72 ELLICE'S AND KINGS MILL GROUP. 



island is of the figure of a triangle, with its apex to the south, and its 

 sides are about fourteen miles in length. The southeast side is a con- 

 tinuous grove of cocoa-nut and pandanus, with some undergrowth ; on 

 the other two sides is a reef, which is awash, excepting the northwest 

 point, in which there is a small inlet. 



Makin is of much smaller dimensions, being but six miles long: it 

 varies in width from half a mile to a mile. Its northern point lies in 

 latitude 3° 20' 43" N., and longitude 172° 57' E. This small island is 

 the seat of government, and the natives now unite both names under 

 the one of Makin. 



It was soon evident that the island was thickly inhabited ; for when 

 the ship reached the lee side, in the afternoon, about twenty canoes 

 came off, containing from five to ten natives in each, and in one of 

 them was a white man, who was clothed in mats. The ship was im- 

 mediately hove-to to take him on board, and he gave his name as 

 Robert Wood (alias Grey), a Scotchman by birth, who was left by his 

 own wish on the island, seven years before, by the English whaling 

 brig Janie, of London, sailing from Sydney. He was under so great 

 excitement as to render his utterance quite unintelligible at times, and 

 some amusing scenes took place in consequence. On his reaching the 

 deck, he first inquired if he would be permitted to go on shore again ; 

 and then, who was king of England; if there was peace with America; 

 for he had thought there must be a war. He had seen no white men 

 since he landed, and said that he had become old and grayheaded. 

 To prove the latter assertion he pulled off his apology for a hat, and 

 displayed a most luxuriant growth of jet-black hair. 



He had not been on board long before he asked for a passage to 

 some civilized land ; and when he was informed that his wishes 

 would be gratified, he seemed for a time beside himself from excess 

 of joy. His feelings were evinced in his endeavours to interpret the 

 questions to the natives ; he almost invariably repeated to them what 

 was said to him in English, in the same language; and gave back their 

 answers or expressions in the island dialect. This had a droll effect, 

 and he had frequently to be reminded that he was an interpreter. 



Wood says, that the natives had always treated him kindly; and 

 for the first few months after his arrival among them, they carried 

 him about on their shoulders (he was the first white man that many 

 of them had ever seen), and almost deified him. They have no wars, 

 and very few arms, and seldom quarrel, except about their women. 

 The punishment of death is inflicted on those who infringe the seraglio 

 of the chiefs. 



In the short intercourse the Peacock had with the natives of this 



