BOWDITCH ISLAND. H 



thunder and lightning ; and it is a source of regret, that at this time 

 the rain-gauge was out of repair, and no observations were made as 

 to the quantity which fell, or its temperature. 



At 2 h 30 m a. m., whilst Lieutenant Emmons had the deck, the 

 night being very dark, and the weather clear, he heard the distant 

 sound of surf; soon afterwards the wind changed, when land was 

 discovered close to the vessel, bearing northeast. They made signal 

 to the tender, and hove-to till daylight, when the largest island they 

 had yet seen was within two miles of the ship. 



This proved to be a new discovery, as it was not to be found on 

 any chart. The island, which I have named Bowditch, agreeably to 

 the wish of Captain Hudson, was of coral formation, and its shape is 

 that of a triangle, with the apex to the south. From north to south 

 it is eight miles long, and in width, from its west point, four miles. 

 On its southwest and north points the land is of considerable eleva- 

 tion, and the more elevated parts are connected by an extensive coral 

 reef, that is awash. On the east side the land is more continuous, 

 and on three parts there are extensive groves of cocoa-nut trees and 

 shrubbery. There is no entrance for a vessel to the lagoon, which, 

 from the appearance of the water, has but little depth. 



At daylight, eighteen canoes, with four or five persons in each, were 

 seen off the end of the island, apparently on a fishing excursion : they 

 disregarded the vessels altogether, and continued their occupation, 

 without taking any notice, and as if unwilling to lose the opportunity 

 of taking the fish. The fish seemed to be extremely numerous, if the 

 actions of the birds were to be taken as an indication, for immense 

 numbers of them were seen darting into and rising from the sea every 

 moment. 



As the natives refused to come near the ship, Captain Hudson 

 ordered two boats to be sent to open a communication with them. 

 They were taking fish after the manner of the Samoans, by trolling a 

 line, it being fastened by a pole eight or ten feet long to the stern of 

 the canoes, and elevated above the surface to a sufficient height to 

 allow the fish-hook, which was made of shell or bone, to drag along 

 the surface of the water; as their canoes were propelled, the fish, 

 attracted by the glistening of the hook, eagerly caught at it, and 

 were taken. 



The canoes were single, with out-riggers, and resembled those of 

 Samoa, being partly decked over the fore part, and with the same 

 small protuberances or pegs, to which were fastened the ovula-shell. 



