eing of any description could be found
upon the island. There were a number of canoes, spare paddles, fishing
gear, and a variety of other things found in the houses which seemed to
prove that it was an occasional residence and fishery of the natives of
some neighbouring islands.[46-1]

There is so great a difference in the situation of this island as laid
down in the charts of Hawkesworth's collection of voyages and also some
others from that of Captain Cook that there may be some doubt about its
real situation. I followed that of Captain Cook, yet the situation of
this island by our account did not exactly agree with him. He lays it
down in Latitude 8 deg. 41' S. and Longitude 173 deg. 3' W., and the centre of
the island by our account lies Latitude 8 deg. 34' S. and Longitude by
observation 172 deg. 6', and by timekeeper 172 deg. 39' W. By our estimation this
island is not so large as it is by Mr. Byron's. In other respects, except
the houses, it answers his description very well. I should have stood off
to the westward to have seen if there were any other islands in that
direction, but I was apprehensive by so doing that I might have much
difficulty in fetching the island I had then to visit, and as the wind
was favourable to stand to the Southward when I left the island, I
therefore satisfied myself in passing to the westward of it and
stretching to the northward so far as to know there was no island within
thirty miles of it on that point of the compass, and also to pass to the
windward of the island when I put about and stood to the northward.

In standing to the Northward I discovered an island on the 12th
June.[46-2] We soon perceived that it was a lagoon island, formed by a
great many small islands connected together by a reef of rocks, forming a
circle round the lagoon in its centre. It is low, but well wooded,
amongst which the cocoanut tree is conspicuous both for its height and
peculiar form. As we approached the land we saw several natives on the
beach. Lt. Hayward was sent with the tender and yawl in shore to
reconnoitre and to endeavour to converse with the natives, and if
possible to bring about a friendly intercourse with them. They made signs
of friendship and beckoned him to come on shore, yet, whenever he drew
near with the boat, they always retired, and he could not prevail on them
to come to her; and the surf was thought too great to venture to land, at
least before the friendship of the natives