76 TUTUILA. 



stormy weather ; the least depth of water found on it was four and 

 a half fathoms : the depth increases to the eastward, towards the island 

 of Anuu. 



As we arrived off the harbour the -wind grew light, and finally 

 came out ahead, thus compelling us to beat in to our anchorage, 

 under the direction of Edmund Foxall, a white pilot. He usually 

 comes off to vessels when within two or three miles of the harbour, on 

 a signal being made. We made many tacks before we reached our 

 anchorage, which was in deep water, twenty-nine fathoms. About 

 half a mile from the entrance of the harbour, it bends at right angles. 

 In this position, surrounded by cliffs, the firing of a gun produces a 

 remarkable reverberation, resembling loud peals of thunder. 



We were surrounded as soon as we entered, by a large number of 

 canoes, filled with natives, who all seemed delighted with the ship 

 and the number of men on board. When we had moored, one of 

 the principal chiefs, whose name was Toa, was admitted on board ; 

 he was an athletic, muscular man, of large frame, about forty 

 years of age, with a pleasant expression of countenance; he mani- 

 fested great pleasure in welcoming us. He began by telling me, 

 through the interpreter, that he was a missionary; that he had 

 formerly been a great thief, and a doer of many bad acts, but being 

 now a missionary, he was reformed and stole no more. He told this 

 with such an open expression of countenance and so much simplicity, 

 that I could scarcely forbear smiling. After I had finished asking him 

 questions, he continued eyeing me from head to foot, as if deter- 

 mining my dimensions. I told the interpreter to ask him why he 

 looked at me so intently. He replied, that he had a coat on shore that 

 was too tight for him about the arms and chest, and he believed it 

 would fit me : if so, he should be glad to exchange it for the jacket 

 I had on. Not being inclined to this exchange, I ordered a small 

 hatchet to be given him. This gratified him much, and he instantly 

 went over the ship's side to show it to his friends. This same Toa is 

 chief of the village of Fungasar, about three miles distant from the 

 harbour, on the north side of the island. He learns to read and write, 

 beino; taught bv some of the small children, and attends school regru- 

 larly. He became of great use to us, and was a constant visiter. 

 During one of his visits on board, he espied some red umbrellas 

 among the presents, and from that time was continually endeavouring 

 to obtain one for his wife, and brought many articles in the hope of 

 inducing us to part with it in exchange for them. 



The day after our arrival a place was chosen for our observatory, 



