MISCELLANIES. 
The north and east sides of the 
island ‘are surrounded by a reef, 
which may probably include the 
two smaller isles on its south- 
west side ; but it is totally uncon- 
nected with the reefs to the north- 
east. These appear to be a north- 
ern continuation of the vast bank, 
on the outside of which the Pan- 
dora sailed, as far as 112° south, 
and in the chart of Captain Ed- 
wards’ track, published by Mr. 
Dalrymple, it is marked as sur- 
rounding the Islands; whereas it 
is at least four miles distant from 
the reef which probably does sur- 
round them. 
A number of poles standing up 
in various places, more especially 
between the islands, appeared at 
a distance, like the masts of canoes, 
and made me apprehend that the 
inhabitants of the Strait had col- 
lected a fleet here; but on ap- 
proaching nearer, the poles were 
found to be upon the reefs, and 
were probably set up for some 
purpose connected with fishing. 
We had scarcely anchored when 
between forty and fifty Indians 
came off, in three canoes. They 
would not come along-side of the 
ship, but lay off at a little distance, 
holding up cocoa-nuts, joints of 
bamboo filled with water, plan- 
tains, bows and arrows, and vo- 
ciferating tooree! tooree! and 
mammoosee! A barter soon com- 
menced, and was carried on 
in this manner; a hatchet or 
other piece of Iron (tooree) being 
held up, they offered a bunch of 
green plantains, a bow and quiver 
of arrows, or what they judged 
would be received in exchange; 
Signs of acceptance being made, 
the Indian leaped 'over-board with 
his barter, and handed it to a man 
who went down the side to him ; 
543 
and receiving his hatchet, swam 
back to the canoe. Some deliver- 
ed their articles without any dis- 
trust of the exchange, but this 
was not always the case. Their 
eagerness to get tooree was great, 
and at first any thing of that 
sane metal was received; but 
afterwards, if a nail were held up 
to an Indian, he shook his head, 
striking the edge of his right hand 
upon the left arm, in the attitude 
of chopping; and he was well 
enough understood. 
At sunset, two of the canoes re- 
turned to Murray’s Island,paddling 
to windward with more velocity 
than one of our boats could have 
rowed: the third set a narrow, 
upright sail, between two masts 
in the fore part of the canoe, and 
steered north-westward, as I judg- 
ed, for the Darnley’s Island of 
Captain Bligh. 
I did not forget that the inha- 
bitants of these islands had made 
an attack upon the Providence and 
Assistant in 1792 (Introduction, 
p- xxv.) ; nor that Mr. Bampton 
had some people cut off at Darn- 
ley’s Island in 1793 (p. xxxiv— 
xxxix.) The marines were there- 
fore kept under arms, the guns 
clear and matches lighted; and 
officers were stationed to watch 
every motion, one to each canoe, 
so long as they remained near the 
ship. Bows and arrows were con- 
tained in all the canoes; but no 
intention of hostility was mani- 
fested by the Indians, unless those 
who steered for Darnley’s Island 
might be supposed to go for as- 
sistance. 
We did not get under weigh in 
the morning, until the sun was 
high enough for altitudes to be 
taken for the time-keepers. Soon 
after daylight, the natives were 
