found our latitude at noon to be 2° 50′ 29″ S., and our longitude 148° 16′ 50″ E.; and we were enabled to determine the situation of the northern, and most westerly point of New Ireland, which was in 2° 44′ 30″ S. lat., and 140° 11′ 30″ E, longitude. The obscurity of the weather must have occasioned the error of Carteret, who placed it above 10,000 toises farther to the north.
About four o'clock in the evening, we were distant about 1,500 toises from a great number of little islands, situated at the entrance of the channel which separates New Ireland from New Hanover; and we observed that the passage between those islands was obstructed by reefs. New Ireland is terminated by low lands.
New Hanover, towards the north-west, presents a flat surface, while its centre is occupied by a chain of very high mountains, which extend towards the south-east.
27th. In the morning of this day, we had sight of Portland Islands, which we coasted at a small distance. They form a group of seven little islands, which occupy a space of about 7,500 toises in extent, in the direction of east and west. They are very flat, covered with large trees, and are connected together by reefs and sand-banks.
Those little islands are in latitude 2° 39′ 44″ S. and in longitude 147° 15′ E.
28th.
