TARAWAN, OR KINGSMILL GROUP. 265 



with vessels, and were extremely shy. They speak the same dialect, 

 and appear to resemble the rest of the group. It is scarcely necessary 

 to say that it affords no refreshments, and neither wood nor water. 



APIA ISLAND. 



Apia is the native name of Charlotte Island. It was discovered in 

 1788. This is also a low coral lagoon island; it lies but 6 miles north 

 of Tarawa, with a safe channel between. Apia is 15 miles in length, 

 and of an average width of 6 miles. It trends north-northwest and 

 south-southeast. It is somewhat in shape of a parallelogram, with its 

 southeast corner cut off, the eastern side forming a curve, and its 

 southern end terminates in a blunt point, while its northern end is 

 square and trends perpendicular to its other sides. The whole length of 

 the eastern side is one continuous belt of land. That to the north 

 is a bare reef, and the western has on it nine hummocks. Half a mile 

 to the northward of the centre hummock is a ship-passage into the 

 lagoon. The southern part of the western reef is for the most part 

 from 9 to 10 feet under water, while that to the north is raised 5 or 6 

 feet above. There is no island in this lagoon. The ship-entrance into 

 the lagoon is a quarter of a mile wide, and has a depth of water 

 varying from 3 to 4 fathoms, and the anchorage in the lagoon is in 

 from 6 to 10 fathoms. 



The island is thickly inhabited. There are a great many towns 

 on it. The population consumes all that the soil produces, and the 

 natives are at times subject to scanty fare ; consequently they have 

 nothing to dispose of. Water in small quantities may be obtained at 

 the central hummock from a native well, but it was flat and brackish. 

 The natives of this island are similar in character to the others, and 

 are not to be trusted, as there is little doubt but that they will attack 

 boats and small vessels the moment they conceive they have any 

 prospect of overpowering them. Near the fourth hummock on the 

 west side there is a town, with a wall built of coral on its sea front. 



Off Apia Island the Peacock experienced a strong current, setting 

 to the south, which during a night carried her 15 miles to the lee- 

 ward of her position. 



G7 



