OVOLAU. 55 



The surprise of the natives was extremely great to find a village or 

 town as they called it, erected in a few hours, and everj thing in 

 order : the guards on post to prevent all intrusion most excited their 

 curiosity. 



All the necessary arrangements having been made, the launch and 

 first cutter of the Vincennes, under Lieutenants Alden, Knox, Mid- 

 shipman Henry, and Assistant-Surgeon Whittle, were despatched to 

 survey the north shore of Viti-levu ; the launch and first cutter of the 

 Peacock, under Lieutenant Emmons, Passed Midshipman Blunt, and 

 Mr. Dyes, to examine and survey the south shore, visiting Viwa, 

 Ambau, and Rewa, the missionary posts : Chaplain Elliott was of the 

 latter party, that he might be enabled to gather information from these 

 establishments; pilots, who acted as interpreters, were sent with 

 both. Orders, of which the following is an extract, were issued to 

 the officers in writing, in relation to the natives, pointing out to them 

 the necessity of watchfulness. 



" Yoir will observe the following instructions very particularly, and 

 in no case depart from them, unless it is for the preservation of your 

 party. 



" 1st. You will avoid landing any where on the main land or 

 islands, unless the latter should be uninhabited. 



" 2d. Every precaution must be observed in treating with these 

 natives, and no native must be suffered to come alongside or near 

 your boats, without your boarding-nettings being up ; all trading 

 must be carried on over the stern of your boat, and your arms and 

 howitzers ready to repel attack. 



"3d. You will avoid any disputes with them, and never be off 

 your guard, or free from suspicion; they are in no case to be trusted. 



" 4th. Your two boats must never be separated at night, but an- 

 chored as close together as possible. 



"You will always keep the boats within signal distance of each 

 other, separating them in cases of extreme necessity only for a short 

 time." 



These and other instructions will be found in Appendix III. 



The Flying-Fish now made her appearance, to my great relief. Her 

 delays had been owing to her having run (on the 8th, the night after 

 she parted company with us), through carelessness, on the reef off the 

 island of Nairai, in fine moonlight, with the reef full in view; here 

 she remained some hours, having had a narrow escape from total 

 wreck ; she, however, only lost a part of her false keel. Lieutenant 

 Carr, the first-lieutenant of the Vincennes, was immediately put in 



