" A VOYAGE T O 
^ XXI ^* ^^^^^ numbers of the natives prefently affembled on the 
'f^^s. ^^^^^^^ gratify their curiofity in looking at 
the fliip ; this induced Captain Marfliall to lay to in ex- 
pectation of the natives coming along-fide, but not one 
of them ventured near the iliip : at one time he had an 
' . intention of fending his boat on fhore in order to pro- 
cure fome refrefl.iments> as many of his crew were laid 
up with the fcurvy ; however^ he prudently declined 
taking this ftep, as it certainly would have been hazard- 
ing too much to have fent a few men amongft an igno-* 
' rant multitude, with whofe temper and difpoiition they 
were perfectly unacquainted. 
The centre of thefe iflands is fituated in 1° 50' north, 
latitude, 173° 00' eaft longitude. They are very low^ 
and yet it is rather remarkable, that on founding, when 
not more than a mile from the land, there was no bot- 
tom found with eighty fathoms of line. Within the 
iflands there appeared to be fome fine harbours, and they 
probably afford a variety of refrefliments. The natives 
feemed to be nearly black, and their canoes were con- 
flrudted much in the fame manner as thofe already de- 
fcribed,^ 
There being no profpeCl of procuring any refrefli- 
ments from thefe people, Captain Marfliall made fail,. 
'Sunday 22, ^nd at noon on the 2 2d they faw land in the direction 
a of 
