216 PACIFIC AND 



should be more attentively examined. Several of them are well 

 peopled, and the inhabitants, like the Japanese, are reserved, and 

 distrustful of strangers. From the southeast part of New islands, 

 there is a small island, well inhabited with curly-haired people, 

 who appeared a warlike race. This island affords a good harbour, 

 and probably abounds with biche-le-mer. 



Captain RichardJVIacy, of Nan tucket, a very intelligent man, 

 has long been engaged in the whale-fishery, and has shown more 

 than usual skill in his observations, as well in noting the facts he 

 has seen, as in taking a great many sketches of islands, reefs, 

 harbours, coasts, &c., which will be found very useful to the 

 expedition. Captain Macy discovered an island four or five miles 

 in extent, in south latitude 59, and west longitude 91, his ship 

 passing near enough to see the breakers. The island abounded 

 with sea-dogs, or seals, and the water was much coloured, and 

 thick with rockweed. While crossing the Pacific, on a return 

 voyage, he passed between the latitudes 50 and 55 south, and 

 found the water much coloured, abounding with rockweed and 

 seals conclusive indications that land was near; but he could 

 not stop to make any researches. He mentions the following 

 islands, reefs, and shoals, as deserving particular attention : some 

 of them, it is true, are laid down on the charts, some are not, and 

 all require nearly the same examination. It is not at all surprising 

 that the positions of these islands are not well defined. Their 

 places were often given from observations, without making any 

 allowance for refraction, and from the run of the log, without 

 knowing or stopping to ascertain the direction and velocity of 

 currents. One island, without any name, in 15 45' south, and 

 longitude 154 15' west; one 16 south, 139 west, not well 

 known; another island, 17 south and 138 west, not named; 

 one island not laid down on any of the charts, nor published in 

 any list of newly-discovered islands, lies in 16 south, and 

 143 west. 



