CHAPTER XIII. 



TARAWA N, OR KINGS MILL GROUP. 



The Tarawan or Kingsmill Group consists of eleven coral islands, 

 trending north-northwest and south-southeast, from the latitude of 1° 

 34' south to 3° 20' north, and between the longitude of 172° 30' and 

 175° 20' east, viz. : Taputeouea, or Drummond's Island ; Nanouti, or 

 Sydenham ; Nanouki, or Henderville ; Kuria, or Woodle ; Apamama, 

 or Hopper ; Maiana, or Hall's ; Tarawa, or Knox ; Apia, or Charlotte ; 

 Maraki, or Mathew's ; Taritari, and Makin ; the two latter are known 

 as Pitt's Island. All but two are lagoon islands,, and, with the excep- 

 tion of the two last, are inhabited by' savage and hostile people, who 

 differ in character very much from those of Ellice's Group. 



There are eight other islands, that lie to the eastward and westward 

 of this group, which I include as a part of it. The five which lie to 

 the east are Arurai, or Hurd Island, Onouta, or Rotche's Island, 

 Nukunau, or Byron Island, Peru, or Francis Island, Tamana, or 

 Phoebe Island. The three to the west are Meek's, Nameless, and 

 Ocean Islands. It was found impossible to include those on the chart 

 with the more important islands of the group, without reducing the 

 scale. Being one of the principal grounds of the whale fishery, it 

 became desirable to have it on as large a scale as practicable for the 

 use intended. 



The visit of the vessels of the squadron was made in the month of 

 April, 1841, during which time they were engaged surveying the 

 group, and had frequent communication with the natives. 



The currents experienced were strong, setting constantly to the 

 westward between the islands. The winds prevail from the north- 

 ward and eastward, and resemble the regular northeast trades ; at 



