200 ROUND ISIAND. 



drinkable. While passing tlie entrance on our 

 return a great lizard, about five feet in length, 

 rushed out from an adjacent swamp across a 

 narrow strip of sandy beach and plunged into the 

 water after receiving an ineffectual charge of small 

 shot. The boaf s crew pronounced it confidently to 

 have been a young alligator, but, although in a very 

 likely haunt for these animals, it was probably only 

 a monitor. 



We then crossed over to Round Island, small, 

 uninhabited, 230 feet in height, thickly covered with 

 trees and underwood, and connected on the eastern 

 side T^dth the reef running across to Piron Island. 

 The rock here is still mica slate, varying much in 

 texture and composition, often highly ferruginous ; 

 the strata run E.S.E. and W.N.W. with a northerly 

 dip of about 45°. 



June 24:th. — In the course of the da}' no less than 

 seven canoes with natives, including several women 

 and children, came off to the ship boldly and with- 

 out hesitation, as if confidence were now established. 

 At one time we had five canoes alongside, "with a 

 brisk and noisy trafiic going on. The people 

 parted very readily with their weapons and orna- 

 ments, also cocoa-nuts in abundance, and a few 

 yams and bananas, for strips of calico and pieces of 

 iron hoop. Axes, however, were more prized than 

 any other article, and the exhibition of one was 

 certain to produce great eagerness to procure it, 

 amidst much shouting and cries of kelumai ! The 



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