ELLICE’S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 
63 
portions of it, there is a coral bank, from one to one and a half miles 
beyond the reef, on which there is ten fathoms water. At the distance 
of four miles from the northwest end of the island, they found soundings 
in two hundred and sixty-five fathoms. 
The island is partially covered with cocoa-nut, pandanus, and other 
trees; and the islets of which it is formed are nearly continuous, con¬ 
nected by the usual coral reef. They had no communication with 
the natives of Nanouti. A daily intercourse is kept up between it and 
the Drummond Islanders. It was thought there was no difference in 
their characters. The distance between them is but fifteen miles. 
From the north point of this island, there was a small island in sight, 
which was at first supposed to be Duperrey’s Isle du Nord; but if it be, 
instead of being located to the northward, as he has placed it, it bears 
nearly south of the north extreme of Nanouti. They found, on pro¬ 
ceeding towards it, that it was a hummock, connected by a reef with 
Nanouti; but no Sable Island could be seen. The tender passed round 
the opposite side of Nanouti, and did not see any island ; and the 
officers of both vessels are fully convinced that no Sable Island exists. 
On the night of the 10th, they had much thunder and lightning, with 
a heavy swell from the northeast. 
At daylight on the 11th, they made Henderville Island, called by the 
natives Nanouki. The weather was too unfavourable to proceed with 
the survey. Simpson or Harbottle, Hopper, and Woodle Islands, were 
in sight. The weather continued stormy, with heavy thunder and 
lightning. 
o o 
On the 12th, they succeeded in surveying Henderville Island, and 
connected it with Woodle Island. Towards night they again had 
stormy weather, with the wind from the eastward. Henderville Island 
was determined to be in latitude 00° IF N., and longitude 173° 39' 
20” E. This island is six and a half miles long, east and west, and 
five and a half miles wide at the east end, diminishing to two miles at 
the west end: it is of coral formation. There are two towns on the 
west end, and several on the east and southeast parts, and it is thickly 
inhabited. The natives who came on board said that the two ends of 
the island were at war with each other. They are very much the same 
in appearance as the natives of Drummond’s Island; were naked, and 
spoke the same dialect. These natives knew of the islands in their 
immediate vicinity, as well as the direction of Taputeouea, or Drum¬ 
mond’s Island, and gave them the name of being inhabited by a savage 
and hostile people. This island affords neither wood, water, nor 
refreshments: from appearances, its inhabitants must be at times much 
stinted for food. They brought off nothing except a few cocoa-nuts; 
