PAUMATO GROUP. G5 



hand ; the most conspicuous among them was the frigate- 

 bird. They were seen as they flew off inflating their huge 

 pouches, and looking as if they had a large bladder at- 

 tached to their necks. Immense quantities of fish were 

 also found in the lagoon ; but human beings there were 

 none, or even the traces of any ; neither the remains of 

 huts, nor canoes, nor marks of fire, were anywhere visible. 

 There were a great many sharks both in the lagoon and 

 outside, and they were so ravenous as to bite at the oars 

 of the boats. 



Large and valuable collections were made in all the sci- 

 entific departments. Some beautiful specimens of coral 

 were procured here. 



C^tir observations placed the island in latitude 14° 56' 

 00" south, and longitude 138° 48' 00" west. 



August 23d. In the morning the barometer began to 

 fall rapidly, the horizon lowered to the southward and 

 eastward, and soon after the wind blew with such violence 

 as to compel us to close-reef the topsails. Towards noon 

 we discovered Disappointment Islands on the lee bow, and 

 in the course of the day frequently observed the natives 

 standing on the beach and cautiously watching our move- 

 ments. 



These islands are two in number, called "Wytohee and 

 Otoohoo, and were discovered in 1765. They trended 

 nearly east and west, and are bounded by reefs and rocks. 

 They are well covered with trees of the cocoa-nut and 

 pandanus kinds. 



About sunset, saw a canoe pulling along the shore. 



Lay-to during the night, in order to survey the islands 

 the next day. 



August 24th and 25th. At early daylight made all sail, 

 and stood in for the land. At 10 A. M., nine canoes, from 



