ELLICE’S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 
71 
tender every preparation was made to receive the savages, as it was 
anticipated that the attack would be made at early daylight. They 
were not mistaken in this, for at that time the natives were seen in 
great numbers, but just then fortunately the tender floated. The natives 
continued, however, to approach boldly until within musket-shot, when 
they were motioned to keep off, which they disregarded. The head¬ 
most canoe having struck its sail for the purpose of closing alongside, 
Lieutenant Emmons fired his rifle, aiming so that the ball should pass 
close by the head of the steersman: this alarmed him so much that he 
immediately jumped overboard, and was followed by all the rest. The 
remaining canoes now kept off; but continued to follow the tender 
until she left the lagoon, which she did by the passage through which 
she had entered. When the natives found that the prize had escaped 
them, they became outrageous, making use of many violent gesticula¬ 
tions of the disappointment they had experienced. 
The next island that claimed their attention was Maraki, or Mat¬ 
thew’s Island. It is much smaller than the two last, and situated in 
latitude 2° 00' N., and longitude 173° 25' 30" E. It is a lagoon island, 
without entrances, and of coral formation. It is but five miles long, 
north-by-east and south-by-west, and two and a half wide at its base, 
being of triangular shape. 
It appears to be densely peopled, for many villages were seen, and 
after dark a large number of fires were burning. 
A canoe ventured alongside, in which was one of the natives, of an 
herculean frame, and calling himself a chief. When asked how many 
people they had on the island, he replied, as many as were on board 
the ship. As all hands were on deck, it is supposed that his simile 
was equivalent to a multitude. 
The persons in this canoe were exceedingly desirous of getting old 
iron hoops: they did not remain a long time on board, and seemed to 
be uneasy. After they had obtained these small presents, they quietly 
abandoned the ship, and on getting into their canoes, soon plied the 
paddles in such a manner as showed that they were quite anxious to 
get out of reach, seemingly congratulating themselves upon their mira¬ 
culous escape. Their dialect and customs were the same as those of 
the rest of the group. 
On the 27th, the Peacock left Matthew’s Island to look for Pitt’s 
Island, which they made on the 28th, at 9 a. m. On the 29th, the 
weather permitted the survey to be made. 
There are two islands known under this name: the largest is called 
by the natives Taritari, and the smallest, Makin. The latitude of the 
southern point of Taritari is 3° 08' N., longitude 172° 48' E. This 
