MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 221 



two entrances, the largest of which T have named the Malolo Passage. 

 That to the eastward, which I called the Navula Passage, they passed 

 through, and anchored at night under the town of Navula. The 

 " Who would have thought it !" again joined their company. 



On the 26th, Lieutenant Emmons gained Ba, the point where his 

 work was to terminate, and be joined by that of the other parties. 

 On the 28th they went alongside of the Peacock, after having been 

 in the boats seventeen days. 



The Peacock now took the launch and cutter in tow, and began 

 beating up for the purpose of reaching the Malaki Islands, in order 

 to take a departure from Amboa Bay. 



The natives on this side of the island speak quite a different dialect 

 from that of the other portions of the group, and the interpreters were 

 not able to understand them at all. Few canoes were seen, and none 

 visited them. The land close to the shore is low, but it gradually 

 rises for five or six miles in hills from five to seven hundred feet in 

 height ; and here and there through the breaks may be seen the dis- 

 tant blue mountains, towering above them. 



While the ship was standing in towards Ba, the launch capsized 

 and sunk. At the time there were two men in her, by whose care- 

 lessness the accident occurred ; these were both picked up. Captain 

 Hudson immediately brought the Peacock to an anchor, lowered all 

 the boats, and made every possible exertion to recover the launch, 

 but without success. This was a great loss to our surveying opera- 

 tions, and compelled us to redouble our exertions. 



In the evening they anchored off Ba, where the ship Leonidas, 

 Captain Egleston, had been fishing for biche de mar. He had left 

 his long biche de mar house, which was deserted, but contrary to the 

 custom of persons in this business, had not been destroyed. A large 

 quantity of wood was found near it, which Captain Hudson supplied 

 himself from. This was the only house in the valley, but there are 

 several towns along this part of the coast, though it has not the ap- 

 pearance of being densely inhabited ; and the natives, who are usually 

 found following a vessel, seemed all to have vanished. Paddy Connel, 

 who was with the boats that landed, showed himself a true Feejee 

 man on the occasion, for finding the officers were desirous of having 

 communication with the natives, he ascended one of the hills, and 

 kept up a continuous hallooing in such a variety of voices that those 

 who were left on the beach, believed that a whole host was coming 

 down ; but he did not succeed in bringing any to the shore. 



vol. in. 56 



