388 THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. 



large as the Isle of Man. It is mostly low, but contains 

 mountain masses rising to a height of i,6oo feet. Our ex- 

 amination of the group was confined to the extreme north- 

 western portion of the northern coast, and the small outlying 

 islets in the immediate vicinity. 



The Admiralty Islands were discovered by Captain Philip 

 Carteret, of H.M. sloop "Swallow," on September 14th, 1767. 

 Captain Carteret lay off small outlying islands to the south of 

 the group. 12 or 14 canoes came off, and the natives at once 

 attacked him by throwing their lances into the midst of his 

 crew. He had to fire on them, and although he made efforts 

 to conciliate them he was entirely unsuccessful. From a 

 statement made by Dentrecasteaux it appears that shortly 

 before 1790 the islands were visited by a frigate commanded 

 by Captain Morelle. 



APPEARANCE OF HISTIOPHORUS WHEN SWIMMING NEAR THE SURFACE 

 OF THE WATER. 



In 1 791 the "Recherche" and " Esperance " sailed from 

 France, under the command of Dentrecasteaux, to search for 

 the missing " La Perouse," the " Recherche " having on board 

 of her, as one of the naturalists, M. Labillardiere. 



In the previous year, 1790, the English frigate " Sirius " was 

 wrecked on Norfolk Island, and a Dutch vessel which conveyed 

 her commander, Commodore Hunter, to Batavia, passed by 

 the Admiralty Islands. Whilst she was in sight of the shore, 

 canoes full of natives put off towards the ship, and showed 

 a desire to 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 



