WHALING VOYAGE. 
295 
On the 1st of January 1832, we crossed the equinoc- 
tial line for the third time since we left England — a few 
days after which, we fell in with some small islands, 
which are called “ Fead’s Group we had also a distant 
view of St. John’s Island, as it is called, of which I shall 
make particular mention farther on. We found our 
longitude this day 155° 35' 14/' east, and our latitude 
3° 41 south. Fead’s Group, which we saw at day- 
break, were covered with verdure to the water’s edge, of 
a most luxuriant kind, and as we passed along the 
shores we observed several of the natives, who uttered 
loud shouts, and seemed desirous that we should land ; 
but we did not stay to communicate with any of them, 
until we arrived at New Ireland, which we made on 
the 6th of January, having passed St. John’s and the 
“ Oraison” Islands on the 5th, and on the 7th we found 
ourselves in the north-eastern part of St. George’s Chan- 
nel, which separates New Ireland from New Britain. 
We found the weather at this time excessively hot, so 
that blisters arose upon any part of the skin on which 
the sun’s rays happened to fall. The land on each side 
of the channel is high and bold, being also covered with 
verdure to the water’s edge. The sea continues deep 
close up to the land, so that a ship can approach very 
near to it in most places. Every evening we saw a 
great deal of lightning playing about the tops of the 
hills, which rise to a considerable elevation. 
We continued to sail up mid-channel for several days 
•,vith very light airs of wind, but we did not see any 
inhabitants, although we could perceive smoke issuing 
