been westerly since the preceding noon, and at the time we
saw the land the ship was standing to the north-west. At six we tacked to
the southward, and as we advanced in that direction discovered a number
of low keys, of which at noon we counted nine: they were all covered with
trees. The large island first seen had a most fruitful appearance, its
shore being bordered with flat land, on which grew innumerable coconut
and other trees; and the higher grounds beautifully interspersed with
lawns. The wind being light and unfavourable we endeavoured all day but
without success to get near the land. In the night we had a heavy squall
which obliged us to clew up all our sails and soon after it fell calm.

Sunday 12.

The winds were light and variable all day with calms. At two in the
afternoon we were within three miles of the southernmost key and could
see a number of people within the reefs. Shortly after a canoe, in which
were four men, paddled off to us and came alongside without showing any
signs of apprehension or surprise. I gave them a few beads and they came
into the ship. One man, who seemed to have an ascendancy over the others,
looked about the ship with some appearance of curiosity, but none of them
would venture to go below. They asked for some boiled fresh pork which
they saw in a bowl belonging to one of the seaman, and it was given them
to eat with boiled plantains. Being told that I was the Earee or chief of
the ship the principal person came and joined noses with me, and
presented to me a large mother of pearl shell, which hung with plaited
hair round his neck; this he fastened round my neck with signs of great
satisfaction.

They spoke the same language as at Otaheite, with very little variation
as far as I could judge. In a small vocabulary that I made whilst
conversing with these men only four words out of twenty-four differed
from the Otaheite. The name of the large island they told me was
Wytootackee, and the Earee was called Lomakkayah. They said that there
were no hogs, dogs, or goats upon the island, nor had they yams, or
tarro; but that plantains, coconuts, fowls, breadfruit, and avees, were
there in great abundance. Notwithstanding they said that no hogs were on
the island it was evident they had seen such animals; for they called
them by the same name as is given to them at Otaheite, which made me
suspect that they were deceiving me. However I ordered a young boar and
sow to be put into their c