Page:Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Volume 1 (2nd edition).djvu/229

Rh miles long, with many trees but no cocoa-nut or other fruit-trees. It has never, apparently, been inhabited, and the birds were consequently so tame as to allow themselves to be lifted from their nests; while fish were taken as easily by sticks and boat-hooks as by lines. Latitude 21° 53′ 03″ S., and longitude 138° 59′ 34″.

To the south of this island another small island was examined, three miles and three-quarters in length by three in width, its form nearly an oblong, with the southern side much curved. The lagoon in the centre was deep, its boundary very low and narrow, and in places it overflowed. Captain Beechey gave this island the name of Cockburn Island. Latitude 22° 12′ 25″ S., and longitude 138° 39′ 53″ W.

The next island visited was the Lagoon Island of Captain Bligh. This is inhabited; the natives are darker than those of Cook's Lagoon Island,—nearly naked, with their hair tied in a knot on the top of the head, and provided with stones, clubs, and spears. No landing was effected on this island, which is in latitude 21° 37′ 41″ S., and longitude 140° 37′ 58″, and is larger than as exhibited on Arrowsmith's charts.

Byam Martin's Island, discovered by Captain Beechey, is in latitude 19° 40′ 22″ S., and longitude 140° 37′ 28″ W. It is an oval of three miles and three-quarters in diameter, of coral formation, and has a lagoon and productions very similar to the other islands recently described.

Gloucester Island, in latitude 19° 07′ S., and longitude 140° 37′ W., was found to differ very materially in its present form and extent from the descriptions given by its discoverer, Captain Wallis. At the south-east angle of the Island they noticed a morai built of stones, but there were no inhabitants upon the shore.

In latitude 18° 04′ S., and longitude 140° 51′ W., Captain Beechey visited Bow Island, discovered, in 1768, by Bougainville, and seen the following year by Captain Cook, who gave it its present name, from the resemblance which its shape was supposed to have to a bow. It is of coral formation, thirty miles long, and, at an average, five broad, well-wooded on the weather side, but scantily on the other, where it is so low that the sea, in places, washes into the lagoon. The Blossom, having navigated with considerable difficulty, and some danger, through a channel in the coral reef, was enabled to anchor in the lagoon. The strip of low land inclosing the lagoon is nearly seventy miles in extent, and the part that is dry is about a quarter of a mile in width. The lagoon is studded with coral knolls. This island is thinly inhabited, the natives not amounting to more than 100 souls. It is remarkable as having been visited for its pearl fishery, and an English brig was there at this time for the purpose, having hired divers from Chain Island. Water was procured in abundance