262 Kennedy's expedition. 



very dang-erous^ not being* visible from the mast 

 head. I went aloft after crossing* it, and could 

 perceive no indication of shoal water. The bearing-s 

 I g'ot when on the shoal were, the outer or larger 

 Hannibal Island; S.E. ^ E.^ the inner one (only a 

 solitary tree visible) S. by E. g^ E. 



At eleven a.m. passed Cairnci'oss Island^ running* 

 under easy sail and keeping* as near the shore as 

 prudent to keep the boat in sig'ht. I ha\'e given 

 instructions to the officers in charg'e to make a 

 sig*nal if anything* was discovered. At half-past 

 four hauled in for Fern Island ; at five anchored 

 under the lee in three fathoms, mud ; bearings^ the 

 hig'hest part of Fern Island S. b}^ E.^ the entrance 

 to Escape Eiver^ N.W. by W. i W., hoisted the 

 recall for the boat, on the return of which the 

 officer reported as follows. 



"I ran along* close to the shore all day. I 

 landed a little to the southward of Orfordness. We 

 met about thirty natives on the beach^ who came 

 up to us without hesitation, and appeared very 

 friendly 5 they shook hands with all of us, and 

 broug'ht us water. Jackey at first thoug-ht he 

 recog'nised the native Avho escaped from the Ariel 

 among" them ; he g-ot a little excited, and wanted to 

 shoot him, when he approached nearer he was 

 satisfied he was not the same individual. At 

 another place where I landed I found part of the 

 lower mast of a vessel about 400 tons, and pieces of 

 wreck ; saw no natives or indication of them on the 

 beach." 



