circuit of the island in 1769, by two miles, and 4-3/4 miles respectively.  It is therefore highly probable, that the whole island is of a greater extent than I, at that time, estimated it to be.  The astronomers set up their observatory, and made their observations on Point Venus, the latitude of which they found to be 17 deg. 29’ 13” south.  This differs but two seconds from that which Mr Green and I found; and its longitude, viz. 149 deg. 34’ 49” 1/2 west, for any thing that is yet known to the contrary, is as exact.

Mr Kendal’s watch was found to be gaining on mean time 8” 863 per day, which is only 0” 142 less than at Queen Charlotte’s Sound, consequently its error in longitude was trifling.

A VOYAGE TOWARDS THE SOUTH POLE, AND ROUND THE WORLD.

BOOK II.

FROM OUR DEPARTURE FROM THE SOCIETY ISLES, TO OUR RETURN TO AND LEAVING THEM THE SECOND TIME.

CHAPTER I.

Passage from Ulietea to the Friendly Islands, with an Account of the Discovery of Hervey’s Island, and the Incidents that happened at Middleburg.

1773 September

After leaving Ulietea, as before mentioned, I steered to the west, inclining to the south, to get clear of the tracts of former navigators, and to get into the latitude of the islands of Middleburgh and Amsterdam; for I intended to run as far west as these islands, and to touch there if I found it convenient, before I hauled up for New Zealand.  I generally lay-to every night, lest we might pass any land in the dark.  Part of the 21st and 22d the wind blew from N.W., attended with thunder, lightning, and rain, having a large swell from S.S.E. and S., which kept up for several days,—­ an indication that no land was near us in that direction.

On the 23d, at ten o’clock in the morning, land was seen from the top-mast head, and at noon from the deck, extending from S. by W. to S.W. by S. We hauled up for it with the wind at S.E., and found it to consist of two or three small islets, connected together by breakers like most of the low isles in the sea, lying in a triangular form, and about six leagues in circuit.  They were clothed with wood, among which were many cocoa-nut trees.  We saw no people, or signs of inhabitants; and had reason to think there were none.  The situation of this isle, which is in the latitude of 19 deg. 18’ S., longitude 158 deg. 54’ W., is not very different from that assigned by Mr Dalrymple to La Dezena.  But as this is a point not easily determined, I named it Hervey’s Island, in honour of the Honourable Captain Hervey of the navy, one of the lords of the Admiralty, and afterwards Earl of Bristol.