44 
ELLICE’S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 
When Mr. Hale pronounced the name of Tagaloa, the great deity 
of Polynesia, it appeared to surprise and annoy them. One of them 
mentioned that Tagaloa was a god taboo to their country, and refused 
to speak farther about him. 
They reported that ten ships had visited their island, and added that 
a ship of the Wiwi people had spent some days about their island in 
fishing: that the captain, with five others, had slept on shore. It was 
conjectured that Wiwi was the appellation by which they distinguish 
the French people or ships, this term being made use of in New 
Zealand. The invitations to go on shore were accompanied by such 
significant signs as to lead to the conclusion that they were not the 
most virtuous people, and very unlike their ancestors, or race of the 
Union Group, whose only desire seemed to be to get rid of the parties 
before nig ht. 
The extreme north island was found in latitude 7° 56' 11" S., longi¬ 
tude 178° 27' 32" E.: it is eight miles long, east-northeast and west- 
southwest ; its greatest width is nearly the same. 
The vessels left Nukufetau the same evening, and steered away to 
the northward. In latitude 6° 10' S., and longitude 177° 41' E., they 
passed a small island which has no lagoon, and does not appear to be 
named on any of the charts. This they saw at some distance, and 
although it appears to have been seen before, yet as the charts only 
designate it as an island, I have bestowed upon it the name of Speiden, 
after the purser of the Peacock, one of the most valuable officers of the 
Expedition. 
On the 24th, they fell in with another island, in latitude 6° 19' S., 
longitude 176° 23' 15" E. This discovery I have called Hudson, aftei 
Captain Hudson. It was surveyed and found to be but one mile and 
four-tenths long, north and south, and nine-tenths of a mile wide, east 
and west. This island is inhabited, a few natives being seen on the 
beach, and several houses under cocoa-nut trees on its west side. It 
is of coral formation, has no lagoon, and can be seen about eight or ten 
miles. There are reefs extending from its north and south points 
nearly half a mile, on which the surf breaks heavily. They had no 
communication with its inhabitants. 
On the 25th, they passed the small island of St. Augustine, whose 
position as ascertained was in latitude 5° 35' S., and longitude 176° 
06' E. It appeared well wooded, but being to windward, it could 
not be reached without much delay. The wind, thus far, among 
these islands, had been from the north, and very unfavourable for a 
vessel cruising among them for their examination; and being light 
and variable, little progress could be made in any direction. 
