10 BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



the other islanders of Polynesia, and when shown some, they made 

 signs to know if it was edible. On being given a cigar, they exa- 

 mined it very closely, and being induced to light it, attempted to 

 imitate the motions of smoking ; hut instead of drawing in the breath 

 to ignite it, pursued a directly opposite course, and very soon returned 

 it, with some agitation, apparently rejoiced to get rid of it. The 

 natives accompanied them in a body to the beach, and saw them 

 safely into the boats. 



Dip and intensity observations were made here ; they likewise had 

 a perpendicular cast of the lead, half a mile from the shore, with 

 three hundred fathoms ; but they found no bottom. 



Nineteen varieties of trees were found, some of which were of a 

 large growth; among which were seen large Tournefortia, covered 

 with Asplenium and Polypodium, species of ferns, which gave it 

 quite a venerable appearance ; a pandanus more than thirty feet high. 

 A tree, believed to be a Pisonia, was more than twenty feet in circum- 

 ference at its base, and about forty feet high. A beautiful species 

 of ficus, the Cape jessamine of Tahiti, and the nono, used as a dye, 

 were both growing wild. 



Some tame oceanic pigeons, plovers, and a noddy, were seen about 

 their town, with numerous water-fowl, but no land-birds. Rats were 

 numenras, as was also a large black lizard. 



On the 26th, the vessels sailed for the Duke of Clarence Island, 

 but, owing to the unfavourable state of the weather, they did not 

 reach it until the 28th, though only a few miles distant, when it was 

 surveyed, and found to be seven miles and two-tenths long, in a north 

 and south direction, and five miles wide from east to west. It is of a 

 triangular shape, with the apex to the north. It has a lagoon similar 

 to that of the Duke of York's, with islets in it; the northwest side is 

 a bare reef, or wash, on which the sea breaks heavily. After the 

 survey was effected, Captain Hudson found it impossible to land to 

 hold communication with the natives, but has no doubt of its being 

 inhabited, as it was spoken of by the inhabitants of the Duke of 

 York's Island as belonging to the same people, and was called by 

 them Nukunono. No opening was perceived into the lagoon, and 

 there were many cocoa-nut and other trees on the island. 



On the 28th, in the afternoon, they bore away for the purpose of 

 looking for the islands of Gente Hermosas of Quires. During the 

 night the weather was squally, with heavy rain, accompanied with 



