I designed to have stayed among these islands till I had got my pinnace refitted; but, having no more than one man who had skill to work upon her, I saw she would be a long time in repairing (which was one great reason why I could not prosecute my discoveries further) and, the easterly winds being set in, I found I should scarce be able to hold my ground.

The 31st in the forenoon we shot in between 2 islands lying about 4 leagues asunder; with intention to pass between them.  The southermost is a long island with a high hill at each end; this I named Long island.  The northermost is a round high island towering up with several heads or tops, something resembling a crown; this I named Crown Isle from its form.  Both these islands appeared very pleasant, having spots of green savannahs mixed among the woodland:  the trees appeared very green and flourishing, and some of them looked white and full of blossoms.  We passed close by Crown Isle; saw many coconut-trees on the bays and the sides of the hills; and one boat was coming off from the shore but returned again.  We saw no smokes on either of the islands, neither did we see any plantations; and it is probable they are not very well peopled.  We saw many shoals near Crown Island, and reefs of rocks running off from the points a mile or more into the sea.  My boat was once overboard with design to have sent her ashore; but, having little wind and seeing some shoals, I hoisted her in again and stood off out of danger.

Sir R. Rich’s island.

In the afternoon, seeing an island bearing north-west by west, we steered away north-west by north, to be to the northward of it.  The next morning, being about midway from the islands we left yesterday, and having this to the westward of us; the land of the main of New Guinea within us to the southward appeared very high.  When we came within 4 or 5 leagues of this island to the west of us, 4 boats came off to view us:  one came within call, but returned with the other 3 without speaking to us:  so we kept on for the island which I named Sir R. Rich’s Island.  It was pretty high, woody, and mixed with savannahs like those formerly mentioned.  Being to the north of it we saw an opening between it and another island 2 leagues to the west of it, which before appeared all in one.  The main seemed to be high land, trending to the westward.

A burning island.

On Tuesday the 2nd of April about 8 in the morning we discovered a high peaked island to the westward which seemed to smoke at its top.  The next day we passed by the north side of the burning island and saw a smoke again at its top; but, the vent lying on the south side of the peak, we could not observe it distinctly, nor see the fire.  We afterwards opened 3 more islands and some land to the southward, which we could not well tell whether it were islands or part of the main.  These islands are all high, full of fair trees and spots of green savannahs; as well the burning isle as the rest; but the burning isle was more round and peaked at top, very fine land near the sea, and for two-thirds up it.  We also saw another isle sending forth a great smoke at once; but it soon vanished, and we saw it no more.  We saw also among these islands 3 small vessels with sails, which the people on New Britain seem wholly ignorant of.