388 Miscellanies. 



14° 10' 30" S. latitude. We surveyed the island, and had communi- 

 cation with the natives. From thence we steered to the second island, 

 Otooho, and found the longitude of its centre to be 141° 29' 50" W., 

 and latitude 14° 3' 20' S. After which we again steered to the south- 

 ward for Ravaka, lying to at night, owing to ihe dangerous naviga- 

 tion ; and on the 30th of August we made an island to the northward 

 of Rarika, not laid down on any chart, which I named King's Island, 

 from the name of one of the crew of this ship, who first discovered 

 it from aloft. We made a survey of it, and found the longitude of 

 its centre to be 144° 37' 45" W., and latitude 15° 44' 10" S. We 

 landed, but could find no inhabitants, although there were appearan- 

 ces of the pearl fishery having been carried on by the natives. 



From thence we visited Rarika, and made a survey of it ; the lon- 

 gitude of the entrance to its lagoon is 144° 57' 52" W., latitude 16° 

 5' 30" S. We landed, and found the natives very friendly. We took 

 on board one Englishman from this island, who had been left by a 

 vessel engaged in the pearl fishery some time previous. 



To the westward, and in sight of Rarika, we discovered another 

 large island, which is not laid down on any chart, which I named 

 Vincennes Island, after this ship ; its southwest point is in longitude 

 145° 12' W., and latitude 16° 39" S. ; northwest point in longitude 

 145° 18' W., latitude 15° 52' 40" S. 



From thence we made Carls-HofT, 28 miles to the westward, and in 

 longitude 145° 28' 36" W„ latitude 16° 36' S., which, finding errone- 

 ously laid down, we surveyed. 



From thence we made King George's group, and searched for the 

 two islands westward of them, which have hitherto been consider- 

 ed doubtful, and were supposed to be the Waterland of Le Maire. 

 The northern island, Wilson or Waterland, is in longitude 146° 5' 

 57" W., latitude 14° 26' S. These we surveyed, and having ascer- 

 tained the existence of two islands, I named the second one Peacock 

 Island, as that ship first made the signal of having discovered it; its 

 longitude is 146° 25' 37", latitude 14° 34'. Here I had an opportu- 

 nity of observing the eclipse of the sun, (Sept. 7.) 



The squadron then separated ; the Peacock passed to the Rurick 

 chain of islands and along the south side of Prince of Wales island, 

 the Vincennes taking the north side, the Porpoise and Flying Fish 

 having been ordered to make investigations of islands in that vicinity. 



These islands have been carefully examined on all sides, which has 

 resulted in detecting many errors of the charts and of former deter- 

 minations. 



From thence we proceeded to Matea island, which we surveyed, 

 and from thence direct to this anchorage. 



