four feet long, into which a pointed piece of the hard, heavy, casuarina wood, is firmly and neatly fitted; and some of them were barbed.  Their clubs are made of the casuarina, and are powerful weapons.  The hand part is indented, and has a small knob, by which the firmness of the grasp is much assisted; and the heavy end is usually carved with some device:  One had the form of a parrot’s head, with a ruff round the neck; and was not ill done.

Their canoes are about fifty feet in length, and appear to have been hollowed out of a single tree; but the pieces which form the gunwales, are planks sewed on with the fibres of the cocoa nut, and secured with pegs.  These vessels are low, forward, but rise abaft; and, being narrow, are fitted with an outrigger on each side, to keep them steady.  A raft, of greater breadth than the canoe, extends over about half the length; and upon this is fixed a shed or hut, thatched with palm leaves.  These people, in short, appeared to be dextrous sailors and formidable warriors; and to be as much at ease in the water, as in their canoes.

Sept. 7.  The boats having found deep water round the north end of the three low islands, the vessels followed them; but anchored again, soon after noon, in latitude 9 deg. 31’, and longitude 143 deg. 31’; being sheltered by the two western islands, named Stephens’ and Campbell’s, and the reefs which surround them.  There were then no less than eight islands in sight, at different distances; though none further to the westward than W. S. W. All these, except Darnley’s Island, first seen, were small, low, and sandy; but generally well covered with wood in the central parts.

On the 8th, the vessels steered westward, with the usual precautions.  No land, or other obstruction, had been seen in that quarter; but, at ten o’clock, they were forced to haul the wind to the southward, their course being impeded by reefs; upon one of which, was Pearce’s sandy Key.  At noon, they had anchored in 15 fathoms, under the lee of Dalrymple’s Island, the westernmost before seen; but two other islands were then visible in the S. by W.; and reefs extended from N.4 deg., to S. 55 deg.  W., at the distance of three or four miles.  The latitude here was 9 deg. 37’; and longitude, from six sets of distances of the sun and moon, 143 deg. 31’; but, by the time-keepers, 143 deg. 15’ east.

Several canoes were lying upon the shore of Dalrymple’s Island; but no natives could he distinguished from the ships.  When the boats returned, however, from sounding, in the afternoon, they came out upon the beach; waving green branches and clapping upon their heads, in token of friendship.  Boats were afterwards sent to them, and were amicably received; the natives running into the water to meet them, and some getting into one of the boats.  They eagerly asked for toore-tooree; and gave in exchange some ornaments of shells, and a kind of plum somewhat resembling a jambo.  When the boats pushed off from the shore, the natives followed into the water, and appeared anxious to detain them; but offered no violence.  A moderately-sized dog, of a brown, chestnut colour, was observed amongst the party.