On the 24th, we saw two small islands to the south-west, but it being calm, with light airs, and a strong westerly current, we could not get nearer to them than four or five leagues:  They had a green, pleasant appearance, and were well covered with trees; but whether they are inhabited I do not know.  They run about N.W. by W.S.E. by E. One is about three miles long, and the other about six:  The passage between them appeared to be about two miles broad.  They lie in latitude 22’ S., longitude 138 deg. 39 E. and I gave them the name of Stephens’s Islands.  We kept steering N.W. by W. with a light variable wind, and a strong north-west current.

On the 25th, we saw land a-head, which proved to be three small islands; and before it was dark we got pretty near them.  Several canoes soon came off, filled with the natives, who, after making signs of peace, came on board without the least appearance of fear or distrust:  They had nothing with them but a few cocoa-nuts, which they sold with great joy for a few pieces of an iron hoop.  We soon found that they were not unacquainted with that metal, which they called parram; and they made us understand, by signs, that a ship like ours sometimes touched at their islands for refreshment.  I gave one of them three pieces of an old iron hoop, each about four inches long, which threw him into an extacy little short of distinction.  I could not but sympathise in his joy, nor observe, without great pleasure, the changes of countenance, and extravagance of gesture, by which it was expressed.  All these people, indeed, appeared to be more fond of iron than any we had seen before; and I am sure, that for iron tools we might have purchased every thing upon the islands which we could have brought away.  They are of the Indian copper colour; the first of that complexion that we had seen in these parts, with fine long black hair, and little beards, for we observed that they were continually plucking the hair from their chin and upper-lip by the roots.  Their features are pleasing, and their teeth remarkably white and even:  They were of the common stature, but nimble, vigorous, and active, in a surprising degree, running up to the mast-head much faster than our own people.  Their disposition was free and open; they eat and drank whatever was given them; went without hesitation into every part of the ship, and were as familiar and merry with the crew as if they had been of long and intimate acquaintance.  They were not, like the people on all the other islands that we had visited, quite naked, though they had only a slight covering for the waist, which consisted of a narrow piece of fine matting.  Their canoes were very well and neatly made, having a hollow tree for the bottom, and planks for the sides, with a sail of fine matting, and an outrigger; their ropes and netting were also very good.  They urged us strongly to go on shore, offering to leave an equal number of their own people behind, as a pledge of