20 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



have mentioned before, was visible. The farther 

 geography of this group of islands was still 

 enveloped in darkness ; yet it was to be conjec- 

 tured that there must be a connection to the east, 

 because no high waves came from that side. We 

 were at first so agreeably occupied with our situ- 

 ation, that we postponed the farther examination. 

 I resolved not to quit the place till I had deter- 

 mined it astronomically by various observations, 

 tried and regulated my cliionometers, and done 

 some work on board the ship, which could not be 

 done in open sea. At our anchoring place we 

 found the water so transparent, that we could see 

 the bottom at a depth of from 10 to 12 fathoms ; 

 at the same time we had the most beautiful 

 weather. Our naturalists, who had made an ex- 

 cursion into the third island, returned in the even- 

 ing with shells and plants, much satisfied with their 

 success. The islands 1, 2, and 3, we found unin- 

 habited, though we everywhere discovered traces 

 of human beings. At three o'clock in the after- 

 noon, we saw a boat under sail, coming from the 

 E., which stopped at the fourth island, landed 

 something there, and then directed its course to 

 us. From the large sail, and the skilful manoeu- 

 vring we observed, that it entirely resembled that 

 of the Kutusof*s group. It approached the Rurick 

 within 50 fathoms, the sail was taken in, and an old 

 man at the helm, probably the commander, showed us 

 some fruit, speaking a great deal. The many times 



16 



