156 SOMU-SOMU. 



mined to proceed to Ovolau, by passing close to the Mothea Reef, off 

 the southern point of Nairai. On the 25th, the tender anchored at 

 Levuka. On receiving Lieutenant Carr's report, I immediately 

 despatched him to survey the passage round the western side of 

 Ovolau. The eastern portion, together with the harbour of Levuka, 

 had already been completed by the Vincennes. Lieutenant Carr had, 

 in the performance of this duty, reached the island of Moturiki, when 

 the time allotted for the purpose had expired. He accordingly left 

 the two boats under Lieutenant Underwood, to complete the remain- 

 ing part of the work, which occupied them two days, during which 

 time, it appears, from Passed Midshipman May's account, they had 

 another narrow escape from disaster, under the following circum- 

 stances. The night the boats left the tender, they imprudently 

 landed on the island of Moturiki, where they unloaded their boats, 

 allowing the natives to help them up, and then removed all the things 

 out of them up to the mbure, although there was reason to apprehend, 

 from their conduct, that mischief was meditated. They deemed it 

 necessary to have sentinels posted, and all the men remained with their 

 arms by their side. The natives, before ten o'clock, had dispersed, 

 except ten or fifteen, who were seemingly on the watch. These were 

 discovered passing in some clubs, which were secretly laid by a log. 

 Lieutenant Underwood then determined to compel them all to quit 

 the house, which they did, going out in rather a sulky manner. 

 The moment the tide floated the boats, it was thought necessary to 

 load them and shove off. They then anchored, and passed the 

 remainder of the night in them. The next night, for greater safety, 

 they sought shelter from the rain and wet under the rocks, which 

 caused them much difficulty in lighting their fires. This was not 

 overcome until their old native guide took the tinder, and, ascending 

 a tall cocoa-nut tree to the fronds, quickly returned with a blazing 

 torch. Having finished the survey of that part of the Moturiki Pas- 

 sage assigned them, they returned to the ship at Levuka. 



The island of Moturiki is almost in contact with that of Ovolau to 

 the south of it. The same reef extends around both of them, and 

 there is no passage between them, except for boats and canoes. A 

 large square castellated rock lies midway between them, called Lau- 

 dolib, of which there is a tradition, that Ndengei was bringing it to 

 block up the big passage of Moturiki, which, according to the natives, 

 leads to his dominions, but being overtaken by daylight he dropped 

 it where it now lies. 



