In consequence of this resolution, at noon I bore away, and passed Boscawen’s Island without visiting it. It is a high round island, abounding in wood, and full of people; but Keppel’s Isle is by far the largest and the best of the two.

Boscawen’s Island lies in latitude 15° 50’ S. longitude 175° W. and Keppel’s Isle in latitude 15° 55’ S. longitude 175° 3’ W.

We continued a W.N.W. course till 10 o’clock in the morning of Sunday the 16th, when we saw land bearing N. by E. and hauled up for it. At noon, we were within three leagues of it: the land within shore appeared to be high, but at the water-side it was low, and had a pleasant appearance; the whole seemed to be surrounded by reefs, that ran two or three miles into the sea. As we sailed along the shore, which was covered with cocoa-nut trees, we saw a few huts, and smoke in several parts up the country. Soon after we hauled without a reef of rocks, to get round the lee-side of the island, and at the same time sent out the boats to sound, and examine the coast.

Voyaging Accounts