56 



OVOLAU. 



command of her. The Peacock and Flying-Fish were now ordered 

 to prepare for sea with all despatch. 



I must confess I felt great anxiety for the safety of our parties in 

 the boats, and issued the foregoing orders very particularly, in order 

 to avoid all misapprehension, and to leave as little as possible to the 

 discretion of the officers who had charge of the boats. They were all 

 well armed, and the boats were provided with boarding-nettings ; for 

 I felt satisfied that any inattention or want of care would inevitably 

 lead to the destruction, if not of the whole, at least some of the party : 

 the accident that had recently occurred to the tender of the Leonidas, 

 showed that the least degree of confidence reposed in the natives was 

 attended with great risk, and that so treacherous a people were not to 

 be trusted under any circumstances. A departure from these instruc- 

 tions, and an undue confidence, res id ting from having for a long time 

 escaped the many dangers encountered, was, I regret to say, the cause 

 of the loss we met with before leaving this group, and taught, when 

 too late, the necessity of obeying strictly the orders of their com- 

 manding officer, whether absent or present. 



On the 12th, whilst engaged at the observatory, the canoe of Tanoa, 

 the King of Ambau, was discovered rounding the southern point of 

 the island : it had a magnificent appearance, with its immense sail of 

 white mats ; the pennants streaming from its yard, denoted it at once 

 as belonging to some great chief. It was a fit accompaniment to the 



