Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/84

 smooth as here — not a ripple to be seen on its surface; and if not for the long swell, or heaving of its mighty  bosom, it might be taken for a sea of glass.

On the 29th we had a moderate breeze from the west. In the evening we witnessed a grand display of the zodiacal light. It was very bright. Many shooting stars from each quarter of the heaven were also seen. Several of the following days and nights were very cloudy, with much lightning, thunder, and rain, and sudden  squalls from the sou’west. We were now making our way very rapidly towards the fairy islands of the Pacific. There are three classes of them, — the low coral, the high coral, and the mountainous islands. The squadron sailed in line, still we sailed over several reported islands and reefs set down on the charts. On the 13th we made the island of Minerva, one of the Paumotu group, or  Cloud of Islands. This is one of the low coral or lagoon islands. It proved by our surveying to be only twelve feet above the level of the sea, ten miles long, and six  hundred feet to its lagoon. These islands are composed of coral and vegetable matter. We landed, and got some shells, plants, and coral, but the natives soon drove  us off. John Sac, a New Zealander, one of our crew, spoke the Tahitian language, which they understand. John swam to the shore and talked to them, but the only answer was several of them crying out at the same time:  "Go to your own island. This belongs to us, and we do  not want to have anything to do with you." It was impossible to land again and have a peaceful chat with  them. It is no wonder that they do not want anything to do with so-called civilized men, after having been so