336 PAUMOTU GROUP. 
very troublesome to the natives. This island has some Cocoa-nut, 
Bread-fruit, and Pandanus trees; the Pisonia, Tournefortia, and the 
shrubs that are common to the low islands, also grow upon it. 
The huts of the natives scarcely deserve the name ; they are merely 
four or five poles, with both ends stuck in the ground, forming an 
arch on which strips are tied, and over these the leaves of the cocoa- 
nut, mats, and grass are laid. They are about six or eight feet long, 
four feet high, and about five feet wide, barely sufficient to keep out 
the sun, and entirely useless as a protection from rain. 
J*} 
-" .'" 
NATIVE HUT. 
Their utensils are small, and seemed ill adapted to their use. 
Their baskets were suspended from the tops of their huts and from 
trees. The natives seemed destitute of tapa. No anchorage was 
found at this island. 
At nightfall the squadron was put under short sail, supposing that 
the current by the morning would take us to the leeward near 
Otooho, a distance of ten miles. It lies west-northwest of Wytoohee, 
distant twelve and one-third miles, and is distinctly seen from it, like 
a round knoll. This appearance is owing to the trees upon it, for the 
land is as low as coral islands usually are. We found by the morn- 
ing, that the current had been about one mile per hour to the west, 
and therefore much stronger than I anticipated. We were in conse- 
quence some distance to leeward of the island. With the light wind, 
I knew the ship could not reach the island before the afternoon. I 
immediately sent the naturalists on board the tender Flying-Fish, 
and gave Lieutenant Pinckney orders to endeavour to land them, and 
to pass around the island and survey it; neither of which he suc- 
ceeded in doing. The survey was finally completed by the boats of 
the Vincennes and Peacock. The naturalists endeavoured to effect a 
landing, but were opposed by some dozen natives, who were resolute 
in preventing them from going beyond the water's edge; in other 
respects they were disposed to be quite friendly. 
