The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, May 25. By his Majesty's ship Dolphin, newly arrived from a voyage round the world, we hear, that they have discovered a new island in the south Seas, large, fertile, and extremely populous. The Dolphin came to an anchor in a safe, spacious, and commodious harbour, where she lay about 6 weeks.

From the behaviour of the inhabitants, they had reason to believe she was the first and only ship they had ever seen. The first day they came alongside with a number of canoes, in order to take possession of her; there were two divisions, one filled with men, and the other with women: these last engaged the attention of our sailors, by exposing their beauties to their view, whilst the men from the canoes threw great quantities of stones, by which several seamen were hurt: however, as they had no kind of weapons, they were soon beat off, and a few vollies of small arms obliged them to retire in confusion.

The day following a party well armed was sent on shore with the watering casks, and our people at the topmast-head discovered, by the help of their glasses, prodigious numbers of the natives flocking from all parts towards the watering-place in order to surround the party: knowing which a signal was made for them to come on board and leave the watering casks.--This was no sooner done, than the Dolphin was attacked by greater numbers than the day preceding, which obliged them to have recourse to the disagreeable necessity of firing some of their great guns at them; charged with grapeshot: and some guns with ball were also fired up the country, which knocked down some of their houses, felled several trees, &c, and struck them with such awe that they now looked on our people as more than human, since their houses could not shelter them, nor distance take them out of the reach of our shot.

They immediately shewed the great desire of being at peace with us, and did not seem to resent the killing a number of their people; as they now appeared to be sensible that we had only made use of those dreadful engines against them, when their rashness had forced us to it. We took possession of the island in his Majesty's name, and called it King George's Land. It lies about 20 degrees southern latitude.--during the remainder of our stay, we continued to trade with the natives in the most amicable manner, giving them nails, buttons, and trinkets, in exchange for fresh provisions, which we were greatly in want of.

The natives are in general taller and stouter made than our people, and are mostly of a copper colour, with black hair; others are fairer, especially the women, some of whom were observed to be red-haired. It does not appear that they knew the use of any one metal whatever. When the grape shot came among them, they dived after it, and brought up the pieces of lead. They swim like fish, and can remain a long time under water. -They were clothed with a kind of stuff made of the bark of trees, some red, some yellow, its texture resembles that of coarse thick paper, and cannot resist wet.

Besides the large island there are several lesser ones, which have been named Charlotte Island, Gloucester Island, Boscawen Island, Keppel Island, Wallace Island, &c. From the above account, it appears, that those who have the care of our naval affairs in these peaceable times, are not idle, but have employed a part of the navy in making new discoveries, which may not only prove advantageous to our commerce, but also afford us safe ports in the south seas in case of a future war.