66 SAIL FOR SYDNEY. 



coffin-like box, resting- upon a hollowed out log", the 

 bow having- the two characteristic ornaments of the 

 tahura^ or head-board, and the crest-like carved 

 wood work runnino- out alono- the beak. Some of 

 the natives were recoo-nised as former visitors to the 

 ship. Nearly all were painted, chiefly on the face, 

 the favourite pattern being- series of white bars and 

 spots on a black g-round. Except their ornaments 

 and weapons, they had little to give us for the iron 

 hoop so much in request with them j only a few 

 cocoa-nuts, and scarcely any yams were obtained, 

 and to the latter they attached a much hig-her value 

 than formerly. 



At leng-th the natives left us, three canoes making* 

 to the northward, and two returning' to the Ducha- 

 teau Isles. Morning* observations for rating' the 

 chronometers having- been obtained, we g-ot under 

 weig'h soon afterwards, and, bidding- farewell to the 

 Louisiade Archipelag'O, commenced our voyag'e to 

 Sydney. 



Our daily averag'e prog-ress during* the passag*e 

 to Sydney (which occupied a period of twent3^-eight 

 days), was less than fifty miles. The winds for the 

 first few days, or until beyond the influence of the 

 land, were lig*ht and variable, shifting* between S.W. 

 and N.E. by the nortliAvard, and accompanied by 

 occasional squalls and rain. It became a matter of 

 difficulty to determine when we g*ot into the south- 

 east trade ; it was not until we had reached latitude 

 20° S. that the wind — lig'ht on the preceding* day. 



