50 CRUISE TO THE NORTHWARD. 



CHAPTER III. 



Cruise to the northward Tetuaroa Return to Tahiti 

 to repair a leak Native worship Observance of 

 the Sabbath The Ofai-marama or moon-stone 

 Visit of the Zebra Remarks on missionary labours 

 in Polynesia Sail for England, by way of the 

 Cape of Good Hope Rotch Island Remarkable 

 effects of a current Capture Sperm Whales Tench's 

 Island See other islands Enter the Indian Archi- 

 pelago Floating pumice-stone Capture a water- 

 snake, Hydrophis bicolor Spirula Australis Take a 

 large Whale in Pitt's Passage Curious effects of re- 

 fraction Speak the Soubrou, Bombay trader Ap- 

 proach the Island of Timor Its coast scenery. 



ON the morning of the 31st of March, we 

 took advantage of the land breeze to sail from 

 Tahiti^ on a cruise to the northward. On the 

 following day we passed close to Tetuaroa, a 

 low and extensive coral-island, belonging to the 

 crown of Tahiti, and much frequented by the 

 Tahitians for purposes of health or pleasure. 

 Its structure is analogous to that of Caroline 

 Island, which I have already described. 



On the 4th of April we again visited Maurua, 

 for the purpose of renewing our stock of yams ; 



