LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 205 



of Nemena, or Direction Isle. In the afternoon we got under way, 

 and stood over to the northward for Savu-savu on the island of 

 Vanua-levu. The wind was quite light when we passed out of the 

 reef, on the opposite side to that where we had entered it. I had 

 previously sent two boats to examine the passage, and anchor in the 

 deepest water. We approached the passage with a light air, having 

 all sail set, but had very little headway. The water was perfectly 

 clear, and the rocks, and fish, with the bottom and keel of the ship, 

 were plainly visible ; when we got in the passage, the officer in the 

 boat told me that the keel looked as if in contact with the coral ; the 

 lead, however, gave three fathoms, one and a half feet to spare. It 

 was a little exciting for twenty minutes, but we did not touch. If we 

 had, the ship, in all probability, would have been a wreck ; for, as 

 the tide was falling, she would have hung on the coral shelf, and 

 been but partly supported by it. This is the great danger attendant 

 on the navigation of this group, as indeed of all coral islands. 



We were becalmed during the whole night ; and the next morning, 

 finding the calm still continued, I took to my boat, directing Lieu- 

 tenant Carr to steer in for the bay when he got a breeze, supposing it 

 would set in at the ordinary time, eleven o'clock. I landed on a 

 small islet, about six miles from the place where I left the ship, and 

 near the mouth of the bay. To reach the islet we pulled in over the 

 reef, which had on it about four feet of water. The islet was com- 

 posed of scoriaceous lava, much worn, and about twelve feet above the 

 coral shelf. Here I established myself, and was busy securing my 

 observations, when I discovered that my boat was aground, and that 

 the tide was still falling. The islet as well as the reef became dry. 

 It was not long before we observed the shadow of natives projecting 

 from a rock about fifty yards from us, who it now appeared were 

 watching us closely ; and not long after not less than fifty shadows 

 were seen in different directions. I at once ordered all the arms and 

 ammunition to be brought up on the top, and made our situation as 

 defensible as possible, for I had little doubt if they saw that we were 

 unprepared they would attack us. The firing of one or two guns, 

 and the show that we were all on our guard, at once caused a change 

 in their intentions towards us, which they manifested by bringing 

 articles of trade. 



The natives of this part of the group are considered by the rest as 

 the most savage, and have seldom been visited by the whites. The 

 afternoon came ; and the ship not having made much progress, I 



vol. in. 52 



