ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL 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, how r ever, 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 w r ere 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 



