Kendi-kendi the highest peak of the island ,,..-, 

 of Lakemba. Description of Lakemba. J!fi*J!i*i 



Description of the island of Lakemba. 

 Islands visited by the Porpoise. 



On the 22d, they sailed, and continued the sur- 

 veys to the eastward, towards the Bocatatanoa, 

 or Argo Reef. Besides the brig Argo, another 

 vessel, by the name of the Harriet, is said to have 

 been lost here. According to Thaki's report, all 

 hands from one of these vessels were killed, while 

 only a few from the other escaped. He remem- 

 bers the occurrence, but it was a long time ago. 

 This extensive reef was examined, when Lieute- 

 nant-Commandant Ringgold, having heard of the 

 arrival of the Flying-Fish, with a pilot and des- 

 patches, returned to Lakemba. 



It is remarkable that, up to this time, in all 

 their trials of the current, they had found it set- 

 ting to the eastward about half a mile per hour, 

 varying in direction from east- north-east to east- 

 south-east. This fact is confirmed by the informa- 

 tion obtained from the natives, that canoes which 

 are wrecked to the westward are always drifted 

 upon these islands. 



On the 28th, Mr. Totten and Dr. Holmes were 

 despatched on shore, to ascend Kendi-kendi, the 

 highest peak of the island of Lakemba, for the 

 purpose of making observations and getting its 

 height by sympiesometer. The altitude was thus 

 found to be seven hundred and fourteen feet. The 

 ascent was not difficult, for a regular path led to 

 the highest point. The ruins of a town were 

 found on it, called Tumboa, from which the Tonga 

 chiefs of the family of Tubou Total are supposed to 

 have derived their name. 



Mr. Calvert and his lady received them most 

 kindly at the mission, as they had already done the 

 other officers. The house and out-buildings are 

 comfortable, and the church, which stands near 

 the mission-house, is a good building, eighty feet 

 long by thirty-two wide, and twenty-five feet high. 

 The latter is convenient and appropriate to its 

 purpose, and its floor is covered with mats. At 

 4 P.M. the hollow log drum was beaten for prayers, 

 which the officers attended with Mr. Calvert. 

 There were only fifteen persons present. A Tonga 

 man officiated, as Mr. Calvert was fatigued with 

 his morning jaunt; and the services consisted of 

 singing and prayer. There are about fifty resident 

 Christians, nearly all of whom are Tongese, of 

 whom about one-third of the population is com- 

 posed; and they have literally taken possession of 

 the island, for they never work, but subsist on the 

 labour of the Feejee population, who hold them in 

 much awe. The difference between the two races 

 was as striking here as at Ovolau. Heathenism is 

 fast passing away at Lakemba, and its absurd rites 

 are held in ridicule by most of those who are still 

 considered as heathens. The influence of the 

 priest is diminished, and the temple or mbure has 

 fallen into decay. 



Lakemba is the largest island in the eastern 

 group. It is five miles in diameter ; its shape is 

 nearly round, with an extensive encircling reef. 

 There is an opening on its eastern side, sufficient 

 for large vessels, but dangerous, from the number 

 of coral patches which stud it. The town is on 

 the south side, and contains about two-thirds of 

 the population of the island (one thousand people). 



The people of this island seemed to be far from 

 healthy ; pulmonary diseases were common, and 

 often fatal, and an unsightly scrofulous affection 

 appeared to be quite prevalent. 



The survey of Lakemba gave its length five 



miles east and west, by three north and south. 

 The reef extends six miles from the island, in an 

 east-north-east direction ; in it there are two 

 openings, one on the south-east side, and one oppo- 

 site to the town on the south or south-west side. 

 Into the latter a vessel of one or two hundred tons 

 may enter ; but after getting in, the space is very 

 confined, and it would be necessary to moor head 

 and stern. 



This island is the principal location of the 

 people I have heretofore described, under the name 

 of Levukians, as the first settlers of Ambau. They 

 live in a village which is denominated Levuka, 

 and have the character, at Lakemba, of being a 

 wandering, faithless tribe, addicted, occasionally, 

 to piracy. This is not considered the case else- 

 where, for the Feejee men, in general, look upon 

 them as a useful class, and through them they 

 carry on the trade between the different islands. 

 It is not surprising that they should bear a bad 

 name among the Tonga men, for I heard that 

 they were the means of checking the depredations 

 of those of that race who now hold possession of 

 the island of Lakemba, and exert a great influence 

 on the south-east islands of this group, which they 

 find essential for their purposes of obtaining war- 

 canoes. 



Lakemba was found, like the rest of this group, 

 to be of volcanic formation. The soil is similar to 

 that of Vanua, composed of a dark red loam. The 

 island, in point of fertility, will compare with any 

 of the others, and exceeds all those of the south- 

 east in size and productiveness. It has rich 

 valleys, or rather ravines, gradually rising and con- 

 tracting until they reach the hills. Extensive 

 groves of cocoa-nuts cover its shores and low 

 lands, and add much to its beauty. 



The Porpoise, having taken Tubou Totai on 

 board, proceeded to the island of Naiau. This is 

 a high island, and rises in perpendicular cliffs from 

 the sea to the height of two hundred and seventy- 

 five feet. It has only a small reef attached to 

 it on one side, the other side being free. It 

 offers no facilities for the visit of vessels. Naiau 

 contains a population of two hundred inhabitants, 

 who are perched upon inaccessible peaks, in order 

 to protect themselves from depredations. 



Tabutha is thirty miles north of Lakemba. It has 

 a remarkable peak, which rises on its north-west 

 end, and is the Cap Island of the charts. A reef sur- 

 rounds it, in which there are two boat-entrances 

 on the south-west and north-west sides. There are on 

 it about ninety inhabitants : it has no. water except 

 from wells. Tubou Totai says that this island 

 belongs to him, he having received it as a present 

 from the king of Lakemba. There are two small 

 reefs, called Mamouko, to the south-west of it, 

 which can be closely approached, and have a 

 passage between them. They are three miles from 

 the island, south-south-west (true). 



To the eastward of Tabutha lies the small island 

 of Aro. This is a very pretty island, and has 

 three reefs in its neighbourhood, one lying north- 

 east seven miles ; another, east-half-south two and 

 a half miles ; the third, south-half-east two and a 

 half miles. This small island is only inhabited 

 during the turtle season, which begins in October 

 and ends in February. 



Chichia lies twenty miles to the north-west of 

 Naiau. It is nearly circular, is three miles in 



