We met at the gangway, and in answer to my inquiry, he informed me that he had seen no traces of the natives.

He had shot a new and very beautiful bird of the finch tribe, in which the brilliant colours of verdigris green, lilac purple, and bright yellow, were admirably blended.* The time was short; half an hour would have sufficed for the observations, and we should have left the coast.

As it was now low-water, and I had to traverse a coral reef half a mile in width, I resolved to lighten myself of my gun, which I had taken with me in the morning, that I might with greater safety carry the chronometer.

On landing I directed Mr.Tarrant and one of the boat's crew to follow with the rest of the instruments.

The walking was very bad, the reef being strewed with coral fragments, and interspersed with large pools.