anoe with some yams and tarro, as we could
afford to part with some of these articles. I also gave to each of them a
knife, a small adze, some nails, beads, and a looking-glass. The latter
they examined with great curiosity; but with the ironwork they appeared
to be acquainted; calling it aouree, which is the common name for iron
among the islands where it is known.

As they were preparing to leave us the chief of the canoe took possession
of everything that I had given to the others. One of them showed some
signs of dissatisfaction, but after a little altercation they joined
noses and were reconciled. I now thought they were going to leave the
ship, but only two of them went into the canoe, the other two purposing
to stay all night with us and to have the canoe return for them in the
morning. I would have treated their confidence with the regard it merited
but it was impossible to say how far the ship might be driven from the
island in the night. This I explained to them and they reluctantly
consented to leave us. They were very solicitous that somebody from the
ship should go on shore with them, and just before they quitted us they
gave me a wooden spear which was the only thing, the paddles excepted,
they had brought with them in the canoe. It was a common longstaff
pointed with the toa wood.

The island of Wytootackee is about ten miles in circuit; its latitude
from 18 degrees 50 minutes to 18 degrees 54 minutes south, and longitude
200 degrees 19 minutes east. A group of small keys, eight in number, lie
to the south-east, four or five miles distant from Wytootackee and a
single one to the west-south-west; the southernmost of the group is in
latitude 18 degrees 58 minutes south. Variation of the compass 8 degrees
14 minutes east.

The people that came off to us did not differ in appearance from the
natives of Hervey's Islands, seen in Captain Cook's last voyage, though
much more friendly and inoffensive in their manners. They were tattooed
across the arms and legs, but not on the loins or posteriors, like the
people of Otaheite. From their knowledge of iron they have doubtless
communication with Hervey's Islands, which are not more than eighteen
leagues distant from them.

In the night a breeze sprang up from the south and we continued our
course to the westward.

Saturday 18.

On the 18th at sunset we saw Savage Island, and in the night passed by to
the southward of it.

Tuesday 21.

At eleven o'clock in