p. 381. On the 13th they cleared this ftrait, which, Captain Carteret here obferves,
is a much better and jfhorter paflagè, either to the eaftward òr weftward,
than round the land and iflands to the northward, the roüt purfued by
Dampier; and probably more convenient, as there is ho doubt but refreihments
o f every kind might be procured upon the coafts of the channel, or thè
iflands lying near them, for iron tools, &c. &c. of which the natives are immoderately
fond, but with which, to the great misfortuhe of the Captain,/
he was not furniihed. He here likewife laments, that from his being fo much
enfeebled and difpirited by ficknefs, as almoft to fink under the duty that for
want of officers devolved upon him, he is not able to givè a mòre full and
circumftantial defcription of this country, its productions, and people.
p. 382. As fooh as they had cleared Saint George’s Channel, they fleered weftward;
and the next day difcovered an ifland of confiderable extent, bearing W. N. W.
As they proceeded, they difcovered more land, confifting of many iflands,
p. 383. lying to the fouthward of that they had juft feen. As the Ìhip pafled the former,
a confiderable number of canoes, with feveral hundred people, came off, and
paddled towards her: one o f them, with feven men, came near enough to hail,
to whom filch trifles as they had were fhewn, and figns of friendihip made;
but, in return, they threw their lances, with great force, where the crew
flood thickeft on deck. Captain Carteret, judging it better to prevent than
to reprefs a general attack, ordered fome mulkets and feveral fwivel guns to be
fired; upon which, fome of them being killed or wounded-, the reft rowed off,
and joined the other canoes. They afterwards repeated their attack, hut fuc-
p, 384. ceeded no better. The canoe that approached the fécond time, being taken,
they found it to be, though the fmalleft of the whole, full fifty feet long, but
very rUdely made out of one tree : in it were fix fine fiih and a turtle, fome
yams, one cocoa nut, and a bag full of a fmall kind of apple or plumb, of a
fweetiih tafte, and farinaceous fubftance ; there were alfo two large earthen
pots, ihaped fomewhat like a jug; and a confiderable quantity o f matting,
P- 385- which is ufed by them both for fails and awning. Thefe Indians are the fame
kind of people as thofe on the Coaft of New Ireland; ornamented exaétly
alike but in addition to the powder on their heads, the faces of thefe were
painted with white ftreaks, and they chew beetle nut. Their lances were
pointed with a kind of bluifli flint.
Having
Having difengaged themfelves from this fierce and unfriendly people, they P- 385.
purfued their courfe along the other iflands, which were between twenty and
thirty in number, and of a confiderable extent; one in particular would alone
make a large kingdom. Captain Carteret named them the Admiralty Iflands,
and would have examined them, had the ihip been in a better condition, and
he been provided with articles proper for the Indian trade; efpecially as
their appearance was very inviting. The middle of the largeft lies in latitude
about 20 18’ fouth, longitude 146° 44’ eaft.
Having paired in their courfe feveral fmall iflands, they faw land ahead on P- 387^
the 25th, which proved to be three others of nearly the fame fize. From thefe,
feveral canoes foon came off, filled with the natives, who, after making figns
of peace, came on board without the lead appearance of fear or diftruft. For
a few cocoa nuts, which was the only thing they had with them, Captain
Carteret gave one of them a few pieces of an old iron hoop, which threw him
into an extacy little (hort of diftraflion. Thefe people are of the Indian
copper colour, the firft of that complexion they had feen in thefe parts,
with fine long black hair, and little beards: their features are pleafing, and p. 388.
their teeth remarkably white and even j they are of the common ftature, but
nimble, vigorous, and aftive, to a furprizing degree; their difpofition is free
and open; they eat and drank whatever was given them •, went without hefi-
tation into every part of the Ihip, and were as familiar and merry with the
crew, as i f they had been of long and intimate acquaintance; they had only a
flight covering round the waift, confiding of a narrow piece of matting
Their canoes were very well and neatly made,. They drongly urged the
Captain to go on fhore, offering to leave an equal number of their own
people on board the while; but a ftrong wefterly current prevented this offer
from being accepted1.
Perceiving this, one of then, infifted upon going with him, and notwith-
Handing all Captain Carteret and his companions could fa y or do, he obftinately
refufed to go on fhore As Captain.Carteret thought this man might be the
means of his making fome ufeful difcovery, he did not order him to be put on
fhore by force, but indulged him in his defire,- To his great concern, however, P. 380;
* M m 2 he 3 9 '