LETTER OF THE ADMIRAL'S SECRETARY. 201 
history or from being the scene of some Biblical 
relation ; it is a secret kind of satisfaction. Hav- 
ing a fair wind, we hoped about noon to be on 
shore ; but whilst we were yet twenty miles from 
the island, the wind came directly foul, and fell 
light, so that we hardly held our own, owing to 
the heavy swell, and all day we remained en- 
deavouring to work up. What a little spot it 
appears on the vast Pacific ! a mere rock, appa- 
rently incapable to resist the mighty waves of 
so vast an ocean. Easily indeed would a ship 
not knowing its exact position miss it. The 
mutineers might well deem themselves secure 
on so small an island, so remotely situated at 
that time. Also these seas were but little fre- 
quented ; but even now, to give you an idea of 
their vast extent, notwithstanding the thousands 
of ships that are trading on them, we have only 
seen one ship at sea, and our track measures 
4,500 miles. When we get close to the land, or 
some well-known port, we see a few. During 
the night we got a slant of wind, and at 6, Sunday 
morning the 8th, we were close to the island. 
The Admiral fired a gun to give notice of our 
arrival. A whale-boat full of the islanders soon 
came off, but before coming alongside they asked 
permission to come on board ; then jumped up 
the side seven or eight fine tall, robust fellows, 
and gave us a hearty shake-hands, and assured 
us of a hearty welcome when we went on shore. 
" I was in my cabin with Philip M'Coy, one 
of the islanders, when the sentry came to tell me 
that it was prayer-time, for the admiral always 
has prayers before breakfast. I said to Philip, 

I 
