CHAPTER II. 



TAHITI AND E I M E O. 

 18 39. 



The Porpoise, having been refitted, was sent to sea on the 20th 

 September, for the purpose of again visiting the west end of Nairsa 

 or Dean's Island, with Krusenstern's and Lazareff. She was also 

 ordered to pass over the supposed locality of Recreation Island, and 

 then to meet the Vincennes at Rose Island, the easternmost of the 

 Samoan or Navigator's Group.* 



A stormy evening having occurred previous to our leaving Matavai 

 Bay, "Jim," the pilot, desired to see me; on his coming into the 

 cabin, to my great amusement, he urged me to allow him to go to 

 Papieti, where he was sure he would be wanted ; and when I asked 

 for what purpose, he told me that the "thunder and lightning would 

 bring in ships of war." He was displeased when I laughed and said, 

 that as he was engaged on board my ship, I would wait until I 

 saw the ships before I could give him permission. He then reminded 

 me of the night before we arrived, when there was plenty of thunder 

 and lightning, and that he had told me as soon as he came on board 

 that he expected us. He went on to repeat that he was sure that 

 they would want him early in the morning at Papieti, but I persisted 

 in my refusal; and in the morning he appeared much disconcerted 

 to find that there was nothing in sight out of which he could make 

 a ship of war. 



The surveys of the four harbours of Matavai, Papaoa, Toanoa, and 

 Papieti, had been, as stated in the preceding chapter, commenced 

 soon after our arrival; they had made considerable progress before 



* A copy of the orders will be found in Appendix III. 



VOL. II. 1 1 



