CHAPTER XXIII. 



TUTUILA ISLAND, SAMOA. 



AFTER leaving Tahiti our course was laid for 

 Tutuila Island, one of the Samoan group, and six 

 days later we arrived off the mouth of the harbour 

 of Pago-Pago.* After waiting in vain for a pilot 

 we entered the harbour without one, and steamed 

 through the narrow intricate passage which ex- 

 tends for some distance towards the centre of the 

 island where the town is situated. 



Tutuila belongs to the United States of America, 

 and is used principally as a coaling station for their 

 ships, and the harbour of Pago-Pago is undoubtedly 

 one of the best anchorages in the South Pacific 

 Islands, owing to its sheltered position. 



Our visit was made solely for the purpose of 

 obtaining coal, but, being unable to get a supply 

 there, we were forced to leave almost immediately 

 for Apia. Thus only one day was spent ashore, 

 and it was impossible in the short time to do much 

 in the way of collecting. 



* Pronounced " Pango-Pango." 



