At noon on the 3d of May, our latitude was 12 deg. 13’ south, and the longitude, by the time-keeper, 161 deg. 33’ east.  We were now drawing near the situation in which Lieutenant Shortland had discovered land, and being surrounded by birds, and a number of trees floating about the vessel, we were induced to suppose ourselves not far distant from it.  In the evening of the 4th we sounded, but got no ground with 150 fathoms of line.  The next morning high land was seen, bearing from north-north-west to west-north-west, seven or eight leagues distant; it seemed to trend about north-north-east, and south-south-west.  At noon, the latitude was 11 deg. 7’ south, and the longitude 162 deg. 34’ east:  the northernmost land bore north by west, five leagues distant:  it appeared like a small island covered with trees; and in the center of it there is a conspicuous mount, formed by some very high trees:  the land to the west-ward, which extends from this island as far as north-west a quarter north, is low, and in clumps like islands.  The weather now was very hot and sultry, with dark heavy clouds all round the horizon:  we had also a great deal of thunder and lightning, attended with heavy rain.

In the afternoon of the 6th, we perceived the northernmost land to be two small islands, which appeared to trend north-north-east and south-south-west; the main land lying a little to the westward of them.  The easternmost of these two islands Lieutenant Ball named Sirius’s-Island; it is situated in 10 deg. 52’ south latitude, and 162 deg. 30’ east longitude:  the other was named Massey’s-Island.  We observed by the land, that a very strong current, or tide, set us fast to the northward.  It is unfortunate that the changeable state of the wind and weather did not permit us to range this coast, by hauling in with the land, as something might have probably been discovered, without occasioning any loss of time.  In the evening we had very heavy squalls, attended with rain, thunder, and lightning.

At eight o’clock the next morning, we saw land, which had the appearance of a large high island, lying along the shore:  Lieutenant Ball named it Smith’s-Island; it is situated in 9 deg. 44’ south latitude, and 161 deg. 54’ east longitude.  On the 8th, at day-light, the land bore from west by south to south by west, seven or eight leagues distant:  Smith’s Island then bearing south-south-east ten leagues.

This land in general is very high, and appears well wooded:  there is the appearance of a number of openings, resembling bays or harbours; but our distance from shore was too great to ascertain any observation of that kind.  At noon our latitude was 9 deg. 00’ south, and the longitude 161 deg. 41’ east; and the land trending away to the north-west, it was evident that we had rounded the east part of that island which Lieutenant Shortland coasted on its south side, from the latitude of 10 deg. 44’ south longitude 161 deg. 41’ east, to 6 deg. 55’ south latitude, and 156 deg. 30’ east longitude.