in War, a slight engagement between small parties, without any regular order; and is therefore easily distinguished from a battle, which is a general engagement between two armies continued for some time.

SKIRMISH Bay, the name given by Lieutenant Broughton to a bay in an island which was discovered by him in latitude 43° 48' south, and in longitude 183° east. The Chatham armed tender worked up into the bay, and came to anchor about a mile from the shore. When the captain and some of the people landed, they found the natives so extremely inhospitable, that self-preservation made it necessary to fire upon them. The land is of considerable magnitude, whether island or continent, and what they saw of it extended nearly 40 miles from cast to west, and the appearance of the country they regarded as very promising. The natives resemble those of New Zealand, from which they are distant about 100 leagues, but their skins were destitute of any marks, and they seemed to be cleanly in their persons. Their dress was of seal skin, while some had fine mats fastened round the waist. Mr Broughton says, "on our first landing, their surprise and exclamations can hardly be imagined; they pointed to the sun, and then to us, as if to ask whether we had come from thence?" The arms they made use of were clubs, spears, and a small weapon resembling the patoo of New Zealand.