PAUMOTU GROUP. 
331 
The various snakes, the many-coloured fish, the great eels, enor- 
mous and voracious sharks, shells, large molusks, spiders, with the 
curious lepidoptera, seemed to have quiet possession, their webs 
stretching in every direction, and occasioning us much annoyance : 
all gave a novelty to the scene, that highly amused and delighted us. 
In the afternoon we returned on board, loaded with specimens, and 
the survey being completed, we bore away on our course. 
There are no cocoa-nut palms on the island, as has been reported 
by Captain Fitzroy, in his voyage; nor is there any fresh water to be 
found. Some of our gentlemen saw on the beach some broken oars 
and some remains of a boat, but nothing could be identified. 
Pandanus trees exist on the south side. 
On the 23d of August we made the Disappointment Islands of 
Byron : they are two in number, called Wytoohee and Otooho. On 
the same day, I was informed by Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, 
of the Porpoise, that George Reynolds, ordinary seaman, had died of 
chronic pneumonia ; the chaplain went on board and performed the 
last offices, in the afternoon. 
On the morning of the 24th we were off the northwest end of the 
island of Wytoohee, which lies in latitude 14° 09' 30" S., longitude 
141° 17' 50" W. Many canoes came off to the ship: as they 
approached the vessels, the natives were heard, while at some dis- 
tance, singing, and, as they drew near, the clamour increased, 
accompanied with much laughing, and many gesticulations; but 
none of them could be induced to come on board, and they were not 
willing to part with any thing but some pieces of old matting. An 
attempt was made to get some of their paddles, but they rather 
ridiculed the idea of parting with them. 
CAXOE OF WYTOOHEE. 
The canoes were quite small, being from twelve to fifteen feet long. 
They generally contained two and sometimes three natives. Each 
canoe had an out-rigger, and a projecting point, both before and 
behind, by which they get into them from the water. They are 
