be a double range of low woody islands joined together by reefs, by which means they make one Island in form of an Ellipsis or Oval, in the Middle of which is a Salt water lake. The small Islands and reefs circumscribes or bounds this lake like a Chain; it is therefore called Chain Island.[1] It is in length, N.W. and S.E., about 5 Leagues, and in breadth about 5 Miles. The middle of it lies in the Lat. of 17° 23′ S., and Long. 145° 54′ W., and W. by N. 45 Leagues from Bird Island. Variation per Several Azimuths 4° 54′ E. Wind E. by N. to N. by E.; course West, Northerly; distance 81 m.; lat 17° 42′ S., long. 146° 40′ W.
Monday, 10th.—P.M. moderate breezes and cloudy; in the Night, dark, cloudy, unsettled weather, with very much Thunder, Lightning, and rain. A.M. little wind and fair. P.M. variation per Several Azimuths 5° 41′ E. At 8 a.m. saw Osnaburg Island[2] (so called by Captain Wallis, the first discoverer) bearing N.W. by W., distance 4 or 5 Leagues. It is a high round Island, and appears to be not above a League in Circuit, and when it bears as above it looks like a high Crown'd Hatt, but when it bears N. the Top is more like the roof of a House. It lies in the Latitude of 17° 48′ S. and Long. 148° 10′ W., and W. by S., 44 Leagues, from Chain Island. Wind N.N.W., variable, N.W. by N.; course S. 13° W.; distance 67 m.; lat. 18° 00′ S., long. 147° 47′ W.; at noon, Osnaburg Island N. by W. ½ W., 5 leagues.
Tuesday, 11th.—First part, little wind and cloudy; the remainder, little wind and very Variable; unsettled weather, with some rain. P.M. took several Observations of the sun and moon, which gave the Longitude of the ship to be 148° 18′ W., and differs but little from that given by the Log. At 6 a.m. saw King George's Island,[3] Extending from W. by S. ½ S. to W. by N. ½ N. It appeared very high and Mountainous. Wind variable; course N. 66° W.; distance 54 m.; lat. 17° 38′ S. long. 148° 39′ W.; Osnaburg Island E. ½ S., 13 leagues.
Wednesday, 12th.—Variable, light Airs all these 24 Hrs. and Hot sultry weather. At 5 p.m. King George's Island extending from N.W. by W. to S.W., distance 6 or 7 Leagues; and at 6 a.m. it bore from S.S.W. to W. by N., being little wind with Calms. Several of the Natives came off to us in their Canoes, but more to look at us than anything else. We could not prevail with any of them to come on board, and some would not come near the ship. Wind variable; course West; distance 18 m.; lat. 17° 38′ S., long.
- ↑ Anaa.
- ↑ Maitea, the easternmost of the Society Islands, which are all high, and a great contrast to the low coral atolls of the Paumotus.
- ↑ So named by Captain Wallis. The native name was ascertained by Cook, who spelt it Otaheite. Now known as Tahiti. It is the chief island of the Society Group, and was annexed by the French in 1844.
