292 



New York Island. Jarvis's 

 Island. Birnie's Island. 



CRUISE OF THE PEACOCK. 



Search for islands. Duke of 

 York's Island. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



CRUISE OF THE PEACOCK AND FLYING-FISH FROM OAHU TO THE BAR OF 



THE COLUMBIA. 



HEW YORK ISLAND JARVIs's ISLAND BIRN1E*S ISLAND SEARCH FOR ISLANDS DUKE OF YORK'S ISLAND DUKE OF 

 CLARENCE'S ISLAND BOWDITCH ISLAND DISCOVERED SWAIN'S ISLAND ISLAND OF UPOLU IN THE SAMOAN 

 GROUP APIA HARBOUR ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE TAG!, A MURDERER DETERMINATION OF THE CHIEFS AND 

 PEOPLE TO PROTECT TAGI TOWNS OF SALUAFATA, FUSI, AND SALELESE REDUCED TO ASHES IN CONSEQUENCE 

 EFFECTS OF THE EXAMPLE TOWN OF MATAATU, ISLAND OF SAVAII ELLICE*S GROUP OF ISLANDS KINGS- 

 MILL GROUP OF ISLANDS THE PEACOCK AND FLYING-FISH AT THE BAR OF THE COLUMBIA. 



THE Peacock and Flying-Fish left Oahu on the 

 2nd December, 1840, and steered off to the south- 

 ward until they reached the latitude of 5 N., 

 and longitude 160 W., a position in which it was 

 thought that an island existed. This position was 

 carefully examined, until they were satisfied that 

 there was no land at or near the locality. They 

 then steered for Washington Island, known on the 

 chart of Arrowsmith as New York Island, which 

 was found and surveyed. Its position is in lati- 

 tude 4 41' 35" N., and longitude 160 15' 37" W. 

 It is three and a quarter miles long by one and a 

 fourth wide, and is entirely covered with cocoa- 

 nut and other trees, exhibiting a most luxuriant 

 growth. There is a reef off its eastern point, 

 which extends for half a mile. At the western 

 end, a coral ledge extends two miles in a north- 

 west-by-west direction, on which the water appears 

 much discoloured, but the sea was not seen to 

 break upon it, except close to the point of the 

 island. The island is elevated about ten feet 

 above the sea. The surf proved too heavy to allow 

 of their landing, and the island affords no anchor- 

 age. 



The positions in this neighbourhood, where five 

 islands have been reported to exist, were dili- 

 gently searched for eight days ; but no land was 

 seen, and Captain Hudson became satisfied that 

 none but Washington Island is to be found. 



On the 20th December, they made Jarvis's 

 Island, in latitude 22' 33" S. 5 and longitude 159 

 54' 11" W. This is a small coral island, triangular 

 in shape, a mile and three-fourths in length east 

 and west, and a mile wide north and south. It 

 exhibits the appearance of a white sand-beach, ten 

 or twelve feet above the sea, without a tree or 

 shrub, and but a few patches of grass. The sea 

 breaks violently around its shores, but no reef ex- 

 tends to any distance from the island, which may 

 be closely approached. A few sea-birds were 

 seen about the island. No landing could be 

 attempted, the surf being too heavy. Captain 

 Hudson considers this a dangerous island for 

 navigators. 



The Peacock and Flying-Fish, for the next fif- 

 teen days, were engaged in searching for Brooks's 

 Island, Clark's Reef, and various shoals; but with- 

 out success, and, after examining the neighbouring 

 sea, left the locality, fully satisfied that if any 

 islands or shoals had existed, in or near the places 

 assigned to them, they must have been seen. 



On the 9th January, 1841, they made Ender- 

 bury's Island, of the Phoenix Group. 



On the llth, they made and surveyed Birnie's 

 Island, which lies south-west from Enderbury's, in 

 latitude 3 34' 15" S., longitude 171 33' W. It 

 has an elevation of no more than six feet above 

 the sea ; is about one mile long and a quarter of a 

 mile wide, trending about north-west and south- 

 east. It is but a strip of coral, apparently up- 

 lifted, and is exceedingly dangerous for vessels, as 

 it cannot be seen from a distance, and a vessel, in 

 thick weather, would scarcely have time to avoid it 

 after it was discovered. 



A number of islands and reefs, reported to exist, 

 were searched for in this neighbourhood, viz. : 

 Mary Balcout's, Brothers', Robertson's, Phoenix, 

 Harper's, and others, laid down, but not named, 

 all of which are believed to have no existence 

 whatever. 



On the 17th January they made Hull's Island. 

 Captain Hudson, believing this to be Sydney Island, 

 ran off forty -five miles to the westward, for Hull's 

 Island, but, of course, saw nothing of it, as it 

 lies that distance to the eastward, in the same 

 latitude. 



The position of an island supposed to exist in 

 latitude 5 23' S., and longitude 173 25' W., was 

 passed, but no signs of land were seen. They 

 then ran over the supposed place of Fletcher's 

 Island, in latitude 7 2' S., longitude 173 22' W., 

 without seeing any shoal, island, or reef. 



The next day they proceeded to the Duke of 

 York's Island, which they made on the 25th, in 

 latitude 8 36' S., longitude 172 23' 52" W. This 

 is a lagoon island, of coral formation : its length 

 east and west is three miles, and its width two and 

 a half miles, north and south. There is no passage 

 into the lagoon ; the sea breaks on the reef with 

 violence ; but at high water a boat may pass over 

 without difficulty, if proper care is taken. The 

 islets that have been formed on the reef are eight 

 or ten feet above the water, and are covered with 

 cocoa-nut and pandanus trees. 



As they approached the island, three double 

 canoes were seen coming towards the ship, but with 

 great caution ; the mizzen-topsail was backed to 

 allow them 'to come up, which they did, singing and 

 shouting, making many gestures, and waving 

 pieces of matting. A white flag was waved in re- 

 turn, and various articles exhibited to induce them 

 to come alongside, which they at last did ; but 

 no inducement could prevail on them to come on 

 board. 



The teats were now lowered, and a large party 

 proceeded to land at the nearest point. The land- 



