yard rests, as on two pivots, by means of two strong cleats of wood secured to each side of the yard, at about one-third its length from the tack or heel, which, when under sail, is confined down between the two canoes, by means of two strong ropes, one to and passing through a hole at the head of each canoe; for it must be observed, that all the sailing vessels of this sort are double.  The tack being thus fixed, it is plain that, in changing tacks, the vessels must be put about; the sail and boom on the one tack will be clear of the mast, and on the other it will lie against it, just as a whole mizzen.  However, I am not sure if they do not sometimes unlace that part of the sail from the yard which is between the tack and mast-head, and so shift both sail and boom leeward of the mast.  The drawings which Mr Hodges made of these vessels seem to favour this supposition.  The outriggers and ropes used for shrowds, &c. are all stout and strong.  Indeed, the sail, yard, and boom, are all together of such an enormous weight, that strength is required.

The summit of Amattafoa was hid in the clouds the whole day, so that we were not able to determine with certainty whether there was a volcano or no; but every thing we could see concurred to make us believe there was.  This island is about five leagues in circuit.  Oghao is not so much; but more round and peaked.  They lie in the direction of N.N.W. 1/2 W. from Anamocka, eleven or twelve leagues distant; they are both inhabited, but neither of them seemed fertile.

We were hardly through the passage before we got a fresh breeze at south.  That moment all the natives made haste to be gone, and we steered to the west; all sails set.  I had some thoughts of touching at Amsterdam, as it lay not much out of the way; but as the wind was now, we could not fetch it; and this was the occasion of my laying my design aside altogether.

Let us now return to Anamocka, as it is called by the natives.  It is situated in the latitude of 20 deg. 15’ S.; longitude 174 deg. 31’ W., and was first discovered by Tasman, and by him named Rotterdam.  It is of a triangular form, each side whereof is about three and a half or four miles.  A salt-water lake in the middle of it occupies not a little of its surface, and in a manner cuts off the S.E. angle.  Round the island, that is, from the N.W. to the S., round by the N. and E., lie scattered a number of small isles, sand-banks, and breakers.  We could see no end to their extent to the N.; and it is not impossible that they reach as far S. as Amsterdam or Tongatabu.  These, together