TO RADACK. 59 



On the 20th of January, early, we were under sail; 

 a stormy wind from N. N. E. favoured our S. E. 

 course parallel with the chain of islands. 

 We found the latitude of our an- 



choring-place to be - - 9°33'l6''N. 



Longitude, according to the chro- 

 nometers, - - - 189 49 2 W. 

 Variation of the magnetic needle, 12 14 E. 

 After an hour's brisk sailing, without being de- 

 tained by any coral banks, we saw an island in the 

 S. E., which exceeded all the others in height. I 

 steered directly up to it j and was more and more 

 convinced that we were in a circle, as we now also 

 perceived land in the S. At nine o'clock, we cast 

 anchor a quarter of a mile from this large island, 

 in eight fathoms' water, over fine sand ; and we 

 were in a very fine harbour, of the calmest water. 

 A boat, which left Ormed at the same time with us, 

 sailed, to our great astonishment, as fast as the 

 Rurick. Being uncertain whether this was Ra- 

 rick's residence or not, as soon as we had cast an- 

 chor, I sent M. Chamisso on shore, to gain in- 

 formation respecting it. In an hour, he returned 

 with the news, that Rarick was here, and would 

 immediately visit me on board ; that there was 

 nothing to distinguish it as the residence of a 

 chief J every thing was exactly the same as on 

 Ormed island, even the population scanty, which, 

 of men, women, and children together, consisted 

 of sixty persons. In the afternoon, a boat put ofi' 



