204 L A K E M B A AND S A V U - S A V U. 



way across, we saw a school of sperm whales. These begin to fre- 

 quent the seas around these islands in the month of July, are most 

 plenty in August and September, and continue about the reefs 

 and islands four or five months. I am informed that they are fre- 

 quently seen from the town of Levuka, near the harbour and adjacent 

 reefs. It seems remarkable that the natives of these islands, who 

 value whales' teeth so highly, should have devised no means of taking 

 the animal that yields them, although it frequents their seas for three 

 or four months in the year. The chiefs, of whom I inquired, seemed 

 to show an ignorance upon the subject that I was a little surprised at. 

 Although daring navigators in other respects, they showed a great 

 difficulty in comprehending the mode of capturing whales. Their 

 canoes would not be adapted to this object, being easily overturned, 

 and, as yet, they have but little intercourse with whale-ships. It was 

 nearly four o'clock when we reached the passage and passed through. 

 Out of either gangway a biscuit could have been tossed on the reef; 

 there is not room for two vessels to pass. Tom could not help con- 

 gratulating me and himself that we had got through in safety. Three 

 miles more brought us to the anchorage. The weather being per- 

 fectly clear, and all the peaks of Ovolau and the other islands to the 

 south in sight, I determined to take advantage of it. I therefore had 

 my boat lowered, and, as soon as the ship dropped her anchor, pulled 

 for the shore, where I reached the station I had before occupied when 

 in the tender, and succeeded in getting all the observations I desired. 



Before leaving the ship, I had ordered Lieutenant Alden and 

 Passed Midshipman Colvocoressis, with two boats, to join the tender, 

 and proceed to the survey of Koro and the Horseshoe Reef. On 

 my return on board, I was surprised to see her returning, and ascer- 

 tained that they did not think she could get through the reefs, on 

 account of the darkness. I immediately sent boats to assist her 

 through with lights, for I did not think the alleged impediment a suffi- 

 cient one to prevent her. She had been familiarly nicknamed by the 

 crew as " The Night-Hawk." By this aid she got through, and, in 

 consequence, they were off Koro the next morning, ready to begin 

 the survey. Thus, much time was saved by a little perseverance, 

 and a determination on my part to have the work executed. The 

 occurrence will serve to show the difficulties that frequently arose in 

 enforcing the strict observance of orders, by which a loss of time in- 

 compatible with the service we were upon was often sustained. 



The next day completed my observations and finished the survey 



