nearly circular, and three miles -over, Captain 'Wallis gave the name of
Bofcawen’s Ifland; and the other, which is three miles and a half long, and
two broad, he called Keppel’s Ifland.
Having paffed Bofcawen’s Ifland, in which they faw feveral of the inhabitants,
they hauled up to Keppel’s Jlle, as it appeared more likely to afford
anchorage; but in this they were difappointed. The boats, however, gained
the Ihore, and brought off two. fowls, with fome cocoa nuts, plantains, and
bananas, Whilft the boats were on ihore, two canoes came up with them
in which were fix.men : they feemed to be peaceably inclined, and were much
the faipe kind' of people as thofe of King George-s Ifland. They were clothed
in a kind of matting; and the firft joint of their little finger had been taken off.
At the fame time about fifty more came down from the country, to within
about an hundred yards o f the boats, but would advance no farther. Bofcawen’s
Ifland lies in latitude 15- 50’ fouth, longitude 175" weft, and Keppel’s Ifland in
latitude 1 j- 5 j’. fouth, longitude. 175" 3’ weft.. The latter is by far'the largeft,
and belt of the two; and is a high round ifle, abounding with wood, and full
o f people.
Not being able to procure any water at this ifland, without too long a delay
and, as it was now the depth of winter, in the fouthern hemifphere; and the
lhip-was very leaky, on which account Ihe was very unfit to encounter the bad
weather Ihe would certainly meet with either in going round Cape Horn 'or the
Straits of Magellan; for thefe reafons'Captain Wallis determined to make'the
beft of his way to Tinian, from thence to Batavia, and fo to Europe, by the
Cape of Good Hope. In confequence of this reiblution, on the 14th they
bore away, and paffed Bofcawen’s Ifland without vifiting iti-
On the 16th they again faw land, which, within Ihore, feemed to be high-
but- at the water-fide it was low, and had a pleafant appearance. The ihom
was,covered with cocoa nut trees, and they faw a few huts, and finoke in feveral
parts up the country. On the boats going afliore, feveral canoes came up to'
them; each having fix or eight men in them. They appeared to be a robuft
P“ Ple> wcre I3uitc nak^ , except a kind of mat that was wrapped round
their
their middle, and were armed with large maces ..or clubs, in form like that
Hercules-is reprefented with. During a ihort conference with thefe people,
a defign was formed by them to feize the cutter; for fuddenly laying hold of
her, they hauled her upon the rocks,«’"but a mufquet being fired near the mod
aftive of them, they were fo affrighted; that they made off with great precipitation.
Finding there was no fafe anchorage at this ifland, which the officers named P* 276-
Wallisls. Ifland, in honour tif their Captain, and which lies'in latitude 13° 18’
fouth, longitude 177° weft, they hoiiied in their boats, and fleered north
weft for the Ifland of Tinian; where they, anchored on the 19th of September: p- 278.
The ftate o f this ifland they found nearly the fame as reprefented by
Commodore Byron, but the heat does not appear to have, been quite fo intenfe.
They'remained here till the 16.th of Oftobcr without any material '.occurrences p. 280.
happening; when the fick being recovered, their wood and water completed,
the ihip made ready for fea, and every.refrefliment the place afforded laid in,
they fet fail on that day. The latitude of this ifland, taken at the place
where the ihip lay at anchor, ¡¡¡,14" 55’ north, longitude 214" 15’ weft.
They now fleered a wefterly courfe, having much thunder, lightning, and p. 281.-
rain, with ftrong gales, a heavy fea, and great darknefs; fo that every man-
on board was conftantly wet to the flcin for feveral days; but 6n the 28th it
grew more moderate, and they altered their courfe to the fouth-weft. Ab9ut
p. 282.
noon that day they Were off the Bafliee Iflands; arid -after paffrng feveral others,
of which nothing remarkable ,is related, on the'30th of November they
. anchored in Batavia Road.
p. 286.
p. 285.
i l l *
On the 18th, during this courfe, an abrupt conclufion had nearly been put
to their voyage, and the fruits of their refearches. buried in the deep with them.
Off the Iflands of l’ ulo Tote and Pulo Welle, the weather was remarkably dark,"
with heavy fqualls of, wind, , and. much lightning and rain. While one of
thefe blafts was blowing with -all its violence, and the darknefs-Was fo thick
that they could not fee. from one, part of the Ihip to .the other ; they fuddenly
difcovered,
-am