At day break on the 25th, we made a short stretch to the east of Shepherd’s Isles till after sun-rise, when seeing no more land in that direction, we tacked and stood for the island we had seen in the south, having a gentle breeze at S.E.  We passed to the east of Threehills, and likewise of a low isle, which lies on the S.E. side of it, between a remarkable peaked rock which obtained the name of Monument, and a small island named Twohills, on account of two peaked hills upon it, disjoined by a low and narrow isthmus.  The channel between this island and the Monument is near a mile broad, and twenty-four fathoms deep.  Except this rock, which is only accessible to birds, we did not find an island on which people were not seen.  At noon, we observed, in latitude 17 deg. 18’ 30”; longitude, made from Port Sandwich, 45’ E. In this situation, the Monument bore N. 16 deg.  E. distant two miles; Twohills bore N. 25 deg.  W. distant two miles, and in a line with the S.W. part of Threehills; and the islands to the south extended from S. 16 deg. 30’ E. to S. 42 deg.  W.

Continuing our course to the south, at five p.m. we drew near the southern lands, which we found to consist of one large island, whose southern and western extremities extended beyond our sight, and three or four smaller ones lying off its north side.  The two northernmost are much the largest, have a good height, and lie in the direction of E. by S. and W. by N. from each other, distant two leagues; I named the one Montagu and the other Hinchinbrook, and the large island Sandwich, in honour of my noble patron the Earl of Sandwich.  Seeing broken water ahead, between Montagu and Hinchinbrook isles, we tacked; and soon after it fell calm.  The calm continued till seven o’-clock the next morning, when it was succeeded by a breeze from the westward.  During the calm, having been carried by the currents and a S.E. swell, four leagues to the W.N.W., we passed Hinchinbrook Isle, saw the western extremity of Sandwich Island, bearing S.S.W., about five leagues distant, and at the same time discovered a small island to the west of this direction.  After getting the westerly breeze, I steered S.E. in order to pass between Montagu Isle and the north end of Sandwich Island.  At noon we were in the middle of the channel, and observed in latitude 17 deg. 31’ S. The distance from one island to the other is about four or five miles; but the channel is not much above half that breadth, being contracted by breakers.  We had no soundings in it with a line of forty fathoms.

As we passed Montagu Isle several people came down to the sea-side, and, by signs, seemed to invite us ashore.  Some were also seen on Sandwich Island, which exhibited a most delightful prospect, being spotted with woods and lawns, agreeably diversified over the whole surface.  It hath a gentle slope from the hills, which are of a moderate height, down to the sea coast.  This is low, and guarded by a chain of breakers, so that there is no approaching it at