388 



LOS MATIRES — BERGH'S GROUP. 



[1830 



This is a small uninhabited island, about three miles in circumference, 

 and destitute of wood of any considerable growth. It is not much 

 elevated, being not more than two hundred feet above the level of the 

 sea. A coral reef runs off its south side, about two miles, on which 

 the sea breaks. On the following day, at 11, P. M., we saw the 

 island of Ifelue, in lat. 8° 10' north, long. 146° 57' east. This island 

 is about the same size as Faralis, just mentioned, and similar to it in 

 every respect. 



May 8th. — We continued standing to the eastward, with light 

 winds from north-north-east, attended with rain, thunder, and light- 

 ning, until Saturday, the 8th of May ; when, at 6, A. M., we found 

 ourselves on a very extensive reef of coral, stretching about twenty 

 miles east and west, and fifteen miles north and south ; with from two 

 to fifteen fathoms of water upon it. There was no land in sight from 

 any part of the reef, which is in lat. 7° 35' north, long. 148° 14' east. 

 As this shoal has never been marked on any chart, nor discovered be- 

 fore, we shall give it the name of Skiddy's Shoal, in honour of Captain 

 William Skiddy, of New-York. 



May 10th. — On Monday, the 10th of May, we were close in with 

 the islands of Los Matires, which we found to be in lat. 7° 44' north, 

 long. 149° 54' east. These islands are three in number, all small and 

 low, with dangerous reefs putting off from them in all directions. They 

 are thinly populated, and appear to be very poorly wooded. The 

 largest and most abundant are the cocoanut-trees, but the inhabitants 

 are badly supplied with fruits. They have some small plantations of 

 tarrer, and some other roots, which they use as a substitute for bread. 

 The natives are much like those of Bergh's Group, both in personal 

 appearance and manners ; their canoes are also similar. As there are 

 no refreshments nor any articles of trade to be had here, I would ad- 

 vise all merchant-ships to keep clear of this group, on account of the 

 reef and dangers, and the strong current which sets between them, and 

 also because the natives are very hostile and treacherous. 



May 13th. — On Thursday, the 13th, we passed close in with the 

 west side of Bergh's Group, and had a visit from our former acquaint- 

 ances, who instantly knew the Antarctic, and appeared very glad to 

 see us. They brought with them a plenty of bread-fruit and cocoanuts, 

 and a number of their countrymen who had not ventured on board at 

 our former visit. They all expressed much anxiety for the vessel to 

 enter within the reef again, and come to anchor, so that all their 

 countrymen might have an opportunity of witnessing the wonders re- 

 ported to them by the more venturous few who had been on board. 

 But the wind and weather being favourable, I could not now comply 

 with their wishes ; but made them all some presents in return for their 

 hospitality, and then they reluctantly took their leave, while we con- 

 tinued on our course to the south and east. The more I saw of these 

 apparently good-humoured, simple natives, the more strongly I became 

 interested in their history, character, &c. 



May 14th. — On the following day we discovered three small low 

 islands, being each from three to five miles in circumference, and 

 almost entirely covered with cocoanut and bread-fruit trees. They are 



