Lütke’s survey boats are turned back by canoes; some trading occurs and a map is made.

What happened

About forty canoes surrounded Lütke’s Russian survey ship, and only one man could be persuaded to come aboard; when canoes turned back his boats at Kitti and Net, Lütke refused to force a landing “at the price of blood” and named one anchorage the “Port of Bad Reception.” He named the island group the Senyavin Islands, after Admiral Senyavin, his ship’s namesake, but also recorded that the main island’s name was Pohnpei (“Pouynipète”). The Wikipedia dates of 14–19 January match Lütke’s own (Gregorian) dates; the MicSem list gives 15 January.

Why it matters

Lütke’s published descriptions established that Pohnpei and Chuuk were two separate islands, ending a long confusion on European maps.