ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL 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. 



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° 11' 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; 



