314 cook's SECOND VOYAGE APRIL, 



the others, the inhabitants are chiefly beholden to the 

 sea for their subsistence ; consequently, are much 

 exposed to the sun and weather, and by that means 

 become more dark in colour, and more hardy and 

 robust ; for there is no doubt of their being of the 

 same nation. Our people observed that they were 

 stout, well made men, and had marked on their 

 bodies the figure of a fish ; a very good emblem of 

 their profession. 



On the 18th, at day-break, after having spent the 

 night making short boards, we wore down to another 

 isle we had in sight to the westward, which we 

 reached by eight o'clock, and ranged the south-east 

 side at one mile from shore. We found it to be just 

 such another as that we had left, extending north- 

 east and south-west near four leagues, and from t\\e 

 to three miles broad. It lies south-west by west, 

 two leagues distant from the west end of Tiookea, 

 and the middle is situated in the latitude of 14 37' S., 

 longitude 145 10" W. These must be the same 

 islands to which Commodore Byron gave the name 

 of George's Islands. Their situation in longitude, 

 which was determined by lunar observations made 

 near the shores, and still farther correct by the differ- 

 ence of longitude carried on by the watch to Otaheite, 

 is 3 54/ more east than he says they lie. This cor- 

 rection, I apprehend, may be applied to all the 

 islands he discovered. 



After leaving these isles, we steered south-south- 

 west, half west, and south-west by south, with a fine 

 easterly gale, having signs of the vicinity of land, 

 particularly a smooth sea ; and, on the 19th, at seven 

 in the morning, land was seen to the westward, which 

 we bore down to, and reached the south-east end by 

 nine o'clock. It proved to be another of these half- 

 overflowed or drowned islands, which are so common 

 to this part of the ocean ; that is, a number of little 

 isles ranged in a circular form, connected together 

 by a reef or wall of coral rock. The sea is, in 



