68 ELLICE'S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 



having kept them on board several days, he brought them here to save 

 himself the trouble of beating his vessel up to the island to which they 

 belonged. 



These young girls were extremely good-looking, and are now slaves 

 to the chief of this island, and made to labour and satisfy his lusts. 

 They were landed on Kuria, in despite of their entreaties and tears. 

 These people are in the habit of killing all strangers from islands not 

 connected with their immediate group; but the lives of these girls 

 were spared, and they were retained in bondage. Two of them were 

 brought off to the ship, who entreated most earnestly to be kept on 

 board, and to be carried to their home. The engraving on the pre- 

 ceding page is made from Mr. Agate's drawing of one of them. 



The published charts of these islands were found so inaccurate, as 

 to be a cause of danger rather than of safety ; for in them the islands 

 are multiplied, and every hummock or detached islet on the same reef 

 is represented as separate, and a name assigned it. Thus a confusion 

 exists, that it is almost impossible to unravel. How so many errors 

 could be committed, can only be accounted for by the fact that those 

 who had the publication of the charts formerly were generally ignorant, 

 and did not take that care to sift and examine the information that was 

 essential to accuracy. 



Several islands are laid down here on the different charts, but those 

 only really exist which are named Tarawa, or Knox Island ; Apia, or 

 Charlotte Island ; and Maraki, or Matthew's Island. 



Tarawa, or Knox Island, is in length twenty miles, trending north- 

 west and southeast. The land is continuous and wooded, with the 

 exception of four gaps, where the reef is bare. The south side is 

 twelve miles long, and trends nearly east and west. On this part, near 

 the western end, are three hummocks (which appear like islands in the 

 distance), and several small sand-banks, which are connected by the 

 same reef. This island has its lagoon, but it has the appearance of an 

 extensive bay, in consequence of the reef on the west side being a 

 sunken one, on which is found five fathoms of water. 



This island is partially wooded, having several groves of cocoa-nut 

 trees on it, and a dense undergrowth. Several towns were seen on it, 

 and it appeared to be thickly inhabited. It affords no supplies for ves- 

 sels. Three canoes came off to the ship, two of which kept at a 

 respectful distance, while the third approached with great caution. 

 Some few pieces of iron hoops enticed the natives on board, but they 

 brought nothing for trade, except half a dozen cocoa-nuts. They stated 

 that they had never seen a vessel before. This may be true, but 

 appeared somewhat incredible, when they are so near other islands 



