DISCOVERY OF A NEW GROUP OF ISLANDS.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 187, 6 March 1868, Page 3

DISCOVERY OF A NEW GROUP OF ISLANDS.

The following account of the discovery of a group of islands in th e Pacific by the ship Dundonald, is written by the captain of that vessel, and was published in the North China Daih/ News, a Shanghai paper : The Dundonald left Sydney on the 29th of September, and on the 3rd of October made Norfolk Island, bearing E. by S. 10 miles. From this date to the Sth iust, had light N.N.E. wind, which drove the ship very far to the eastward. Passed Hunter's, Lotaka, and Amanda Islands respectively. Midnight, on the 20th October, sighted Pleasant Island, distance nine miles, where I purposed calling, but could not do so, on account of passing at midnight. At six a.m., 21th, made the Island Onalau (one of the Caroline Islands). At six p.m., took our departui'o from the island, distaut fifteen miles, and proceeded on our voyage to the N."W". with afresh breeze from JST.E. About ten a.m., on the 26th, when walking on the quarter-deck, was very much surprised to see land dipping on the horison. At first I could not believe it was land, as I knew if my reckoning was right that there was no laud known to Europeans nearer than

forty miles; but in half-an-hour the trees were distinctly visible, I therefore kept the ship directly for it, determined to satisfy myself as to its position, Ac. At eleven a.m., four more islands appeared in sight, all covered with trees, and at noon I got a good observation and found my reckoning quite correct, so that these islands had not been discovered before. At one p.m., wo came up to them, and the ship was then rounded-to with the southernmost islauds bearing N.N.W., distant two miles. A boat was lowered and I proceeded towards the island accompanied by a Mr. Mackay, passender. After getting within a hundred yards of the shore our progress was suddenly stopped by an extensive reef. Tip to this time we had seen no signs of life on the island. We then rowed along the shore for about live miles, until we came to a break in the reef, and immediately pulled for it, but on getting closer to it found there w r as no possibility of crossing, owing to the water being too shallow. We then discovered that the reef was a bed of red coral, completely surrounding the island, inside of which the water was apparently about six feet deep, and as smooth as a mirror. "We then pulled for the next island, which was connected with the first by a coral reef, but the water did not break on it; and when about a mile from the second island, saw the masts of two canoes lying inside the island. Feeling quite satisfied that if those canoes could get in we also could do so, we pulled along the island for about two miles, and then found an opening in the reef through which we passed, and found ourselves in the centre of a beautiful lagoon, with about fourteen feet of water, and the bottom perfectly clear, consisting of corals and other calcerous formations. We then went alongside of the canoes, but finding no natives in them, made for the shore, on which I was the first to land, being immediately followed by the crew and Mr. Mackay. As soon as the boat was made fast, fired a few shots in the air, having taken the precaution to arm ourselves before leaving the ship, and proceeded through a large opening in the trees, keeping a sharp look-out for anyone that might be concealed in the bush. After walking about fifty yards inland, we came to a beautiful clear space of about 300 yards long by 80 or 100 broad, of which we took a good survey before proceeding further, not thinking it judicious to go into the bush, as there was quite space enough for a large number of natives to be concealed in it. Cocoanut trees were in abundance, with plenty of nuts in immense clusters, and the ground was strewn with those that had dropped down from the trees. There were a great many more trees of different kinds, but we could not find any other fruit, though we found a large basket full of potatoes, so it would seem that the natives had been disturbed by our firing Avhen coming on shore. The basket was made out ot cocoanut leaf, and the potatoes were similar to ours, only very bitter in taste and very much like quinine. After spending about two hours looking over the island, we returned to the boat, loading her with cocoanuts, and regretting very much that time would not allow us to take a further survey. Before getting into the boat, the health of the Queen and Royal Family was drunk with the honors, and at the request of the crew and Mr M'Kay, the islands were christened Kewley's Group, and the one I landed on Kewley's Island, as I was the first to land, and I feel certain I was the first white man that ever set his foot on it. We took each a little part of whatever we could get of the canoes, to keep in remembrance of our visit, and the peculiar figurehead of the largest canoe is now on board of my ship. The position of the islands is—southermost islands, lat. 9deg. 47min. N., long. 161 deg. 15min. 45sec. E. The group extends in an E. by S., and W. by N. direction for about thirty miles, but cannot say what their extent is north and south, as I had no time to explore them properly. The latitude and longitude may be relied on, as I only left the Island of Omalau two days before, and my instruments were quite correct then.