TONGATABV. 105 



fathoms, and it became obvious that we were but a short 

 distance from a reef, from which proceeded an odour 

 strongly resembhng that of fish. The wind that liad been 

 always ahead since we left Norfolk Island continued to 

 be unfavourable, which compelled us almost the whole time 

 to keep up our steam. 



On July 17, after passing through some twenty small 

 islands of but slight elevation, and all covered with vegeta- 

 tion, we cast anchor about one o'clock p.m. in the port of 

 Tongatabu, just opposite the King's house. The most striking 

 object in this regal village is the church ; it stands about 

 60 feet above the level of the sea, on a small hill covered 

 with a variety of trees. The island appeared to us to lie very 

 low, and, after the church and some dwellings, what most 

 attracted our attention was the sandy shore with a coral 

 reef about 150 yards distant. 



Numbers of small canoes with outriggers soon crowded 

 about the ship freighted with pigs, poultry, large branches 

 of bananas, cabbages, onions, yams, cocoa-nuts, oranges, 

 shaddocks, hmes, madrepores, shells, and small white 

 cowries, which are made use of to ornament their canoes 

 and the roofs of their huts. They were soon followed by 

 two Protestant missionaries, Messrs. Whewell and Moulton, 

 who came to visit the Commodore. 



Meanwhile I went ashore with some of the oflicers, and 

 as it was ebb tide our launch could not approach tlie shore, 

 so we were obliged to be carried to land, which was effected 

 by means of a litter consisting of two long bamboo poles, 



