The description of the canoes is nearly the same as that given in the voyage of Bligh and Portlock; but Mr. Bampton says, “some of them were ingeniously carved and painted, and had curious figures at each end.”  The weapons of these people are bows, arrows, clubs of about four feet long, and spears and lances of various kinds, made of black., hard, wood.  Some of the lances were jagged, from the sharp point to a foot upward; and most of them were neatly carved.

The sole quadrupeds seen, were rats, mice, and lizards; which, when the huts were set on fire, ran from them in great numbers.  Land birds were numerous in all parts of the island; and upon the reefs were many curlews, large yellow-spotted plover, king’s fishers, sand pipers, red bills, and gulls.

Captain Bampton lays down Darnley’s Island, which the natives call WAMVAX, in latitude 9 deg. 39’ 30” south, and longitude 142 deg. 59’ 15” east; but in his chart, the centre is placed in 9 deg. 34’ south., and 143 deg. 1’ east.  He much regretted that he could not land again, to examine the interior parts of this fine island; but his long boat having drifted out of sight, without water, provisions, or compass, it was judged necessary for the ships to weigh, and look after her.

July 11.  The Hormuzeer stood to the northward, with soundings of 15 to 19 fathoms.  After three hours run, with a fresh breeze, a reef and sand bank were seen ahead, and the ship was veered to the south-west.  Another reef and bank were descried, soon afterward, in the west; and, at the same time, a signal for seeing the long boat was made by the Chesterfield.  In the afternoon, the boat was picked up, and both ships anchored under Stephens’ Island.

An armed party was immediately sent on shore, to obtain intelligence if possible, of the lost whale boat.  The natives were assembled in hostile array, upon the hills, sounding their conchs; but, after lancing a few arrows, they fled.  Several were wounded by the shots fired in return; but they succeeded in escaping to a canoe at the back of the island, and getting off; all except one boy, who was taken unhurt.* In the huts, which were burnt, several things were found; and amongst them, a sheet of copper which belonged to the Chesterfield.

[* It does not appear in the journal, when, or where this boy was set on shore; nor is any further mention made of him.]

July 12.  Stephens’ Island was traversed all over; and a spike nail, with the king’s broad arrow upon it, was brought on board, and excited many conjectures as to whence it came.* The plantations, huts, images, skulls, and hands, were found similar to those of Darnley’s Island.  Amongst the trees, there was one resembling an almond, the nuts of which were good.  The cocoa nut grows abundantly; especially in the south-eastern part, where the trees formed a continued grove.  The sole quadruped seen, except rats, was a pretty animal of the opossum tribe.  It was found in a cage; and had probably been brought, either from New Guinea, or New South Wales.**