PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 22J) 



firmly locked, and entered into serious conversation, C ,^ T P - 

 . . ... \iii. 



consisting no doubt of mutual inquiries after friends *—■ v^ 



and relations, and Tuwarri's account of his peril- JaJ 

 ous adventure. They continued with their hands 

 grasped until it was time for the boat to return to 

 the ship, when they both came on board. This 

 affecting interview increased our impatience to have 

 the mystery which overhung the fate of our passen- 

 ger cleared up, and an opportunity fortunately hap- 

 pened for doing so. 



The gig, on entering the lagoon, had been met 

 by a boat from an English brig (the Dart, employed 

 by the Australian Pearl Company) at anchor there, 

 with a number of divers, natives of Chain Island, 

 hired into her service : among these men there was 

 one who acted as interpreter, and who was immedi- 

 ately engaged to communicate to us the particulars 

 of Tuwarri's adventures, which possess so much in- 

 terest that the reader will not, I am sure, regret the 

 relation of them. 



Tuwarri was a native of one of the low coral 

 formations discovered by Captain Cook in his first 

 voyage, called Anaa by the natives, but by him 

 named Chain Island, situated about three hundred 

 miles to the eastward of Otaheite, to which it is tri- 

 butary. About the period of the commencement of 

 his misfortunes old Pomarree the king of Otaheite 

 died, and was succeeded by his son, then a child. 

 On the accession of this boy several chiefs and com- 

 moners of Chain Island, among whom was Tuwarri, 

 planned a voyage to Otaheite, to pay a visit of cere- 

 mony and of homage to their new sovereign. The 

 only conveyance these people could command was 

 double canoes, three of which of the largest class 



