LETTER XV. 
LEAVE TANA FOR ANEITYUM—-THE HURRICANE—THE WRECK 
—A SALE BY AUCTION— LIFE OF THE SHIPWRECKED 
PARTY ASHORE—THE EARTHQUAKE. 
Anelcauhat, Aneityum, 
February, 1873. 
(De 
N Thursday, the 2nd January, I left Tana for Aneityum, in 
the “ Dayspring,” commencing my homeward voyage. The 
vessel having returned from the colonies, had made a trip 
round the islands, and was now on her way to Sydney w@ 
Aneityum and Fotuna, On Friday she anchored in Anelcauhat 
harbour. After our arrival, Captain Jenkins, who had taken 
the place of Captain Rae, resigned, went round to Anamé with 
the second mate and Mrs. Goodwill, who was proceeding to the 
colonies on account of her health. On Saturday I went ashore 
to spend Sunday and Monday with Mr. and Mrs. Murray, ex- 
pecting to sail on Tuesday. Signs of a coming storm began to 
appear on Saturday afternoon—a heavy swell rolling into the 
harbour, without any wind to account for it. On Sunday 
matters looked still worse. Sharp squalls of rain and wind 
came from the N.E., while the glass was steadily sinking. The 
first mate, Mr. McArthur, who was in charge of the vessel, did 
not allow these portents of bad ‘weather to pass unheeded, but 
took every precaution for the safety of the vessel: an addi- 
tional anchor was let go, every inch of cable was paid out, 
