LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 195 



in size to Toaloa. The Cobu Rock is a singular one. It is inacces- 

 sible on three sides, of volcanic formation, and is enclosed by the 

 Mothea Reef, which here spreads to the width of about three miles, 

 and extends four miles farther south, where it forms a rounded point. 

 The eastern side is an unbroken reef, but the western is somewhat 

 irregular and broken, with many openings for boats. 



Lieutenant Underwood ascended the Cobu Rock, for the purpose 

 of obtaining angles ; and, after observing these with his instrument, 

 turning to take the compass's bearing, discovered a remarkable effect 

 of local attraction. So great was this, as to cause a deviation of thir- 

 teen and a quarter points ; Nairai, which was directly to the north, 

 bearing, by compass, southeast-by-south one quarter south, while, 

 what was quite remarkable, at the foot of the rock, near the water, 

 the same compass gave the bearing north, agreeing with that taken 

 from the opposite bearing on Point Musilana. 



They next fixed the southern point of Mothea Reef. This has 

 obtained the name of the Eliza Reef, from the loss of the brig of that 

 name in 1809. On that occasion a large amount of dollars fell into 

 the hands of the natives, who fished them up from the water. They 

 were afterwards traded off to the whites, some of whom told me they 

 yet occasionally saw a native wearing one as a kind of medal ; but 

 none fell under our notice. This accident brought the notorious 

 rascal Charley Savage among them. 



They now steered for the northeast point of Angau, whence the 

 reef extends off one mile and a half, and has no deep water inside of 

 it. It was, therefore, difficult to find a place where they could 

 anchor the boats, but at last they found anchorage off the town of 

 Vione, which is concealed from view by the mangrove bushes that 

 line the shores of this island for several miles. Angau is much larger 

 and higher than either Ambatiki or Nairai. 



They found the natives of Angau much more shy than they were 

 at either of the other islands. Whippy landed and chased one of 

 them into the woods, before he could make him understand that he 

 was the great Maticum Ambau of whom they had heard so much. 

 On its becoming known to them, they became reconciled, and took 

 the provisions on shore to cook them. 



The reef continues round the east side, close to the island. There 

 are several openings in it, but none that offer a fit place for a 

 vessel to anchor. As the south side is approached, the reef extends 

 off several miles, and the water upon it is so shoal that even the boats 



