Discovery of New Caledonia. Eclipse of the sun observed there. Peaceful disposition of the natives. Their language, manners, houses, and plantations. Poisonous fish. Sundry incidents on shore. Breed of dogs, and of hogs, left. Coast explored, not without danger. Voyage to the S.E. end of the island. Remarkable pines. Dangerous shoals. Part of the coast left unexamined. Norfolk Isle discovered: its productions. Arrival at Queen Charlotte's Sound. Friendly intercourse and trade with the natives. Upper part of the Sound examined. Rumours relating to the Adventure. Horrible fate of a boat's crew belonging to that ship, as related by Lieut. Burney. Sequel of the Adventure's Voyage.
Taking his departure from Cape Lisburne, on the 31st of August, our navigator steered towards the south-west, and on the 4th of September made another interesting discovery, coming in sight of one of the largest islands hitherto met with in the south Pacific,—the island which he named New Caledonia. A high promontory seen on the coast, was called Cape Colnett, after the midshipman who first observed it. The land was found to stretch from S.E. to N.W.; and the place to which the Resolution was approaching, was near the N.W. extremity, where there was an island called Balabea. The coast, like that of New Holland, was skirted by a reef; and a safe channel being found, the ship passed through, and anchored near a small sandy isle, which was named Observatory
