PACIFIC AND BEERING’S STRAIT. 
15S 
had. Queen Charlotte’s Island afforded Captain Wallis a plentiful CHAP- 
supply of cocoa-nuts, but at present not a tree of that description is to 
he seen. The shore is more steep than either Whitsunday or Cler- jan. 
nr. , 1 
mont Tonnere, and the huts more numerous. 
At two o’clock in the afternoon we quitted Queen Charlotte’s 
Island, and in two hours afterwards saw Lagoon Island, which was dis- 
covered by Captain Cook; the former bearing S. 6° W. true, the latter 
due north, by which an excellent opportunity occurred of comparing the 
longitudes of those celebrated navigators. 
The next morning we coasted the north side of Lagoon Island very 
closely, while the barge navigated the other. It is three miles in length 
in a W. by S. direction, and a mile and a quarter in width. Its general 
figure has been accurately described by Captain Cook : the southern 
side is still the low reef of breakers which he saw, and the three 
shallow openings on the north shore still exist, though one of them has 
almost disappeared. Two cocoa-nut trees in the centre of the island, 
'vhich Cook observes had the appearance of flags, are still waving ; “ the 
tower” at the western end is also there, but has increased to a large 
clump of cocoa-nut trees : a similar clump has sprung up at the eastern 
end. The lagoon is, in some parts, very shallow and contracted, and 
fias many dry islets upon it. The shore is steep, as at the other coral 
islands, excepting on the south side, which should not be approached 
'' ithin a quarter of a mile. 
We brought to off a small village at the N. W. extremity of the 
island, and sent two boats on shore. The natives seeing them approach 
came down to the beach armed with poles from twenty to twenty-five 
Icet in length, with bone heads, and short clubs shaped like a bill-hook ; 
fiut before they reached the surf they laid down their weapons. At 
first they beckoned our people to land ; but seeing the breakers too 
high, they suffered themselves to be bribed by a few pieces of iron, and 
Swam off to us. A brisk traffic soon began, and all the disposable 
Articles of the natives were speedily purchased for a few nails, broken 
pieces of iron, and beads : they then brought down cocoa-nuts, and 
exchanged six of them for a nail or a bit of iron, which is known here, 
at Clermont Tonnere, by the name of “ toki.” The strictest integrity 
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