the centre of the group, the circumference of which consists of a great number of little flat islands, which seem to have emerged from the bosom of the ocean, at no very distant period. Almost all of them are connected together by reefs and sand banks.
About sun-set we were 8,000 toises to the north-east of the little islands which were nearest to the principal one.
31st. As soon as day-light appeared, we steered W.S.W. standing in for the land. Some canoes, which a very high sail made to loom large, appeared at a distance.
We were to leeward of those islands, in a large bay, formed by their curvatures, and a short distance from the land. We sounded several times, with sixty-eight fathoms of line, but found no bottom.
There were many cocoa-nut trees on most of the little islands. A great concourse of natives came upon the beach, and some of them advanced as far as the adjoining reefs. The little islands where there were no cocoa-nut trees, did not seem to be inhabited; for we saw not a single savage upon them.
Several canoes were launched, many still lay on the sand, and six, which had set sail, were making towards our ship. We immediately lay
to,
