24 Account of the Voyage of Discovery 



A pretty fresh breeze put an end to these amicable communU 

 cations. The Urania, continuing her track, passed, on the 12th 

 of December, the strait which separates the Isle of Monhox 

 from Guebe, and stretched to the eastward ; she ran some risk 

 in the strait formed by the Isles of Rouib and of Balabalak, and 

 by the Wyag Islands, where, during a calm, violent currents set 

 upon shallows ; but she was fortunately able to keep her anchor- 

 age, and to wait for such winds as permitted her to keep her way, 

 until she had got clear of that perilous situation. 



She cast anchor on the Kith of December, at the Isle of 

 Rawak, after having at a short distance coasted along the northern 

 side of Waigion. 



An observatory was established on shore, and its position, in 

 latitude only 1 {- minute south, was the most favourable for ex- 

 periments with the pendulum which they could get under the 

 equator. The period of this stay was employed in researches 

 respecting geography and natural history. 



Two or three days before they sailed, they heard, on a sudden, 

 the martial music of tomtoms, kettle-drums, &c. Some mo- 

 ments after, there appeared, at the large point of the island, the 

 fleet of the Kimalaha of Guebe, who, faithful to his promise, 

 had come to pay the visit he had before announced. This little 

 squadron presented a sj)ectacle at once imposing and whimsical. 

 The Guebean Prince was accompanied by his brothers, and sons, 

 to the number of eight ; all, like himself, of good mien, and re- 

 markable for their intelligence. They remained on board until 

 the moment of the corvette's departure ; they gave, as presents 

 to M. de Freycinet, various curiosities of their country, and, 

 among others, hats made of straw and isinglass [talc) worked 

 with admirable art. 



Having sailed from Rawak on the 5th of January IS19, the 

 Urania stretched towards the Ayon isles, which they saw on the 

 6th and Sth of the same month. 



The dvsentery continued still to torment the crew ; it was not 

 long before it was joined to fevers, one of the first victims of 

 which was M, Labiche, the second lieutenant, an officer full of 

 merit, and of the most amiable character. This was the second 

 loss of the kind during the voyage, and it was keenly felt. 



After having visited several of the Caroline isles, which are not 

 pointed out on the maps, and having received throughout the 

 most friendly reception from the islanders, M. de Freycinet ar- 

 rived on the 17th of May in sight of the Isle of Guam, and cast 

 anchor on the night of the same day in the roadstead of Humata. 

 This delay, and that which the corvette made at Port San Louis 

 in the same island, restored health to the crew, thanks to the 

 generous eagerness with which the governor, Don Jose de Me- 



dinillo 



