THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
209 
went he made himfelf not only ufeful, but beloved; and, from * 7 8 3 - 
NOVEMBER. 
his great utility to Captain Wilson in his voyage, well me¬ 
rited the recommendation that had been given him at Ma~ 
coa. —The furgeon further reported the King of Pelelew 
to be a man much advanced in years, of a rough manner 
and appearance; his hair was grey, and his beard tapering 
to a narrow point, in the manner the Jews frequently wear 
theirs. He was Melgothdy or tatooed, quite up to the navel; 
the Pelew people only tatooing up to the middle of their 
thighs, as already noticed. 
It was not in the power of our people to obtain any ac¬ 
count, which could be depended on, of the number of this 
chain of iflands; nor could any eminences they ever af- 
cended, allow them to fee the extent of them, either to the 
northward or fouthward.—The new veffel being now in a 
ftate of great forwardnefs, and the time of their departure 
drawing near. Captain Wilson this evening expreffed to 
his officers and people a delire, before they failed for China, 
to endeavour to explore thefe iflands, upon which Providence 
had thrown them, and that ten or twelve days might effect 
the delign; that they had a quantity of provilion fufficient 
to authorize the attempt; and that he would apply to the 
King for three or four canoes, with men, to accompany 
them through the iflands, and to affill them in afcertaining 
their number, lituation, and extent.-—That he did not mean 
to make a Purvey of them y but that it would be a great fatif- 
E e fadtion. 
