TO RADACK, 



rain. At four o'clock in the afternoon, the wea- 

 ther cleared up, and it was announced from tlie 

 mast-head that land was seen to the N.N.W., 

 exactly in the direction of our course. It was a 

 low, woody island, the length of which, from N. to 

 S., is three miles, and its breadth three-quarters of 

 a mile. As no single islands are known in this 

 part, I concluded it to be a new discovery, and 

 called it New Year's Island, it having been first 

 seen on new-year's day. The faint wind did not 

 permit us to make any further examination this 

 day ; a countless number of fish sported round the 

 liurick : we . saw fewer birds, from which I con- 

 cluded the island was inhabited. We tacked 

 during the night ; the weather was uncommonly 

 fine 5 the full moon looked magnificently in the 

 starry heavens, and guarded us against every 

 danger. 



The 2d, at break of day, the island lay distant 

 from us five miles, W. by N. As on the north 

 side a very long reef extended to the north, I 

 du'ected my course to the south, where we saw no 

 surf, and where we hoped to be able to efi'ect a 

 landing. "We had very fine weather, but only a 

 faint breeze froniE.N.E. The lovely verdure of 

 the island had a very pleasing look, and the rising 

 columns of smoke had in our eyes something very 

 inviting. When we were distant but two miles 

 from the soutii point, we were surprised by seven 

 canoes, each rowed by five or six men, which 



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