was better confirmed.

We soon afterwards saw several sailing canoes with stages in their
middle, sailing across the lagoon for the opposite islands, but whether
it was a flight, or that they were only going a-fishing, or on some other
business, we were at that time at a loss to know. Lt. Corner was sent to
look for a better landing place, and, thinking that there was the
appearance of an opening into the lagoon round the N.W. island, I stood
that way with the ship to take a view of it but found that it was also
barred in that part by a reef. Better landing places were found, but they
were to leeward and at a considerable distance from the place that seemed
to be the principal residence of the natives.

The next morning Lt. Corner and Hayward landed with a strong party near
the houses, which they found deserted by the natives, and they had taken
with them all the canoes except one. It appeared exactly to resemble
those we had seen at the Duke of York's island. The houses, fishing gear
and utensils were also similar to those seen there, which made me suppose
that these were the people who occasionally visited that island, but this
had the appearance of being the principal residence as Morais, or burying
places, were found at this, but none at the former.

I was very desirous to get into communication with these people, as I
thought we might possibly get some useful information relative to the
buoy we had seen at the Duke of York's island, or about the _Bounty_ had
she touched at either of these islands, or at any others in their
neighbourhood. With that view I left in and about the houses hatchets,
knives, glasses and a variety of things that I thought would be useful or
pleasing to them, and also to show them that we were disposed to be
friendly to them, and by that means I hoped they would become less shy,
and that our intercourse with them would be brought about; and I stood
round the northernmost island to visit other parts of the island, and on
the 14th in the morning Lt. Corner was sent on shore with the tender,
yawl and canoe, and he landed to the eastward of the northernmost island
and marched round to the northeast extremity of the islands: he perceived
marks of bare feet of the natives in different parts, but more
particularly about the cocoanut trees, most of which were stripped of
their fruit, but not a single person or canoe could be found. He embarked
again at that part of the isles with great difficulty b