Sailing
west from Hawaii, Kotzebue came upon one of the Marshall Islands.
He noted that no lands were on his charts in that location:
"I
concluded it to be a new discovery, and called it New Year's
Island, it having been first seen on new-year's day…
The lovely verdure of the island had a very pleasing look…
When we were distant but two miles from the south point, we
were surprised by seven canoes, each rowed by five or six
men, which came directly up to us…"
Soon
the crew met and befriended one of the leaders of the islands,
"a
tall, well-made
man, of thirty," who was called Rarick by his
friends. Kotzebue "was delighted that
his name differed from that of our ship in only a single letter."
The
ship was the Rurick. Rarick and his companions greatly
enjoyed their visit on board the ship and were much fascinated
by all of its equipment and supplies. Kotzebue gave them gifts
of mirrors, scissors, and fabric. Kotzebue wrote that when
Rarick
"was going on shore, he invited me to accompany him in
his canoe, which I accepted, while our scientific gentlemen
followed us in a boat. Rarick conducted us to his habitation,
which was distinguished from the rest by its spaciousness,
and treated us with a beverage made from pandanus juice, and
which had a sweet and spicy taste."
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