THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. 449 



148° 6' E. between 100 and 200 miles south of the equator. 

 It is distant from New Hanover 130 miles, and from the nearest 

 point of New Guinea about 150 miles. 



APPEARANCE OF ISTIOFHORUS WHEN SWIMMING NEAR THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. 



The large island of the group which is oblong in form, has an 

 area of about 550 square miles, being thus about twice as large 

 as the Isle of Man. It is mostly low, but contains mountain 

 masses rising to a height of 1,600 feet. Our examination of the 

 group was confined to the extreme north-western portion of the 

 northern coast, and the small outlying islets in the immediate 

 vicinity. 



The Admiralty Islands were discovered by Captain Philip 

 Carteret, of H.M. sloop " Swallow," on September 14th, 1767. 

 Captain Carteret lay off small outlying islands to the south of 

 the group. 12 or 14 canoes came off, and the natives at once 

 attacked him by throwing their lances into the midst of his 

 crew. He had to fire on them, and although he made efforts to 

 conciliate them these were entirely unsuccessful. From a state- 

 ment made by Dentrecasteaux it appears that shortly before 1790 

 the islands were visited by a frigate commanded by Captain 

 Morelle. 



In 1791 the " Eecherche " and "Esperance" sailed from 

 France, under the command of Dentrecasteaux, to search for 

 the missing " La Perouse," the " Eecherche " having on board of 

 her as one of the naturalists, M. Labillardiere. 



In the previous year, 1790, the English frigate " Syrius " was 

 wrecked on Norfolk Island, and a Dutch vessel which conveyed 

 her commander, Commodore Hunter, to Batavia, passed by the 

 Admiralty Islands. Whilst she was in sight of the shore, canoes 

 full of natives put off towards the ship, and showed a desire to 



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