View from the top of Andulong. 



OVOLAU. 



Instructions issued. 

 Arrival of the Flying-Fish. 



way. The path we followed over the mountain 

 was the high road to the interior towns, and the 

 inhabitants of these mountains have the character 

 among the cannibal population of the coast, of 

 being very savage ! Just before noon, we reached 

 the top of Andulong, and succeeded in getting the 

 meridian altitude. The scene that now presented 

 itself was truly beautiful ; the picturesque valleys 

 of the island of Ovolau lay in full view beneath us, 

 exhibiting here and there spots of cultivated 

 ground, with groves of cocoa-nuts and bread-fruit; 

 the towns perched upon apparently inaccessible 

 spots, overlooking their small domains; the several 

 peaks rising around, all cut and broken in the most 

 grotesque forms, only one of which, that of Dille- 

 ovolau, overtopped the one on which we were, 

 being about two hundred feet higher ; around us 

 in the distance, we had the various islands of the 

 group, and the fantastic needle-shaped peaks of 

 Vanua-levu were distinctly seen, although at the 

 distance of sixty miles. The detached reefs could 

 be traced for miles, by the water breaking on them, 

 until they were lost in the haze. The squadron 

 lay quietly beneath us, and every danger that could 

 in any way affect the safety of a vessel was as dis- 

 tinctly marked as though it had been already put 

 upon our charts. Each officer was now directed 

 to observe a series of angles between all the points, 

 peaks, and islands, and to enter the names of them: 

 these were obtained through the interpreters. The 

 barometer was set up, and observations made. The 

 signal was now given, upon which guns were fired 

 from the vessel, while we noted the time that 

 elapsed between seeing the flash and hearing the 

 sound. The angles of depression were also taken 

 of ail objects. The results of these different 

 methods gave the altitude of Andulong two thou- 

 sand and seventy feet. 



We remained on the summit until near sunset, 

 and obtained much knowledge relative to the 

 situation of all the islands and reefs that lay 

 around us, which I found of much service in the 

 progress of our work. 



During our stay on Andulong, a native came up, 

 who appeared to be under the influence of great 

 fear; he reported that one of the officers had fallen 

 down, and that something was the matter with 

 him. On being asked why he left him, he told us 

 that the chief had said G d d n, and that he 

 was afraid that he would kill him. Lieutenant 

 Emmons went down with him, and after a short 

 descent, he found Mr. Eld lying quite exhausted 

 near the path, and it was with difficulty he was 

 enabled to reach the town. 



The descent proved more toilsome and danger- 

 ous than the ascent; the slipperiness of the path 

 frequently brought us in contact with sharp rocks. 

 I have seldom witnessed a party so helpless as 

 ours appeared, in comparison with the natives and 

 white residents, who x-an over the rocks like goats. 

 Darkness overtook us before we reached the town ; 

 many of the natives, however, brought torches of 

 dried cocoa-nut leaves to light us on our way, and 

 we reached our respective ships without accident, 

 though much fatigued. Many new specimens were 

 added to our collections, and I believe all felt gra- 

 tified in having had an opportunity of viewing from 

 so elevated a point this labyrinth of islands, reefs, 

 and sunken shoals. 



The island of Ovolau is eight miles in length, 



north and south, by seven in breadth, east and 

 west; it is of volcanic formation, and its rocks are 

 composed of a conglomerate or pudding-stone; it is 

 high and rugged throughout. The valleys extend 

 only a short distance into the interior, and leave 

 but little level ground; they are, however, ex- 

 ceedingly fertile, with a deep and rich soil, and 

 are well cultivated. Its harbours are all formed 

 by the reefs, and were it not for these, there would 

 be but few in the group ; that of Levuka is safe, 

 has good holding-ground, and is easy of access. 



On the 10th, the Flying- Fish was still missing. 



Feeling satisfied that Ovolau was the most suit- 

 able place for my purpose, I selected a site for my 

 observatory on a projecting insulated point, about 

 thirty feet above the beach, on which was suffi- 

 cient room to accommodate our tents and houses. 

 I also obtained a few acres of ground from the 

 chief, for the purpose of planting a garden, which 

 was well fenced in, and placed under the direction 

 of our horticulturist, Mr. Brackenridge. 



On the llth, the instruments, tents, &c., were 

 landed and put up. The surprise of the natives 

 was extremely great to find a village or town, as 

 they called it, erected in a few hours, and every 

 thing in order: the guards on post to prevent all 

 intrusion most excited their curiosity. 



All the necessary arrangements having been 

 made, the launch and first cutter of the Vincennes, 

 under Lieutenants Alden, Knox, Midshipman 

 Henry, and Assistant-Surgeon Whittle, were de- 

 spatched to survey the north shore of Viti-levu; 

 the launch and first cutter of the Peacock, under 

 Lieutenant Emmons, Passed-Midshipman Blunt, 

 and Mr. Dyes, to examine and survey the south 

 shore, visiting Viwa, Ambau, and Rewa, the mis- 

 sionary posts: Chaplain Elliott was of the latter 

 party, that he might be enabled to gather informa- 

 tion from these establishments; pilots, who acted 

 as interpreters, were sent with both. Orders, of 

 which the following is an extract, were issued to 

 the officers in writing, in relation to the natives, 

 pointing out to them the necessity of watchful- 

 ness. 



" You will observe the following instructions 

 very particularly, and in no case depart from 

 them, unless it is for the preservation of your 

 party. 



" 1st. You will avoid landing any where on the 

 main land or islands, unless the latter should be 

 uninhabited. 



" 2nd. Every precaution must be observed in 

 treating with these natives, and no native must be 

 suffered to come alongside or near your boats, 

 without your boarding-nettings being up ; all 

 trading must be carried on over the stern of your 

 boat, and your arms and howitzers ready to repel 

 attack. 



" 3rd. You will avoid any disputes with them, 

 and never be off your guard, or free from suspicion; 

 they are in no case to be trusted. 



" 4th. Your two boats must never be separated 

 at night, but anchored as close together as pos- 

 sible. 



" You will always keep the boats within signal 

 distance of each other, separating them in cases of 

 extreme necessity only for a short time." 



The Flying- Fish now made her appearance, to 

 my great relief. Her delays had been owing to 

 her having run (on the 8th, the night after she 

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