FIRST PROVINCE OF THE GREAT OCEAN. 119 



scientific geogra])hical work can be undertaken on 

 the islands of these seas, without consulting these 

 documents. On account of the differing deter- 

 minations of the two captains, and the different names 

 which each applies to his islands, it is a difficult task 

 to compare tlieir accounts with each other, and with 

 the discoveries of other navigators ; and we leave 

 it to more able geographers. They must decide 

 which of these islands, that are here marked by the 

 name given them by the natives, (these are per- 

 manent,) were formerly known to our navigators j 

 and which of the islands seen by jthem, though in 

 the neighbourhood of lladack, have, notwithstand- 

 ing, remained unknown to the Radackers. The 

 navigator who is content to name, at his own dis- 

 cretion, the islands he discovers, and whose situ- 

 ation he determines, inscribes his name on the sand. 

 He who learns and preserves the true names of 

 his discoveries, ensures the stability of his work, 

 and really assists to erect the edifice, while the 

 others only furnish the stones. 



We did not find among the people of Radack 

 any knowledge of Gilbert's islands j that is, of the 

 islands south of Radack ; unless which, for many 

 reasons, (the course of the winds, &c.) appears to 

 us doubtful, we should place Repith Urur there. 



From Marshall's reports of the south and north 

 chain of the islands discovered by him, they appear 

 to us to be similar in all respects, and to be inhab- 



I ^ 



