rom
Otaheite, there is little doubt of his intention of colonising some
undiscovered island.

On the 6th day of June, we discovered an island, which was named the Duke
of York's island. Lieuts. Corner and Hayward were sent out to examine it
in the two yauls, covered by the tender. Some huts being discovered by
the ship, a signal was immediately made for the party on shore to be on
their guard, and to advance with caution.

Soon after their arrival on shore, a ship's wooden buoy was discovered.
On searching the huts, nets of different sizes were found hanging in
them, and a variety of fishing utensils. Stages and wharfs were likewise
discovered in different parts of the creek, which led us to imagine it
was only an island resorted to in the fishing season by some neighbouring
nation. The skeleton of a very large fish, supposed to be a whale, was
found near the beach; and a place of venerable aspect, formed entirely by
the hand of Nature, and resembling a Druidical temple, commanded their
attention. The falling of a very large old tree, formed an arch, through
which the interior part of the temple was seen, which heightened the
perspective, and gave a romantic solemn dignity to the scene. At the
extreme end of the temple, three altars were placed, the centre one
higher than the other two, on which some white shells were piled in
regular order.[128-1]

After traversing the island, they returned to the huts, and hung up a few
knives, looking-glasses, and some little articles of European
manufacture, that the natives, on their return, might know the island had
been visited.

On the 12th, we discovered another island, which was named the Duke of
Clarence's island. In running along the land, we saw several canoes
crossing the lagoons. The tender's signal was made, to cover the boats in
landing, and Lieuts. Corner and Hayward sent to reconnoitre the beach, to
discover a landing-place. In this duty they came pretty near some of the
natives in their canoes, who made signs of peace to them; but, either
from fear or business, avoided having any intercourse with us. Morais,
or burying-places, were likewise found here, which indicated it to be a
principal residence. Here they find some old cocoa trees hollowed
longitudinally, as tanks or reservoirs for the rain water.

On the 18th, we discovered an island of more considerable extent than any
island that has hitherto been discovered in the south; and as there were
many collatera