CHAPTER III. 



T U T U I L A. 

 1839. 



On the 29th, at daylight, having the wind from the northward and 

 eastward, we got under way, and made sail to the westward, passing 

 the Society Island Group : viz., Sir Charles Saunders' Isle, Huaheine, 

 Tahaa, Borabora, Maufili, and Moutoiti. All of these, with the excep- 

 tion of the last, are high lands. 



On the 30th of September, we made Bellinghausen's Island, which 

 is a low coral island, similar to those which have been already 

 described. It was uninhabited, and is of a triangular form, with the 

 usual vegetation, with the exception of cocoa-nut palms. We landed 

 upon it, and made the magnetic experiments. 



Birds were in great plenty, and as tame as we had found them at 

 other uninhabited islands we had visited. No lizards or rats were 

 observed, nor was the common fly seen. The lagoon had no passage 

 into it at low water, but the tide flowed into it over the reef. 



During the time of our stay on the island, the tide rose and fell 

 upwards of two feet, and it was high water at 8 a. m. Many speci- 

 mens of fish were obtained here, of which the department of Natural 

 History will treat. 



In the afternoon, we again made sail to the westward, for Rose 

 Island, and on the 6th we passed near the locality of the Royal 

 George Shoal, but saw nothing of it. 



On the 7th, which was the day appointed for our rendezvous off 

 Rose Island, we came in sight of it, and at the same time descried 

 the Porpoise. That vessel had passed by Nairsa or Dean's Island, and 

 connected the survey of it with that of Krusen stern's and Lazareff. 



