40 EL LICE'S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 



The island was surveyed, and was found to be in latitude 8° 30' 45" 

 S., longitude 179° 13' 30" E. There appears to be good anchorage 

 within the lagoon; an abundance of wood is to be had, but it is believed 

 there is no adequate supply of fresh water. 



From what was ascertained, the population was put down at two 

 hundred and fifty souls. 



The vessels left Ellice's Group the same evening, proceeded under 

 easy sail, and at daylight made the Depeyster Islands, distant three 

 and a half miles to the northwest. The two following days, they had 

 squally weather, accompanied with heavy rains, with the wind north- 

 ward, which obliged them to stand off from the island, as no work 

 could be done. The island was thus lost sight of, but on the 17th it 

 was again made from aloft, to the northward and westward. 



On the 18th, the trade-wind set in and brought fine weather; but 

 exceedingly warm, the thermometer standing at 85° in the shade. 



They surveyed this island ; and on the same day Tracy's Island, 

 whose native name is Oaitupu, was in sight to the eastward. The 

 observations placed it in latitude 7° 28' S., and longitude 178° 43' 35" 

 E. It is well covered with trees, and to all appearance as extensive 

 as Depeyster Island. As the wind was directly contrary, and a strong 

 current flowing to the west, Captain Hudson thought it would be a 

 waste of time to attempt to reach it. 



Several canoes, with the natives of Depeyster's Group or Island, 

 came off to the ship : they used triangular sails, similar to those of the 

 rest of Polynesia. The natives proved to be of the same race as those 

 of Ellice's Group; speaking the same language, and tattooed after the 

 same fashion. 



In colour, however, many of them were rather darker; but few 

 were above the middle size, and none of them had the manly beauty 

 of the Samoans. A greater variety of fashions prevailed among them, 

 which exhibited itself more particularly in their hair. Some wore it 

 like that of the Feejees, and the locks were frequently of a reddish 

 brown, although the natural colour was black. Their skin was coarse 

 and rough to the touch; in many it was disfigured after a singular 

 fashion, and in some it appeared as if a scurf prevailed, resembling a 

 person whose skin was peeling off from the effects of the sun ; in others, 

 the stage of the disease was seen farther advanced, the scurf having 

 disappeared, and left the skin marked with circular and wavy lines, 

 which the natives called " tafa."* About a fifth part of the natives 



* A name tlie Samoans apply to tlie marks they burn on the skin for mourning. This 

 was imputed to the effects of a disease somewhat allied to the ringworm, by the medical 



