160 SOMU-SOMU. 



bad, I put back and anchored in a snug bay, which I had called 

 Flying-Fish Harbour. This is on the west side of the island of 

 Wakaia, and has two passages through the reef to it, 



The next morning we again got under way, and stood for Nemena, 

 or Direction Island, where we anchored, after passing through a 

 narrow passage in its outlying reef. Direction Island forms two 

 high regular hills, covered with a dense foliage. It is not inhabited, 

 being only occasionally resorted to for turtles by the natives. 



On the 7th, we were engaged in the survey of the island and reef, 

 with the boats, while I fixed a station on its western summit, where I 

 passed the day observing for longitude and latitude and angles, on all 

 the points, peaks, and signals, in sight. 



In the evening, we sailed for Vuna Island. The wind was very 

 light, and we did not make much progress, but spent the greatest 

 part of the next day in getting up with the island. Not wishing to 

 be detained, I took my gig and pulled for Somu-somu, where I com- 

 municated with the missionaries, Messrs. Hunt and Lythe, who had 

 heard nothing of the Porpoise ; and as the townspeople were rather 

 uproarious, keeping a feast, I thought it advisable that I should repair 

 to the small island of Corolib, about a mile and a half from it in the 

 strait. Towards dark, not seeing any thing of the tender, and having 

 been supplied with some yams, &c, by the missionaries, I went to 

 the island to pass the night there. Its only inhabitants were goats, 

 which we drove from a cave, in which we built our fire, and made 

 ourselves comfortable for the night, keeping two men on guard to 

 prevent surprise. The tender did not reach the anchorage until late. 

 On anchoring, they made signals, but I was snug in the cave and did 

 not see or hear them, and of course they got no answer. Lieutenant 

 Case and the officers on board became uneasy, for there was shouting 

 and yelling on shore, with war-songs and dances, as at their cannibal 

 feasts; and it required but little imagination in the vicinity of such a 

 people as the Feejees, to give birth to the idea that we had been sur- 

 prised and cut off. They had their boarding-nettings triced up, and 

 spent a very uncomfortable night, At daylight, however, they dis- 

 covered the gig under Goat Island, and I joined them soon after. In 

 the forenoon I visited the missionaries, Messrs. Hunt and Lythe, with 

 their ladies. They were living in a large house, formerly occupied 

 by the king, called Tui Thakau. As he was an old man and in- 

 capable of moving about, I at once called upon him. He was a fine 



