450 A NATURALIST ON THE "CHALLENGER." 



communicate, and being indistinctly seen in the distance, their 

 white shell ornaments showing against their dark skins were 

 taken for white facings on French naval uniforms, and their 

 reddened bark cloths for European fabrics, and Hunter was 

 persuaded that here were relics of the unfortunate " La Perouse." 



Dentrecasteaux received information at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, by a special despatch vessel sent for the purpose from the 

 Isle of France, of what Commodore Hunter had seen, and he in 

 consequence visited the Admiralty Islands with his two ships, 

 arriving off the islands in July, 1792. He visited the outlying 

 islands of Jesus Maria and La Vandola lying to the eastward, 

 and then coasted along the northern shore of the main island to 

 the same spot as that visited by the " Challenger." He com- 

 municated with the natives by bartering with them from his 

 ships and from boats, but seeing no trace of any European relics 

 amongst them, he concluded that Commodore Hunter had been 

 mistaken in the manner already described, and set sail without 

 effecting a landing. Two separate accounts were published of 

 Dentrecasteaux's cruise, one by himself, edited by Mr. Eossel, 

 the other by M. Labillardiere. Both contain very interesting 

 information concerning the Admiralty Islanders, the account by 

 Labillardiere being most complete in this respect, and accom- 

 panied by large plates of natives and weapons, and a view of 

 Dentrecasteaux Island. 



In 1843 the islands were visited by the American clipper 

 "Margaret Oakley," Captain Morrell. The crew of this ship 

 landed at many points on the coast of the main island, which 

 according to Jacobs's account is called " Marso " by the natives. 



They also visited many of the small outlying islands. Jacobs's 

 account* is full of interesting details, but evidently not entirely 

 trustworthy. It will be referred to in the sequel. There is no 

 account extant of the landing of any other Europeans on the 

 Admiralty Islands before the visit of the " Challenger." The 

 well-known explorer Miklucho Maclay has paid a lengthened 

 visit to the islands since our departure. 



As the ship approached the anchorage canoes came off 



* " Scenes, Incidents and Adventures in the Pacific Ocean," &c., pp. 164 

 to 182. By T. J. Jacobs. New York, Harper & Bros., 1844. 



