158 ROUTE TO TAHITI. [1839. 



were large quantities of fish seen also in the lagoon. Cocoa- 

 nuts and bread-fruit likewise appeared to be abundant. A 

 large supply of very good water was procured by the squad- 

 ron, from a deep pool near the lagoon ; after obtaining which, 

 the vessels again got under way, with the intention of mak- 

 ing King George's Group, to the northeast. This being 

 found to be impracticable, without great loss of time, the 

 tender was dispatched to survey the group, with directions 

 to follow the squadron to Tahiti. Previous to this time, on 

 the 1st of September, the Porpoise had parted company with 

 the other vessels ; she coasted along the south side of Ra- 

 raka Island, and then proceeded to Tahiti, the appointed 

 place of rendezvous, where she arrived on the 9th instant, 

 having taken, in her way, the islands of Katiu, or Sacken, 

 Makima, Aratica, and Nairsa. 



The Vincennes and Peacock now bore further westward, 

 and on the 5th instant made the island of Manhii — the "VVater- 

 landt of Schouten and Le Maire, so named by the former of 

 those navigators, in allusion to a large pool of fresh water on 

 the southwest side of the island. Having surveyed this 

 island, they proceeded to Ahii Island, still further to the 

 west, which was found to be uninhabited. The two vessels 

 then separated ; the Peacock proceeding to Aratua Island, 

 and thence around the southern side of Nairsa, or Dean's 

 Island, the largest of the Paumotu Group, and the Vincen- 

 nes steering directly for Nairsa, and then continuing her 

 southerly course, by way of Metia Island, to Tahiti. 



(3.) All the islands visited by the squadron at this time 

 were carefully examined and surveyed. Subsequently, in the 

 winter of 1840—1, the Porpoise, in command of Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold, was again dispatched to this quarter, 

 from the Sandwich Islands. She visited the principal islands 

 which had been missed on the former occasion ; and while 

 engaged in surveying, a small party, under Lieutenant John- 

 son, landed on Aratica Island with boring instruments, in 

 order to ascertain, if possible, with some precision, the geo- 

 logical character of this extensive group. But the rainy sea- 



