But was it frequented, at least occasionally, by the natives of neighboring islands?
It was difficult to reply to this question.

No land appeared within a radius of fifty miles.

But fifty miles could be easily crossed, either by Malay proas or by the large Polynesian canoes.

Everything depended on the position of the island, of its isolation in the Pacific, or of its proximity to archipelagoes.
Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments?
It would be difficult.

Since he was in doubt, it was best to take precautions against a possible descent of neighboring natives.
The exploration of the island was finished, its shape determined, its features made out, its extent calculated, the water and mountain systems ascertained.