igh island to the South West was
called Bickerton's island.[58-5] There is a small high isle about four
miles to the S.W. of this, and a small low island about five or six miles
to the S.E. by E. of Gardener's island,[58-6] and several islands to the
S.E. of the islands forming the sound and too several small islands
within it to which no names were given.

On the 20th at two in the morning, we passed within two miles of the
small island that lies to the S.E. from Gardener's island, and soon after
saw Gardener's island, on the N.W. side of which there appeared to be
tolerable good landing on shingle beach, and a little to the right of
this place, at the upper edge of the cliffs is a volcano, from which we
observed the smoke issuing. There are recent marks of convulsion having
happened in the island. Some parts of it appear to have fallen in, and
other parts to be turned upside down. This part of the island is the most
barren land we have seen in the country.[58-7] At nine o'clock thought
we saw a large island bearing N. by W. and I made sail towards it, and as
the weather was hazy we did not discover our mistake till near noon, when
I hauled the wind to the Southward. On the 23rd saw an island from the
masthead which I suppose was one of the Pylstaart islands.[59-1] On the
26th in the morning saw the island of Middleburgh and on the 27th ran in
between Middleburgh, Eooa and Tongataboo.

Several canoes came on board us from the different islands. We were then
within half a mile of the last, and equally near to the shoals of the
second, but not so near to Middleburgh, yet we were near enough to see
into English Road. At these islands we could neither see nor get any
satisfactory information relative to the objects of our search. The
natives brought in their canoes, yams, cocoanuts and a few small hogs,
and I made no doubt that I should have been able to procure plenty of
these articles had it been convenient for me to have stayed at these
islands. The difficulty in getting in and out of the harbour and the
indifferent quality of the water were alone sufficient objections against
my stopping here. The road at Annamooka was more convenient for getting
out and in, and the water, although not of the best quality, is reported
to be better than that found at Amsterdam [Tongatabu], and Annamooka
being the place I had appointed as a rendezvous for the tender I did not
hesitate in giving the preference to it, and accordingly made