158 SOMU-SOMU. 



been at Wallis Island (Uea), where the Roman Catholic missionaries 

 had succeeded in gaining over one half of the population. The Devil's 

 men had attacked the converts, and had laid a plan to cut off the 

 schooner. The missionaries, however, gave timely notice of it, and 

 the abrupt departure of the vessel was the only thing that saved her, 

 which the wind fortunately enabled her to accomplish, for a large 

 number of canoes had approached the vessel, and were waiting for a 

 reinforcement, when they intended to make the attack. The services 

 of the Catholic priests on board the Currency Lass not being required 

 by their brethren, they afterwards went to Hoorn Island, where they 

 were landed and kindly received by the natives. 



Not being able to spare the services of Lieutenant Carr as first 

 lieutenant, I transferred him to the Vincennes, and ordered Lieu- 

 tenant Case to the tender. Lieutenant Carr was put in charge of the 

 observatory, while Lieutenant Alden in the launch, and Mr. Knox in 

 the first cutter, were relieved by Lieutenant Perry and Mr. De Haven. 

 Both boats received new crews, and proceeded to survey the reefs 

 by Passage Island, and thence to Vanua-levu. I embarked in the 

 tender on the 3d of June, and by night anchored off Mbua or Sandal- 

 wood Bay, where I had appointed to meet the Peacock. We burnt 

 blue-lights and sent off rockets, but received no answer, and in the 

 morning found the ship had not arrived. 



I obtained sights on shore for the meridian distance, and stood into 

 the bay to examine it. This done, I anchored a buoy, with a sealed 

 bottle and flag attached to it, for Captain Hudson, containing further 

 instructions. In consequence of the delays he had met with, he had 

 not been able to reach the bay at the appointed time. I then re- 

 turned. The passage back was rather more difficult to make, for the 

 wind was ahead part of the way. In the afternoon, while beating up 

 (although we had Tom at the masthead), we grounded in the tender 

 between two coral knobs ; but, the tide rising, we were soon enabled 

 to get off, and towards evening we anchored under Rabe-rabe Point, 

 which offers a safe shelter. All vessels navigating among these 



OCT O 



islands, should anchor during the night, whenever it is possible to 

 do so. 



In the morning, at a seasonable hour, we reached Passage Island, 

 where I met Lieutenant Perry and Mr. De Haven by appointment. 

 Here I extended their orders. Having acquired a further knowledge 

 of the ground, and after observations for time and latitude, and a 

 round of angles, we again set out for Ovolau, leaving Lieutenant 



