390 HONOLULU. 



succeeded by light winds from the eastward, the upper stratum of 

 clouds continuing to fly from east-by-north. 



On the 26th we made land, which proved to be a lagoon island, 

 about sixty miles to the westward of the position of Sydney Island. 

 At ten o'clock, being near it, the boats were lowered and sent 

 round one side of the island, while the ship proceeded round the 

 other. 



This island was not found on any chart; I therefore called it Hull's 

 Island, in honour of that distinguished officer of our navy. It has no 

 doubt been frequently taken for Sydney Island. Its northwest point 

 lies in longitude 172° 20' 52" W., and latitude 4° 29' 48" S. To our 

 great surprise, we found on this island eleven Kanakas from Tahiti, 

 with a Frenchman, who had been left there some five months before, 

 to catch turtles, of which they had succeeded in taking seventy-eight. 

 The Frenchman was unwell and we did not see him, but three of 

 the Kanakas came on board and remained a short time. They knew 

 Sydney Island, which they told us lay about sixty miles to the 

 eastward, and also two small islands to the northward, but no others 

 hereabouts. Sydney Island they said they had visited, and that it 

 was like the one on which we found them. Hull's Island has a little 

 fresh water and a few cocoanut-trees upon it, but offers few induce- 

 ments to visit it, even for the business of taking turtles. The value of 

 those taken could scarcely cover the expenses incurred, which must 

 have been beyond one thousand dollars, taking into consideration the 

 time spent by the vessel going and returning. They informed us 

 that their vessel had gone to Samoa for the purpose of trading, and 

 that they had been expecting her for some time past. 



We now stood for Sydney Island, and ran in the darkness until 

 the screaming of the birds around us, warned me that it was most 

 prudent to heave-to, and await the morning light. 



The morning proved squally, no land was in sight, and the wind 

 was strong from the eastward. No observations could be taken at 

 noon, and soon after that hour land was discovered from the mast- 

 head, bearing northwest, which proved to be Hull's Island, showing 

 that we had been strongly affected by a southwesterly current. I 

 now saw that to attempt to reach Sydney Island, with the wind as 

 we then had it, would occasion much loss of time ; I therefore deter- 

 mined, first to search for those islands said to lie to the northward. 

 With the wind at east-by-south, we stood to the north, and at day- 

 light saw an island twelve miles to the westward, which was Birnie's 



