24-8 VOYAGE TO THE 



c J£tf' of about eight inches before we came to broken 



<— ^v^—' coral. 

 S. " ^ n tne central and sheltered parts of the plain 



between the ridges the pandanus spreads its diver- 

 gent roots and rears its fruitful branches ; the pem- 

 phis also takes root in the same situation. The loose 

 dry stones of the first ridge are penetrated by the 

 hard roots of the tefano, which expands its branches 

 into a tall spreading tree, and is attended by the 

 fragrant suriana, and the sweet-scented tournefortia, 

 in the shelter of whose foliage the tender achyran- 

 thus and lepidium seem to thrive the best. Beyond 

 the first high and stony ridge the hardy scaevola 

 extends its creeping roots and procumbent verdure 

 towards the sea, throwing its succulent leaves round 

 the sharp coral stones." 



" On the windward side, wherever the pandanus 

 was devoid of the protection of the more hardy 

 trees, the brown and decayed leaves showed it had 

 advanced beyond its proper boundary."* 



We quitted Bow Island on the 20th of February, 

 and continued the survey of the archipelago, until 

 the period had arrived when it was necessary to pro- 

 ceed direct to Otaheite, to prepare the ship for her 

 voyage to the northward. We were greatly re- 

 tarded toward the close of our operations by the 

 rainy season, which was attended with calms, and 

 hot, sultry, wet weather, and perhaps, had we con- 

 tinued at sea, would have prevented any thing more 

 being done. The dysentery about this time began 

 to make its appearance among the ship's company, 

 owing no doubt to the rains and closeness of the at- 

 mosphere, combined with the harassing duty arising 

 from the navigation of a sea so thickly strewed with 



* Mr. Collie's Journal. 



