480 



THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



A meteorological register had been kept for some time at the college, under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Baker, the Wesleyan missionary ; he was kind enough to supply 

 a copy of it, and as it may be useful, the chief results are appended. 



Meteorological Table compiled from observations made during the years 1872-74, by 



the Rev. J. Baker, at the Mission House, Nukalofa, Tongatabu. 



Barometer readings reduced to 32° and sea level. 



The water on Tongatabu is scanty and not good, owing to the flatness of the land 

 and the absence of streams. The water in all the wells which have been dug is brackish, 

 owing to the percolation of the sea water through the coral reefs. 



The landing place is between the King's House and the Church on the hill ; at high 

 water a gig can reach the shore through a narrow channel cut in the reef, but at low 

 water this is impracticable. A " hard " of loose stone has, however, been constructed 

 from the beach to the outer edge of the reef to facilitate communication at low water. 



The observing station chosen by the Expedition was the church on the hill at 

 Nukalofa, as the observers were there less disturbed than elsewhere. It may be as well 

 to mention that at Tongatabu the day is the same as in Australia, that is, that although 

 the island is in west longitude, and the inhabitants should, properly speaking, reckon 

 time as slow on Greenwich, they reckon it fast on Greenwich, or for the longitude 

 of 184^° E. 



At the time of the ship's visit a schooner ran between Tongatabu and Sydney about 

 every two months. 



