186 LAKE MBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 



with the sea breaking over it. It is seven miles north-by-east from 

 Katafanga. Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold having understood 

 from Tubou that the reef around Munia enclosed, besides that island, 

 six others, and that there was a wide and safe passage through the 

 reef, determined, on coming up with it, to enter, which he did on its 

 southeast side. The islands, seven in number, were all of conside- 

 rable size ; Vanua-valavo, the largest of them, proved to be of a 

 serpentine shape, and fourteen miles in length ; each island had its 

 separate reef around its shore, and the whole were enclosed by a very 

 extensive reef, somewhat of the shape of a triangle, whose sides are 

 twenty-four miles in length. The large island is in no place more 

 than two miles wide ; it is situated along the western side of the 

 triangle, and contains many fine bays and safe anchorages. The 

 other islands are called Munia, Susui, Malatta, Ticumbia, and Osubu. 

 Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold gave to the cluster the name of 

 the Exploring Isles. 



Boats were dropped to survey the entrance, whilst the brig pro- 

 ceeded to her first anchorage under Munia, to which he gave the 

 name of Discovery Harbour. This anchorage was a good one, in 

 eight and a half fathoms water, with fine sandy bottom. In the 

 afternoon they landed, and, as they approached, they saw a number 

 of natives holding up a white flag, most of whom soon disappeared, 

 leaving only three or four in sight. The rest, as Tubou said, had con- 

 cealed themselves behind the rocks for the purpose of attacking the 

 boats. Corodowdow hailed them, on which they all appeared, and 

 confirmed the probability of Tubou's surmise, by being armed with 

 spears, clubs, bows, and arrows. They, however, at once showed 

 the utmost respect for the Ambau chief, crouching and stopping 

 when he walked past them, and walking half bent when in his 

 presence. 



The koro, or village, was situated some distance from the beach, 

 upon hills, which were covered with bread-fruit, cocoa-nut, and 

 banana trees. At the koro only two or three persons were found, 

 and these appeared to be much terrified; all the rest, men, women, 

 and children, had fled to the hills and bushes. This fear proved to 

 be occasioned by the presence of Tubou Totai, who acknowledged 

 that some years ago he had landed on this island and killed sixty 

 of the inhabitants, in consequence of their having destroyed a Tonga 

 canoe, with all on board. 



Tubou, in order to remove their apprehensions, made them a speech, 



