CRUISE OF THE PORPOISE. 285 



On the 12th, they made the island of San Pablo, in latitude 19° 

 56' S., longitude 145° W. This island is higher than those just 

 mentioned : it has several cocoa-nut groves, and natives were seen 

 on the island. No opening was observed into its lagoon. 



Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold now lay-to, for the purpose of 

 communicating with the natives the next day. In the morning early, 

 several of them were seen fishing, and others on the beach, who fled 

 at the approach of the brig ; but on being hailed by one of the natives 

 on board, they came from their hiding-places, bringing down cocoa- 

 nuts, and showing a disposition to communicate. Lieutenant-Com- 

 mandant Ringgold went towards the shore in his boat, with some 

 presents : on the beach he found three men, with five women and a 

 number of children. An old and very savage-looking chief made 

 signs for them not to land, threatening them with spears if this was 

 attempted. Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold threw them some 

 presents, and received in return a few cocoa-nuts and two large fish, 

 the smallest of which measured five feet two inches in length, and 

 its greatest circumference was four feet four inches. These proved 

 to be excellent food. They were remarliable for their splendid 

 colour, the great size of the canine teeth in each jaw, and a large 

 protuberance over the eyes ; the head was without scales, the body 

 being covered with large circular plates, over which the epidermis 

 was very thick and of a rich blue colour, with regular concentric 

 stripes of yellowish white; the fins and tail were striped with 

 straight lines of alternate blue and yellow; the lips were fleshy, 

 and the jaws strong and bony. 



The men were of the dark-skinned race, resembling the Feejeeans, 

 of fine form, and crispy hair, with crowns of matting on their heads : 

 the old man had a silvery beard. They would not permit our people 

 to land, and on an attempt being made by a Sandwich Islander, they 

 stood prepared to spear him. Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, 

 wishing to avoid collision, ordered him to return. 



After searching round this locality for other islands, the Porpoise 

 steered to the northward, for the island of Aratica (Carlshoff). On 

 the 15th they made the island of Tahanea : its south end is a bare 

 reef, but there are trees on the east and west sides. Fires were seen 

 after dark on the island. This, like all the other islands, has small 

 islets around it, connected by low coral reefs, over which the sea in 

 places washes. 



Passing in sight of Saken, Raraka, and Taiara, they made Aratica 

 on the 18th, where they found the party all well, and at once began to 



VOL. IV. 72 



