in the Pacific Ocean. 



n 



wil], however, do jvistice to the discovery of Mr. Ingraham, and 

 whatever names may be given to them by Enghsh or French 

 partizans, posterity will probably know them only as Wash- 

 ington's Group. 



On the morning of the 24th, discovered the island of Rooahooga 

 (so called by the natives, but by us Adams' Island) one of the 

 Washington Group. Its aspect, on first making it, was little 

 better than the barren and desolate islands we had been so long 

 among. But on our nearer approach, the fertile vallies, whose 

 beauties were heightened by the pleasant streams and clusters of 

 houses, and groups of natives on the hills inviting us to land, 

 produced a contrast much to the advantage of the islands we 

 were now about visiting. Indeed, the extreme fertility of the 

 soil, as it appeared to us after rounding the S. E. point of the 

 island, produced sensations we had been little accustomed to, and 

 made us long for the fruits with which the trees appeared every 

 where loaded. 



On rounding the S. E. part of the island, we saw a canoe 

 coming off to the ship with eight of the natives, one of whom 

 was seated in the bow, with his head ornamented with some 

 yellow leaves, which at a distance we supposed to be feathers. 

 They approached us very cautiously, and would not venture 

 alongside until we had run very close in. But no persuasions of 

 ours could induce them to come on board, although we offered 

 them pieces of iron hoops, knives, fish-hooks, and other articles 

 which we supposed them to hold in the highest estimation. We 

 had a native of the island of Otaheita on board, who enabled 

 them, but with apparent difiiculty, to comprehend our wishes, 

 and who gave them repeated assurances of our friendly diposi- 

 tion. They came under the stern, and after we had sent down 

 to them, in a bucket made fast to a rope, several of the above 

 articles, they sent up to us, by the same conveyance, a few fish 

 and a part of their ornaments, consisting of a belt made of the 

 fibres of the cocoa-nut, garnished with the small teeth of a hog, 

 the only articles of exchange in their j)ossession. They frequently 

 repeated to us the word tai/a, which signifies friend, and invited 

 us to the shore, where they assured us, by the most expressive 

 gesticulations, that we should be made welcome. I was anxious 

 to procure some refreshments, but more so to obtain a knowledge 

 of a people with whom the world is so little acquainted. One of 

 the canoes displayed a white flag : I caused a similar emblem of 

 peace to be exhibited, and after waiting some time, perceiving 

 that they were fearful of coming along side, I caused two boats 

 ,to be manned and armed, and proceeded towards them. I soon 

 approached them, and directed the Otaheitan to inform them 

 ihat we were friendly disposed, and were willing to purchase of 



