256 FLOCKS OF SEA-BIRDS. 
This same year the Tahaitians suffered much 
from a similar disease, and died in great num- 
bers from the want of medical assistance. The 
Missionaries, who only desire to govern their 
minds, have never yet troubled themselves to 
establish any institution for the health of the 
body. 
During this and the few succeeding days, the 
appearance of great ficcks of sea-birds frequently 
convinced us that we must be in the neighbour- 
hood of unknown islands; but as from the mast- 
head they can only be discerned at a proximity 
of fifteen or sixteen miles, we did not happen to 
fall in with them. 
On the second of April, however, we passed 
a little uninhabited island, something higher — 
than the coral islands usually are. Its lati- 
tude is 14° 32’ 39” South, and its longitude 
168° 6. I then considered it a new disco- 
very, and gave it the name of my First Lieu- 
tenant, Kordinkoff; but, on my return, I 
learned that it had been previously discovered 
by Captain Freycinet, on his voyage from the 
Sandwich Islands to New Holland, in the year 
1819; the narrative of which had not appear- 
