LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 191 



shore. Mr. Sinclair having conjectured that I had received erroneous 

 information respecting the distance to Savu-savu, returned to this 

 point to pick us up before dark, and finding an opening in the reef 

 sufficient for small vessels, we took advantage of it to join the tender. 

 I at first intended to anchor in this little harbour for the night ; but 

 when I reflected how necessary it was for me to return to Levuka, 

 I determined, after getting on board, to take advantage of the strong 

 breeze, and push direct for Ovolau, and at ten o'clock the next morn- 

 inof anchored at Levuka, where I found all well. 



The Starling had sailed for Rewa with the rudder-pintles of the 

 Peacock, which Lieutenant Underwood had succeeded in getting; 

 and having heard that Captain Belcher was still at Rewa, I deter- 

 mined to visit it, for the double purpose of seeing if we could afford 

 him any further facility, and getting observations for latitude and 

 meridian distance, as well as effecting a comparison with my intensity 

 needles. 



Having transferred Lieutenant Case to the Vincennes, Assistant- 

 Surgeon Fox and Midshipman Henry joined the tender, and at noon 

 we were again under way for Rewa, where we anchored at 9 p. m. 

 I had the pleasure of finding Captain Belcher there. He was on the 

 eve of sailing, having nearly completed the repairs of his ship, and 

 was making his last series of observations. We had many agreeable 

 topics to converse upon. 



The Starling had sailed for Mbenga a few days before, whither the 

 Sulphur was to go to join her. Captain Belcher sailed the next 

 evening ; and the following day the tender was hauled in close to the 

 beach of the island of Nukalau, in order to protect the spot where we 

 were observing throughout the day, and guard against surprise upon 

 us by the chiefs of Rewa, which place was but a few miles from us. 

 The Rev. Mr. Hunt went to Rewa, and I had the pleasure of a visit 

 from the Rev. Messrs. Cargill and Jagger, the missionaries. 



I was not a little amused at Captain Belcher's account of the effect 

 of the regulations as operating upon his vessel. The chiefs required 

 him to pay port-charges, and in default thereof refused to give him 

 any supplies. In drawing up the Rules and Regulations for the 

 trade, it had never occurred to me to mention men-of-war as being 

 free, feeling assured that they would all very readily give five times 

 the amount of the articles required in presents. But it appears that 

 Captain Belcher did not think proper to make the customary present, 

 and the chiefs refused to allow any supplies to go to his vessel until 

 he should comply with the rules. This incensed the captain, and 



