292 
SOUTH SEA 
CHAPTER Vila 
On the 10th December, 1831, we set sail from theBonins, 
steering through groups of wild and romantic islands for 
the burning regions of Papua or New Guinea, to prose- 
cute the fishery there ; and we now found it was high 
time to take our departure, for not only did the wind 
shew its turbulence, but torrents of rain frequently fell, 
which were often preceded by heavy fogs, we therefore 
at the time I have mentioned crowded all sail, and 
were soon rid of those unwelcome combinations, find- 
ing ourselves in a few r days in very pleasant weather. 
We had a long passage to make and no time to spare, 
and therefore we made no stoppages before arriving at 
our place of destination, passing in our course to wind- 
ward of the Ladrone Islands, and falling in with the 
Carolines on the 24th of December ; a range of large 
islands scarcely known, and not even placed correctly 
on the charts ; those which we fell in with were situated 
in the longitude of 153° 25" east, and in the latitude of 
7° 25 " north. At these islands we traded with the 
natives for a few hours, who came off in their excellent 
canoes in great numbers, and beset the ship on all sides, 
although they were extremely cautious in approaching 
us at first. They are a very fine race of people, of a 
