272 SITUATION OF THE PESCADORES, 



mile from the reefs, and perceived that their 

 greatest length is from east to west, in which 

 direction they take in a space of ten miles. 

 The aspect of these green islands is pleasing to 

 the eye, and, according to appearance, they 

 would amply supply the necessities of a popu 

 lation not superabundant ; but though we sailed 

 very near them, and used our telescopes, we 

 could discover no trace of human habitation. 



According to accurate astronomical obser 

 vations, the middle of this group lies under 

 11 19 21&quot; latitude, and 192 25 3&quot; longitude. 

 In comparing the situation of the Pescadores, 

 as given by Captain Wallis, their discoverer, 

 with this observation, it is scarcely possible to 

 believe in the identity of the groups. I have, 

 however, left them the name of Pescadores, be 

 cause the two observations nearly correspond. 

 After having sailed round the whole group, 

 we came, at four o clock in the afternoon, so 

 close to their north-western point, that every 

 movement on land might have been distinctly 

 seen with the naked eye; yet even here there 

 was nothing to indicate the presence of man, 

 though Wallis communicated with the inhabi- 



