263 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. ^ E. 



At eleven a.m. passed Cairncross Island, running* 

 under eas}^ sail and keeping- as near the shore as 

 prudent to keep the boat in sig"ht. I have g-iven 

 instructions to the officers in charg-e to make a 

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

 four hauled in for Fern Islnnd j at five anchored 

 under the lee in three fathoms, mud • bearings, the 

 hig-hest part of Fern Island S. by E., the entrance 

 to Escape River, N.W. by W. i W., hoisted the 

 recall for the boat, on the return of Avhich the 

 officer reported ns 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; they shook hands with all of us, and 

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

 recog-nised the native who 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." 



