away there in 1783, being at Bombay, and about to go to China, generously offered them a passage in his ship; and if he were not able to touch at Pelew, they were to be landed at Macao, with instructions to the secret committee at Canton, to endeavour to find some conveyance for them. They had lived in my house from the time of their arrival in Bombay, and the government directed me to accompany them, and ordered me an allowance accordingly. Captain Wilson also wished to have some person with him, who had been at the islands since they were surveyed. I was happy in the opportunity to make the trip. Your friend Wedgeborough was at Bombay in the command of the Princess Royal Indiaman at the commencement of the business; but before it was settled he had sailed for Europe with his wife and family.

On the 1st of October, with the Pelews on board, we began our voyage to China in the Warley, accompanied by the Neptune, Abergavenny, and Indostan. When the ships were abreast the Pelew islands, the wind came from southwest; and as we did not wish to lose so fine a breeze, we proceeded to Macao, where we arrived January 1st, 1798. This was one of the best eastern passages ever made.

After procuring a vessel at Macao, and suffering much perplexity, I got to the Pelew islands the 14th of July, 1798. The people were happy to see me and their three friends again; but liked the presents better, I believe, as they consisted of arms and ammunition. The man, whom McClure shot in the arm for stealing, is Abba Thulle now! The place is somewhat better than it was formerly, but not much, as they have killed all the sheep. They have a few goats and hogs. The black cattle have much increased since you were there.

I returned to Macao in December, and from thence to Bombay. Wedgeborough had arrived about a month before me from Europe, in March, 1799; and White, our fellow officer, who had been master attendant and assistant, was gone up the Red Sea, as boat master to the detachment with Colonel Murray. I was requested to hold the situation as master attendant and assistant during White's absence, to which I consented. But during the month of July, White returned very ill from the Red Sea, and, lingering till October, he died. I then was confirmed in his post, and am now in that situation.

In August 1799, Gerard Drummond, our fellow officer, arrived from England in the Admiral Hughes, where he had been for the recovery of his health: But directly after he arrived in India, he began to fall away again, and the 17th of March 1800, he died of the liver complaint. Wedgeborough was taken by the French, and carried to Mauritius last October. He is well, desires to be particularly remembered to you, and is to sail for Madras in a day or two in command of the Lady Clive. Lieutenant Proctor, our fellow officer, is gone to Europe for the benefit of his health. Michi is fixed in Bombay as assistant to the marine store keeper. Lieutenants Smyth, Gilman, and Henry, our fellow officers, are well.

I have written a long scrawl in a hurry. You will therefore excuse the diction. After this I hope to be favoured with letters from you. You know how to direct to me as I am in Bombay, and I shall be happy to hear from you. Praying for your health and happiness, I remain your friend and well wisher,

SAMUEL SNOOK.

A. DELANO.

Since the receipt of this letter, I saw two men at the Sandwich Islands in 1806, who had been at Pelew about the year 1804. I had known them for many years, and could place confidence in the information which they gave me. One of them had resided there for a number of months. He told me that many revolutions had happened among the inhabitants of the islands since I visited them; that there had been six or eight kings since the death of Abba Thulle; and that the stock, which we had carried there, was generally doing very well. The sheep however had been nearly or quite destroyed. He neither saw nor heard any thing of the nutmeg or clove, which McClure had taken so much pains to introduce and cultivate. How thorough his examination or inquiry was upon this subject, I do not know, but I did not consider his account as decisive against the hope that the spices yet remain in some of the islands at least, and may be brought forward hereafter without a repetition of all Mc'Clure's pains and expense. I had a renewed testimony from my two acquaintances, that the re

arms and ammunition, which we had left with the Pelews, had done them incalculable injury. They were divided into parties, and were frequently at war with each other. They were still friendly to the white people, but had lost the spirit of confidence among themselves, and were the victims of alternate stupidity and the violence of contest. It makes me melancholy whenever I think of the unhappy alteration in the character and conduct of this people since they became acquainted with the Europeans. It is a wise provision of nature, that savages should be limited to few and simple weapons of warfare till they have acquired the habits, and have entered into the pursuits, of civilized society, by which their passions shall be checked and regulated. This system of things ought not to be violated by us, as it is when we give them our instruments of mutual destruction, without giving them at the same time the arts, the institutions, and the employments, which are necessary to render the instruments a safe possession, and to convert them into the means of lawful defence and supply.

I have heard, that some ships have touched at the Pelew Islands for refreshments, and have obtained beef, vegetables, water, and wood. If the cultivation of the land was more extensive, and the provisions more abundant, so that ships might always be sure of finding supplies, the islands would be an excellent place for them to stop at, as they are just in the course which it is best to take for a voyage to China. It is no more than prudent to go as far east as is necessary to touch at them in order to avoid the north east trade winds, which sometimes prevail far to the northward in the season of the year when eastern voyages are made. I am persuaded, that the English government, or the East India Company, will before long pay some attention to these islands for this purpose.

CHAPTER IV.

Departure from Pelew-New-Guinea and adjacent Islands-Alarm from the natives-Currents-Revenge Straits-Animals and Birds-Passage to the Spice Islands, and description of them.

ON

N the 27th of June 1791, we took our departure for New Guinea. The winds were from the south and west quarter, and while we continued our course southward, they were light, and interrupted with calms, till the 15th of July, when we found ourselves on the equator, and in sight of St. Stephen's island. The northern extreme of this is in latitude 0° 32′ south, and in longitude 136°, 30′ east. In our run from the Pelew Islands to 1°, 38', north latitude, this being a difference of 5°, 38', our course bearing chiefly to the south and occupying thirteen days, the current carried us eastward 4°, 58'. This fact will assist the calculations of seamen in these latitudes at this season of the year. After we went further south, we found that the current changed, and set westward. On the 17th, we passed eastward of St. Stephen's Island, three or four leagues, and saw no marks of danger. On the 19th, we were close to an island, called Pulo-Mysory, which had a small bay on its south east side, appearing to afford good anchorage. No dangers were discovered in its vicinity, as we sailed eastward of it, within a mile or two of the bay. We made its latitude 0°, 50′ south, and its longitude 136° 25′ east. We continued working westward to get into Revenge Straits, from the 19th of July to the 5th of August. We were among islands of different names, with variable winds and calms, and with a strong westerly current. We anchored about a quarter of a mile from Manouaran island, in latitude 0°, 5′ south, and longitude 131°, 11' east, between that and another named Waygoo. We found that we had been under the influence of a western current to the amount of 4°, 24', since the 15th of June. The currents were ascertained by a number of good chronometers, on which dependence may be placed.

ners.

There was a small river, which afforded good water, and which was convenient for us to take in wood. We were however visited by a gang of natives from New Guinea, or from some of the large islands in the neighbourhood, who appeared hostile in their manWhile the last two boats were taking in wood and water, the Commodore made a signal for his men to come on board, and was observed at the same time to be getting under way with the two vessels. I happened to be the officer on shore with the boats, and immediately sent off one of them, which was laden with wood. The other was taking in water up the river. After loading her, as was our custom, with water in bulk, we attempted to go out of the river over a bar, where there was something of a swell. The boat hit the bottom, and was overturned. The muskets and the ammunition, which we had in her, were thoroughly wet, and could do us no service if we were attacked. The natives had been watching us the whole time we were at work on shore, and now drew near with signs of hostility. They brandished their spears, made motions preparatory to throwing them at us, strung their bows, presented their arrows, and stood a moment to observe the effect of this, and to ascertain what advantage they might expect from our condition. I looked towards the vessels, and saw them going from us quite fast. For the first time I felt a sensation of danger from natives. I however very fortunately drew the inference from their delay in making the attack, that they did not know the effect of water upon the use of fire arms and powder. We instantly applied the hint to practice, caught up our cartouch boxes, buckled them on though full of water, fixed our bayonets, and shouldered our dripping muskets. With this parade of courage and defence, we gained time to get the boat upright and off the bar, and steered for our vessels. The natives followed us in their canoes, came within forty or fifty yards of us, and were constantly on the watch for a moment when we should be off our guard, or under some new embarrassment, of which they could take advantage. But our stratagem was happily conceived, admirably executed, and successful in its result. We arrived safe on board, with an armed and ferocious band of savages pressing close upon our rear and thirsting for our blood. Our triumph was complete, and was felt in our hearts with not a few emotions of gratitude mingled with a sense of imminent danger.