On mature deliberation, we resolved to proceed directly from this place to New Guinea, without putting in at the island of Guam, which was in sight.  The weather continued fair, and the wind brisk and favourable, till we came into the latitude of 4 deg.  N. when we had a calm for seven days, during which time we had no means of relieving our hunger, except by taking large draughts of water, and then lying down to sleep.  On the 3d May we had a fine gale, which continued till the 5th, and then died quite away before we got sight of land; but about ten that night we were all sensible of a very odoriferous smell, whence we concluded that we were near land, on which we examined our charts, but found none laid down.  Next morning, however, we saw land at no great distance.  This day also we caught two bonetoes, which were most welcome, as they made a hearty meal to our whole company.  This fish is commonly about three feet long and two in circumference, having a very sharp head, with a small mouth, full eyes, and a semilunar tail.  It is very fleshy, and makes good broth.  About noon we were in sight of three small islands, all low land, but very green and pleasant, especially to us, who had been so long of seeing any land.  We had this day an observation of the sun, by which we found our latitude to be 50’ N. and as the eastermost of these islands was four leagues S.E. of the ship, it must of consequence be in lat. 0 deg. 42’ N.[211]

[Footnote 211:  The only islands in modern maps which agree with the slight notice in the text, are Frevilla, or St David’s Isle,, nearly in lat. 1 deg.  N. and long. 135 deg.  E. from Greenwich:  Yet it is singular that Funnell should have passed through the numerous group of the Carolines without seeing any of them.—­E.]

As we were fearful of entering upon an unknown coast in the dark, we stood off all night, which was well for us, as we found ourselves at day-break next morning, 7th May, within a ship’s length of a great reef of rocks, which extended from one island to the other, and thinking to have gone between the islands, we had nearly run upon this dangerous ledge.  Having a small breeze from shore we were fortunately able to stand off, and went to the westermost island, because we saw many shoals off the others.  The rocks we were so near running upon were off the northmost isle, which we named the Island of Deceit.  On getting near the westermost island which was the biggest of the three, forty or fifty of their flying proas came off, in which there might be 450 men, allowing ten to each proa, and we could also see multitudes of people on the shore looking at us as we passed.  The flying proas kept at a distance from us, till we beckoned and made signs for them to come near, and at length one came within a ship’s length, in which were ten men entirely naked, in the midst of whom was a grave old man of a pleasant countenance, entirely naked like the rest, except that he had a four-cornered cap on his head without a crown.