When we were within about five miles of this island, we saw another, bearing N.W. by W. About three o’clock in the afternoon, being very near the island that was first discovered, we brought-to, and I sent Mr Furneaux, my second lieutenant, my first lieutenant being very ill, with the boats manned and armed, to the shore.  As he approached it, we saw two canoes put off, and paddle away with great expedition towards the island that lay to leeward.  At seven in the evening the boats returned, and brought with them several cocoa-nuts, and a considerable quantity of scurvy-grass; they brought also some fishhooks, that were made of oyster-shells, and some of the shells of which they were made.  They reported that they had seen none of the inhabitants, but had visited three huts, or rather sheds, consisting only of a roof, neatly thatched with cocoa-nut and palm-leaves, supported upon posts, and open all round.  They saw also several canoes building, but found no fresh water, nor any fruit but cocoa-nuts.  They sounded, but found no anchorage, and it was with great difficulty they got on shore, as the surf ran very high.  Having received this account, I stood off and on all night, and, early the next morning, I sent the boats out again to sound, with orders, if possible, to find a place where the ship might come to an anchor; but at eleven o’clock they returned, with no better success than before.  The people told me that the whole island was surrounded by a reef, and that although on the weather side of the island there was an opening through it, into a large bason, that extended to the middle of the island, yet they found it so full of breakers, that they could not venture in; neither indeed had they been able to land on any part of the island, the surf running still higher than it had done the day before.  As it would therefore answer no purpose to continue here, I hoisted the boats in, and stood away for the other island, which bore S.22 deg.E. distant about four leagues.  The island which I now quitted, having been discovered on Whitsun-eve, I called it Whitsun Island.  It is about four miles long, and three wide.  Its latitude is 19 deg.26’S., and its longitude, by observation, 157 deg.56’W.

When we came under the lee of the other island, I sent Lieutenant Furneaux, with the boats manned and armed, to the shore, where I saw about fifty of the natives armed with long pikes, and several of them running about with fire-brands in their hands.  I ordered Mr Furneaux to go to that part of the beach where we saw the people, and endeavour to traffic with them for fruit and water, or whatever else might be useful; at the same time being particularly careful to give them no offence.  I ordered him also to employ the boats in sounding for anchorage.  About seven o’clock he returned, and told me that he could find no ground with the line, till he came within half-a-cable’s length of the shore, and that there it consisted of sharp rocks, and lay very deep.