200 ROUND ISLAND. 



drinkable. While passings the entrance on our 

 return a g^reat lizard^ about five feet in leng'th^ 

 rushed out from an adjacent swamp across a 

 narrow strip of sandy beach and plung-ed into the 

 water after receiving' an ineffectual charg'e of small 

 shot. The boat's crew pronounced it confidently to 

 have been a young* alligator^ but^ although in a very 

 likely haunt for these animals^ it was probably only 

 a monitor. 



We then crossed over to Round Island^ small^ 

 uninhabited^ 230 feet in heig'ht^ thickly covered with 

 trees and underwood^ and connected on the eastern 

 side with the reef running* across to Piron Island. 

 The rock here is still mica slate^ varying* much in 

 texture and composition^ often hig'hly ferrug*inous ; 

 the strata run E.S.E. and W.N.W. with a northerly 

 dip of about 45°. 



June 24:th. — In the course of the day no less than 

 seven canoes with natives^ including- several women 

 and children^ came off to the ship boldly and Avith- 

 out hesitation^ as if confidence were now established. 

 At one time we had five canoes alono-side, with a 

 brisk and noisy traffic g'oing* on. The people 

 parted very readil}" with their weapons and orna- 

 ments^ also cocoa-nuts in abundance^ and a few 

 yams and bananas^ for strips of calico and pieces of 

 iron hoop. Axes^ however^ were more prized than 

 any other article_, and the exhibition of one was 

 certain to produce g*reat eag'erness to procure it^ 

 amidst much shouting* and cries of kelmnai ! The 



