d the longitude
162 deg. 23' east. We now daily found the vessel set considerably
to the northward and westward, and on the 16th she was set 48
miles west-north-west during the 24 hours.

A different kind of sea-fowl was seen about the vessel to any
we had hitherto met with; it was of the ganet kind; the back,
wings, and head being a glossy black, and the breast entirely
white.

At ten o'clock in the morning of the 19th, we saw an island
bearing west by north six or seven leagues distant: the latitude
at noon, was 1 deg. 44' south, and the longitude 150 deg. 39'
east. With a fine breeze at east-south-east, we steered for the
island, as it lay directly in our course, and soon perceived that
it was inhabited, as we saw a number of people standing on the
south point, and a great many canoes were coming off to meet us;
but as the vessel approached them they paddled towards the shore;
yet they seemed desirous to have some communication with us, and
the vessel being hove to, in a short time they came near us, but
no invitation or intreaty could prevail on them to come
along-side.

At length, two of the canoes, which had seven men in each, and
two others, with two men each, came close under the stern, but
none of them would venture on board, and it was with great
difficulty they were persuaded to come near enough to receive a
string of beads which were let down over the stern; after this,
they all paddled on shore.

During the time these canoes were near the vessel, the beach
on the island was covered with natives; and on the south point of
the island, a man stood alone, with a long pole in his hand,
which had something large at the end of it, and which he seemed
to use as a signal to those in the canoes. These canoes appeared
to be made out of a large tree, and were well shaped, with a hook
made of wood at each end, the use of which we could not possibly
guess: the largest of them appeared to be about 28 feet long.
Each canoe had a long out-rigger, to prevent them from
oversetting.

The natives who were in the canoes, were the stoutest and
healthiest looking men I ever beheld; their skin was perfectly
smooth and free from any disorder: they were quite naked, and of
a copper colour; their hair resembled that of the New-Hollanders.
Some of their beards reached as low as the navel, and there was
an appearance of much art being used in forming them into long
ringlets; so that it should seem as if the prevailing fashion