CHAPTER IV.
TAHITI TO NEW ZEALAND.
Remarkable Occurences at Sea.
Friday, July 14th.—Gentle breezes at North-East and Clear weather. I have before made mention of our departure from Royal Bay on the preceeding forenoon, and likewise that I had determined to run down to Huaheine and Ulietea[1] before we stood to the Southward; but having discovered, from the Hills of George's Island, an Island laying to the Northward, we first stood that way to take a nearer View of it. This Island is called Tethuroa.[2] It lies N. ½ W., distant 8 Leagues from Point Venus, and is a small, low, uninhabited Island, frequented by the people of George's Island for fish, with which it is said to abound. At 6 A.M. the Westermost part of York Island bore S.E. ½ S. and the body of George's Island E. ½ S. Punished the 2 Marines who attempted to desert from us at George's Island with 2 Dozen lashes each, and then released them from Confinement. At Noon the body of York Island[3] bore E. by S. ½ S., Royal Bay South 70° 45′ E., distant 61 Miles; and an Island which we took to be Saunder's Island, discovered by Captain Wallace (called by the Natives Topoamanan),[4] bore S.S.W. Latitude observed, 17° 9′ S. Saw land bearing N.W. ½ W., which Tupia calls the Island of Huaheine.
Saturday, 15th. Light airs and Variable between the N. and W.S.W. Clear weather. At 6 p.m. York Island bore S.E., and Huaheine W.N.W., and at 7 a.m. it bore West. Latitude observed at Noon 16° 50′ S. Royal Bay South 37° 30′ E., distant 22 Leagues.
Sunday, 16th. Winds at S. and S.S.E. A Gentle Breeze, with some few showers of rain. At 6 p.m. the Island of Huaheine W. ½ S., distant 7 or 8 leagues. At 8 a.m., being close in with
