94 February 1854 Pacific Ocean purpose of making observations. In fact many of us feel quite discouraged at our situations: our hopes of exploring in unknown regions being greatly damp- ed when we find we can have chances to land and collect only in sea ports which have been searched for years by collectors in all departments. We remained nearly all day off the island. A whale-ship passed as going in to a capacious harbor on the S.W. side in which two or three others was lying at anchor. A boat (in which were Capt. Rolando and Mr Stewart) was sent to communicate with them, and returned bringing a variety of delicious tropical fruits, with jams, taro, bread fruit Coco-nuts etc. A whale-boat, [illegible] and two a three large canoes, man- ned by Natives and commanded by New-gade whalers residing on the island, came off to us at different times offer- ing their services to pilot us in, which Capt. Rissof refused. The natives are short and stout, black, very ugly, and debauched in appearance, with thick 95 February 1854 Pacific Ocean straight hair. They wear a waist cloth or short petticoat of reeds, in successive layers wound around the body, reaching nearly to the knee. In the afternoon we made sail to the westward, passing between Bornati and the small group of Layon or Low Islands called the Ant Is. At night, hove to. 25th N. Lat. 7°16' E. Lon. 157°20' Wind NE. 7 kn. The Paquete Group in sight to the South- eastward. At night hove to. 26th N. Lat 7°12' E. Lon. 156°04' Wind NE 10 kn. Sunday We now have got well into the strength of the trades, and the steady mo- tion of the ship onward toward her port cre- ates a corresponding cheerfulness on board. In the afternoon breakers were report- ed ahead, and soon were seen in both bows, and on the starboard beam. We had got into a sight of an extensive Coral Reef which was long, narrow, and semicircular in shape. After missing stops once or twice the ship was got around and we saw out and hove to for the night. No land was seen in connection with the reef.