254 T Y E AND S U A L I B. 



charged with, and he had seen nothing of the shoal he had hefore 

 reported to me. On the same day I despatched Lieutenant Case and 

 Passed Midshipman Blunt, in the second cutter of the Peacock, 

 around the north side of the island of Vanua-levu, for the purpose 

 of falling in with the schooner Kai-viti, Passed Midshipman Harri- 

 son, and with directions to proceed with her to Somu-somu, and 

 there purchase a cargo of yams. Lieutenant Case had also orders, 

 on overtaking Lieutenant Walker, to relieve him, and to continue the 

 survey with which that officer was charged, as far as Somu-somu, 

 after which he was directed to return hy the south side of the island 

 of Vanua-levu, surveying and examining the harbours as he went 

 along. 



The Rev. Mr. Hunt took advantage of this opportunity to return to 

 his home. Notwithstanding it was raining and blowing a gale, I 

 could not delay this service any longer, particularly as I believed 

 that the gale would moderate before the cutter would reach the other 

 party, and that, as they would pass under the lee of the shore, they 

 would not be very much exposed to it. Necessity alone, however, 

 would have induced me to despatch a party in such weather. 



For a few days, at this time, every one was employed, who could 

 work, in repairing the boats, preparatory to the further examinations 

 which I contemplated making on the hourly-expected arrival of the 

 Porpoise. 



On the afternoon of the 12th, Lieutenant Perry arrived in the 

 launch, bringing with him Mr. Knox and the crew of the first cutter. 

 That boat had been captured, by the natives, at Sualib Bay, about 

 twenty-five miles to windward, on the same island. In this bay the 

 launch and first cutter had taken refuge during the bad weather, 

 although it offers indifferent accommodation. After being there two or 

 three days, they attempted to beat out, when the cutter, in trying to 

 go about, near the reef, missed stays and was thrown on it. At the 

 time this occurred, it was low water. The natives, who, it was sup- 

 posed by the party, had anticipated the accident, had followed along 

 the reef, and, as soon as it happened, crowded down, all well armed 

 with clubs, spears, stones, &c. Mr. Knox, finding it impossible to 

 get the boat off, thought of looking into his means of defence, and 

 found himself completely in the power of the natives, for all his 

 arms and ammunition were soaked with salt water. Lieutenant 

 Perry, finding that the launch could not make headway against the 

 wind and sea, had anchored at long gun-shot from the spot where the 



