230 M B U A BAY AND MUTHUATA. 



mates, which give it a peculiar aspect. The quiet and hallowed 

 appearance was well calculated to keep up the impression that their 

 priests have made upon them. 



On the 11th, the Peacock again got under way, and passed along 

 between the shore and reefs. Here large schools of fish were passed 

 through, apparently of two kinds, a small and larger one, of which the 

 former leaped entirely out of the water. 



By the persuasion of the pilot, Captain Hudson was induced to 

 attempt an outer passage, that the pilot thought existed round the 

 island of Anganga; but after getting on coral knolls twice, Captain 

 Hudson returned to the inshore channel, leading towards Ruke-ruke 

 Bay, which is the next beyond Mbua. 



There is a high and insulated peak north of Dimba-dimba Point, 

 which has a town perched on its very top. 



The bay of Ruke-ruke has a reef across its mouth, leaving only a 

 narrow ship-channel into it. They anchored under Ivaca Peak, a 

 high and bold bluff, whose height, by triangulation, is one thousand 

 five hundred and sixty-three feet. On its top is also a town. The 

 island of Anganga is immediately opposite to this peak. To the 

 passage between them Captain Hudson proposed to give the name of 

 Monkey-Face Passage, in consequence of one of the rocks having a 

 remarkable resemblance to the face of that animal. 



They visited the village of Wailea, now containing only fifty 

 persons. A few years since most of the former inhabitants were 

 exterminated by the warriors of Ambau, who frequently make excur- 

 sions thus far. 



On the 12th, they were under way at an early hour, and soon after 

 passed the rock where Captain Dillon's adventure occurred. Captain 

 Egleston, of the Leonidas, came on board, and piloted them to Naloa 

 Bay. The Leonidas saluted the Peacock with nine guns, which it 

 was regretted could not be returned except by cheers, for the chro- 

 nometers forbade all unnecessary firing. To Captain Egleston the 

 squadron is much indebted, and it affords me great pleasure to make 

 my acknowledgments to him for his attentions and assistance ren- 

 dered the service we were upon. I am also indebted to him for some 

 observations relative to the gales that have occurred among these 

 islands, which will be spoken of in another place. 



Captain Egleston was engaged in taking the biche de mar, some- 

 times known as the sea-slug. The animal belongs to the genus 

 Holothuria, and the prepared article finds a ready sale in the China 



