cygnets. The wild swan, however, is described as having the back and the tips of the wings of an ash colour.

After their departure from King George the Third's Sound, bad weather prevented their keeping near the coast, which they only saw in detached parts. Towards the end of October they passed Van Dieman's land, and on the 3d of November anchored in Dusky Bay, in the south island of New Zealand. This place, which, in the former voyages, had been found inhabited, appeared now entirely deserted. In a three days' excursion, several spots, formerly the residence of the natives, were visited but no traces of people were seen, nor any circumstance which in the least indicated that the country was at present inhabited. The vessels left Dusky Bay on the 22d, and during the next night they were separated by a gale, and did not meet again till their arrival at Otaheite. After their separation, the Chatham discovered land in latitude 43°, 48'S. and longitude 183° East of which new discovery the following particulars are given from the narrative of Lieutenant Broughton, who commanded the Chatham. Having steered along the coast, keeping between 2 and 3 miles distant, with regular soundings from 22 to 25 fathoms, he says:

The shore is a continued white sandy beach, on which the surf ran very high. Some high land, rising gradually from the beach and covered with wood, extends about 4 miles to the eastward of the Cape. After passing this land, we opened the several hills over the low land we had seen in the morning, and could discern that many of them were covered like our heaths in England, but destitute of trees. The woods in some spots had the appearance of being cleared, and in several places between the hills smoke was observed."

After sailing about 10 leagues, we came abreast of a small sandy bay. Water was seen over the beach, and the country had the ap pearance of being very pleasant. With our glasses we perceived some people hauling up a canoe, and several others behind the rocks in the bay. Fearful that so good an opportunity might not occur for acquiring some knowledge of the inhabitants, I worked up into the bay, which we had passed before the natives were discovered. We came to an anchor about a mile from the shore in 20 fathoms water.'

Lieutenant Broughton, accompanied by Mr. Johnston the master, and one of the mates, went in the cutter towards the shore. The natives made much noise as they approached. Mr. Sheriff, the mate, leaving his arms in the boat, landed: but only 2 or 3 of the inhabitants came to him: the remainder, about 40, keeping at some distance. They took whatever was offered them, but would give nothing in return.

Having repeatedly beckoned us to follow them round to where their habitations were supposed to be, as soon as Mr. Sheriff returned,

we proceeded to comply with their wishes. They had been very curieus in their examination of Mr. Sheriff's person, and seemed very desirous of keeping him, as they frequently pulled him towards the wood, where we imagined some of them resided. On meeting them on the other side, they seated themselves on the beach, and seemed very anxious to receive us on shore; but as all our intreaties were ineffectual in obtaining any thing in return for our presents, perceiving many of them to be armed with long spears, and the situation being unfavorable to us, in case they should be disposed to treat us with hostility, we did not think it prudent to venture amongst them; and finding our negotiation was not likely to be attended with success, we took our leave: but in our way off, as the naives remained quietly where he had left them, I thought it a good opportunity to land once more and take another view of their canoes.'

Of these vessels, Mr. Broughton has given a description, and likewise of their nets and fishing tackle, which were very ingeniously made.

The woods afforded a delightful shade, and being clear of undergrowth, were in many places formed into arbours, by bending the branches when young, and enclosing them round with smaller trees. These appeared to have been slept in very lately. The trees of which the woods are composed grow in a most luxuriant manner, clear of small branches to a considerable height; and consist of several sorts, some of which, the leaf in particular, were like the laurel.'

During this examination, the natives began to collect about them. One man exchanged a spear for some trinkets, but no other barter was effected. Some looking-glasses being shewn to this man, he was so delighted with seeing the reflection of himself, that he ran off with them. As the people did not appear unfriendly, Lieutenant Broughton and a party walked along the shore towards their habitations, the boat keeping near them: but hostile preparations were soon observed to be making by the natives; and those who had not spears collected large sticks.

Not liking these appearances, we had some thoughts of embarking; but, on our suddenly facing about, they retired up the beach to a fire which some of them had just made. Mr. Johnston followed them singly, but was not in time to discover the method by which it had been so quickly produced. His presence seemed rather to displease them, on which he returned, and we again proceeded along the beach.'

Arriving at a piece of water which had been seen from the ship, they tasted and found it brackish.

We tried to explain to the natives who still attended us, that the water was not fit to drink, and then returned to the sea side; when, abreast of the boat, they became very clamorous, talked ex

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tremely

tremely loud to each other, and divided so as nearly to surround us.› A young man strutted towards me in a very menacing attitude; he distorted his person, turned up his eyes, made hideous faces, and created a wonderful fierceness in his appearance by his gestures. On pointing my double-barrelled gun towards him he desisted. Their hostile intentions were now too evident to be mistaken, and therefore, to avoid the necessity of resorting to extremities, the boat was immediately ordered in to take us on board. During this interval, although we were strictly on our guard, they began their attack, and before the boat could get in, to avoid being knocked down I was reluctantly compelled to fire one barrel, which being loaded with small shot, I was in hopes might intimidate without materially wounding them, and that we should be suffered to embark without further molestation. Unfortunately I was disappointed in this hope. Mr. Johnston received a blow upon his musket with such force from an unwieldy club, that it fell to the ground; but before his opponent could pick it up, Mr. Johnston had time to recover his position, and he was obliged to fire on the blow being again attempted. A ma rine and seaman near him were, under similar circumstances, forced into the water, but not before they had also, justified alone by self preservation, fired their pieces without orders. The gentleman having charge of the boat sceing us much pressed by the natives, and obliged to retreat, fired at this instant also, on which they fled. I ordered the firing instantly to cease, and was highly gratified to see them depart apparently unhurt. The happiness I enjoyed in this reflection was of short duration, one man was discovered to have fallen; and I am concerned to add, was found lifeless, a ball having broken his arm and passed through his heart. We immediately repaired towards the boat, but the surf not permitting her to come near enough, we were still under the necessity of walking to the place from whence we had originally intended to embark. As we retired, we perceived one of the natives return from the woods, whither all had retreated, and placing himself by the deceased, was distinctly heard in a sort of dismal howl to utter his lamentations.'

We distributed (continues Mr. Broughton) amongst the canoes the remaining part of our toys and trinkets, to manifest our kind intentions towards them, and as some little atonement also for the injury which, contrary to our inclinations, they had sustained, in defending ourselves against their unprovoked unmerited hostility. In our way to the ship, we saw two natives running along the beach to the canoes, but on our arrival on board they were not discernible with our glasses.'

This unfortunate accident could not be prevented by people. who were situated as were Mr. Broughton and his party. The natives were probably encouraged to the assault by the smallness of the force which they believed they should have to encounter; although, some time previously to the attack, Mr. Broughton gave them some birds which he had killed, and fired his gun to shew the cause of their death,

14

This

This land is of considerable magnitude: the part which they saw extended nearly 40 miles from east to west; and the ap pearance of the country, according to the description given, is very promising. In many respects, the natives resemble those of New Zealand; from which country they are distant about 100 leagues: but their skins were destitute of any marks, and they had the appearance of being cleanly in their persons. Their dresses were of seal or sea-bear skin, and some had fine woven mats fastened round the waist. They seemed a cheerful race, our conversation frequently exciting violent bursts of laughter amongst them. On our first landing their surprize and exclamations can hardly be imagined; they pointed to the sun, and then to us, as if to ask, whether we had come from thence.' Their arms were spears, clubs, and a small weapon resembling the New Zealand patoo. The bay in which Lieut. Broughton landed he named Skirmish bay.

A small island was likewise found by the Discovery, in the passage to Otaheite, in latitude 27° 36′ S. and longitude 215° 49' E. inhabited by a people, who, on account of their language and their resemblance to the Friendly Islanders, Captain Vancouver (rather quaintly) says, were evidently of the Great South Sea Nation. Nevertheless, their language (as appears in the narrative) was so little understood by our navigators, that, though they exerted their whole skill in endeavouring to obtain from the natives the name of their island, they were each unable to comprehend the other's meaning; and the name of Oparro was adopted, as the one which Captain Vancouver thought had the best chance of being right. A very material difference, which was likewise observed between these islanders and the inhabitants of the other islands with which we are acquainted in the south seas, was that not any of these people were tattowed. Of the island, Captain Vancouver says, Its principal character is a cluster of high craggy mountains, forming, in several places, most romantic pinnacles, with perpendicular cliffs nearly from their summits to the sea; the vacancies between the mountains would more probably be termed chasms than vallies.' The circumstance most worthy of observation, however, was that

The tops of six of the highest hills bore the appearance of fortified places, resembling redoubts; having a sort of block-house, in the shape of an English glass-house, in the center of each, with rows of pallisadoes a considerable way down the sides of the hills, nearly at equal distances. These, over-hanging, seemed intended for advanced works, and apparently capable of defending the citadel by a few against a numerous host of assailants. On all of them, we noticed people, as if on duty, constantly moving about. What we considered

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considered as block-houses, from their great similarity in appearance to that sort of building, were sufficiently large to lodge a considerable number of persons, and were the only habitations we saw. Yet from

the number of canoes that in so short a time assembled round us, it is natural to conclude that the inhabitants are very frequently afloat, and to infer from this circumstance that the shores, and not those fortified hills which appeared to be in the center of the island, would be preferred for their general residence.'

Above 30 canoes were seen. The island was estimated to te 6 miles in length, and no other appeared in sight. Whether the fortified places, here described, were intended for defences of the islanders against each other, or against attacks from some more powerful neighbours, could only be conjectured: but the latter idea seems the most probable.-It was not ascertained whether this island afforded anchorage:but appearances were thought favourable for that purpose near the N. W. part.

On the 30th of December, the Discovery anchored at Otaheite, and rejoined the Chatham, which had arrived there a few 'days before.

The natives of Otaheite received our voyagers in the most friendly and cordial manner. The original intention of the Commander was to have waited here no longer than was necessary to procure a small supply of fresh provisions; and then to have proceeded without farther loss of time to the Sandwich Islands, agreeably to the instructions received from the Admiralty: those islands lying nearly a month's sail from Otaheite, and the end of January being the time limited for the expectation of a vessel from England with additional instructions. The present situation, however, appeared to possess 50 much ease and convenience, that it was determined to remain, and here to finish whatever repairs were necessary, in preparation for the American coast.

Some months previously to Captain Vancouver's arrival here, the British ship of war the Pandora, which had been sent in quest of the mutineers of the Bounty, had left Otaheite; and nothing was known there concerning Mr. Christian and his remaining companions since that period: but it appears that, while they lived at Otaheite, they assisted the chiefs in their wars; and Captain Vancouver relates that he frequently saw the objects of their particular regard, by whom they have children:" whence it may be presumed that their children were seen also, though they are not in any other way mentioned.

Captain V. gives a full and not unentertaining account of the political views and enterprises of some of the chiefs: but, in his relation, he sometimes speaks of them with all the

respect