might pafs any land in the dark. Part of the 2tft and 22d
the wind blew from N. W., attended, with thunder, lightning,
and rain ; having a large fwell from S. S. E. and S.,
which kept up for feveral days. An indication that no land
was near us in that direction.
On the 23d, at ten o’clock in the morning, land was feen
from the top-maft 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 confift of two or three
fmall iflots, connedted together by breakers like moil of the
low ifles in the fea, lying'in a triangular form, and about
fix leagues in circuit. They were clothed with wood, among
which were many cocoa-nut trees. We faw no people, or
figns of inhabitants; and had reafon to think there were
none. The fituation of this ifle, which is in the latitude of
190 18' South, longitude 158° 54' Weft, is not very different
from that affigned by Mr. Dalrymple to La Dezena. But as
this is a point not eafily determined, I named it Hervey’s
Ifland, in honour of the Honourable Captain Hervey of the
Navy, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and now. Earl
of Briftol.
As the landing on this ifle, if practicable, would have
caufed a delay which I could ill fpare at this time, we refumed
our courfe to the Weft; and on the 2jth we again began
to ufe our fea-bifcuit, the fruit which had ferved as a
fuccedaneum being all con'fumed; but our flock of frefh
pork ftill continued, each man having as much every day as
was needful. In our route , to the Weft we now and then
faw meii of war, and tropic birds, and a fmall fea bird,
which is feldom feen but near the fhores of the ifles; we
therefore conjedtured that we had palled fome land at no,
great