xxii INTRODUCTION. [Prior Discoveries. 
Bligh and to the north. After running twelve miles beyond this narrow pass 
1792. they anchored in 13 fathoms ; the latitude being 9 0 37', and longi- 
tude 143° 41'. In the afternoon, they proceeded five miles further, 
to the N. N. W. ; and Darnley's Island then bore S. 74 0 to 55 0 E. 
two leagues : except on the north side, this island appeared to be 
surrounded with reefs and sand banks to a considerable distance. In 
sailing from Canoe Key, the vessels had left, on the larbord hand, a 
long chain of reefs and banks ; at the north-west end of which, were 
three low, woody islands : the nearest of these, bearing S. 41 0 W. 
two or three miles from the anchorage, was named Nepean Island. 
The view to the northward, from W. by N. to E. by S., was free 
from dangers ; but in every other direction there were reefs, islands, 
or dry banks. 
This day, several canoes from Darnley's Island came off to both 
vessels. On approaching, the Indians clapped upon their heads, and 
exclaimed JVhou ! Whoul Whoo l repeatedly, with much vehe- 
mence ; at the same time, they held out arrows and other weapons, 
and asked for toore-tooree I by which they meant iron.* After much 
difficulty, they were persuaded to come along-side ; and two men 
ventured into the ship. They had bushy hair, — were rather stout 
made, — and nearly answered the description given of the natives of 
New Guinea.-f The cartilage, between the nostrils, was cut away in 
both these people ; and the lobes of their ears slit, and stretched to 
a great length, as had before been observed in a native of the Fefee 
Islands. They had no kind of clothing ; but wore necklaces of 
cowrie shells, fastened to a braid of fibres ; and some of their com- 
panions had pearl-oyster shells hung round their necks. In speaking 
to each other, their words seemed to be distinctly pronounced. 
Their arms were bows, arrows, and clubs, which they bartered 
for every kind of iron work with eagerness ; but appeared to set 
* The name for iron at Taheity, is eure-euree, or ooree , or, according to Bougain- 
ville, aourl. 
f See a Voyage to New Guinea, by Captain Thomas Forrest. 
