An anxious Night. — ^teer for Nang kauri. 47 



Considerable anxiety was felt as the sun went down, since 

 the boat that had been disj^atchcd not only had not re- 

 joined us but was not yet even visible. As soon as darkness 

 had fairly set in, blue lights were burnt on board the frigate, 

 of which the third was at last responded to by the crew of the 

 boat, which had been provided with port-fires for such a con- 

 tingency. It seemed to be steering for the frigate. Hour 

 after hour, however, flew by without its approaching us, and 

 the rest of our signals remained unanswered. Thus morning 

 broke, and still no boat was visible. 



At length, about 7.30 a.m., the anxiously expected little 

 wanderer hove in sight at a little distance, and half an hour 

 later she came alongside all safe. The jji'ojected operations 

 had been only partially successful, owing to the extreme dif- 

 fiiculty in maldng a landing. Surprised by nightfall, it was 

 no longer practicable to make out the ten nautical miles at 

 least they were still distant from the frigate, and the scanty 

 crew consequently saw nothing for it but to anchor close in 

 with the shore, and await the light of dawn in the boat. The 

 cause of our later blue lights not being answered, was partly 

 the want of a sufficient supply of signal lights, part having 

 been already expended, and the rest having got damp. 



We now steered for Nangkauri harbour. Full in view lay 

 the north shore of the island of Kamorta, and, as we glided 

 smoothly thither over the glassy sea, it loomed gradually 

 nearer ; an island of flat-topped hills, which, despite its rank 

 vegetation, had a park-like aspect, consequent on the alterna- 



