Feb. 

 1826. 



PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 225 



of tears, and took their leave in a solemn manner c ^ p 

 with very few words. The women, on the other 

 hand, clung about his wife and children, and in- 

 dulged a weakness that better became their sex. 



The island upon which we found them is nearly 

 an oval of three miles and three-quarters diameter. 

 It is of coral formation, and has a lagoon and pro- 

 ductions very similar to the other islands recently 

 described. One species of coral not noticed before 

 was seen in the lagoon, growing above water: it 

 was a millepore extending itself in vertical plates 

 parallel to the shore. Among the vegetable pro- 

 ductions, the poli/podium vulgare, seen at Whitsun- 

 day Island, was found here ; and also a small shrub, 

 which we afterwards ascertained to be an achyran- 

 thus. From the pemphis we procured a large sup- 

 ply of firewood, to which use it is well adapted, as 

 it burns a long time, gives great heat, and occupies 

 comparatively little room. The wood of this tree 

 is as hard as lignum vita?, and equally good for 

 tools ; its specific gravity much greater than sea- 

 water: its colour is deep red, but the inner bark 

 more strongly tinged ; and if properly prepared, 

 would perhaps afford a good dye. 



From Byam Martin Island we steered for Glou- 

 cester Island of Captain Wallis, and early the next 

 morning were close to it. The appearance of the 

 island has been accurately described by its dis- 

 coverer, but its present form and extent differ mate- 

 rially. At the S. E. angle of the island we noticed 

 a morai built of stones, but there were no inhabi- 

 tants upon the shore. In passing to windward of 

 the island, the current unexpectedly set so strong 

 upon it, that the ship was for a considerable time in 



VOL. I. Q 



