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THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
CHAPTER XVII. 
The Admiralty Islands — History of their Discovery — Description of Nares Harbour — General Appearance of the Islands 
and Botany — Natives — Their Houses, Habits, Customs, Ornaments, Weapons, and Implements — Zoology — 
Polynesian Races. 
On tlie 3rd March the weather was so thick and rainy that, being close to the land 
without seeing it, it was necessary to “ lay to ” for a short time. After noon the weather 
cleared somewhat, and at 2 p.m., the three northwest islets of the Admiralty group 
(Buchanan, Murray, and Moseley Islands) were sighted and the ship steered to the east- 
ward towards D’Entrecasteaux and Suhm Islands, after passing which a course was kept 
along the edge of the D’Entrecasteaux Reef, rounding its eastern extremity at dusk and 
anchoring in 1 8 fathoms. 
D’Entrecasteaux’s sketch of the north side of the Admiralty Islands was found very 
correct for a running survey, and no difficulty was found in distinguishing the points 
and islands laid down on it. 
As the ship- approached the anchorage several canoes came off, under sail, from 
D’Entrecasteaux and Wild Islands, through openings in the reef, though a stiff breeze 
was blowing. The natives were evidently in great excitement, and eager to reach the 
vessel ; paddles were waved to show friendship, and various articles of barter exhibited. 
The constant cry was “laban, laban,” which was found, like the “ sigor ” of Humboldt 
Bay, to mean iron, the form of wealth which they also coveted most. 
After the ship anchored on the evening of the 3rd March, the chief ordered all the 
canoes away, and the vessel was left alone till the morning. On the 4th, at 7 a.m., 
several canoes came off from Wild Island, and, as the natives appeared well disposed and 
the weather favourable, a party landed on a small coral island (Observatory Islet) to obtain 
astronomical observations. After breakfast Captain Thomson landed on Wild Island, 
and found the inhabitants very friendly, so the boom boats were got out, the Naturalists 
went away exploring, and every preparation was made for surveying the anchorage, 
which was called, in compliment to the late captain, “Nares Harbour” (see Sheet 34). 
The Expedition remained at Nares Harbour for seven days, until the 10th March, 
surveying the harbour and exploring the country, but the work was much impeded by 
rain, which fell on five days out of the seven, the total fall being 2 ’81 inches, the 
greatest in any one day being 1‘21 inches. The wind, the direction of which was recorded 
bi-hourly, prevailed from the northward, its average velocity being 7^ miles per hour. 
The sky was cloudy and the atmosphere damp and oppressive, the mean temperature 
being 81°, and the relative humidity 97. The mean pressure of the air at a temperature 
of 32° was 29 ’83, and the mean temperature of the sea surface 8 3° '8. 
