TYE AND SUALIB. 267 



deemed the weather too fine to lose ; so the survey of the straits was 

 continued, and many of its reefs and sunken patches determined. 

 The next day was similarly employed. 



On the 6th, the Porpoise reached Somu-somu, where they found 

 the missionaries all well ; but the town was nearly deserted, as the 

 kins' and chiefs had gone to a distant town to a feast. 



The Porpoise experienced here the same gale of wind we had at 

 Mbua Bay, from the 7th until the 11th. On the 10th, it having 

 abated a little, Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold started for Rambe 

 with the launch in tow, intending to despatch the boats inside the 

 reef, down the north side of Vanua-levu, agreeably to my orders. On 

 reaching the open straits he found that it still blew a gale, and he 

 was obliged to run for shelter under the northwest side of Kea, an 

 island on the Vanua-levu side of the straits. This place they termed 

 Port Safety, having run imminent risk in reaching it. The weather 

 continuing boisterous, the time was usefully employed under the lee 

 of the island, in examining the bay, reef, and island, officers being 

 sent to the different points to determine its height, and connect it 

 with the other stations that were in sight from its top. Dr. Holmes 

 was one of the number who went on a botanical excursion, and after 

 reaching the top with the party, he set out to return alone. An 

 adventure then befell him, which will be better told in his own words, 

 which I extract from his journal. 



" I started alone to return, intending to deviate a little from time to 

 time from the direct path, to collect a few botanical specimens. I 

 had walked a short distance only, when I struck off into a fine cocoa- 

 nut grove, and pursued my new path so long, that I was puzzled to 

 retrace my steps. At length I thought I had succeeded, and reached 

 the beach. The form of the island is peculiar ; it is narrow, and 

 along its central part runs a long range of hills, whose sides are 

 covered with a thick tall hedge and underbrush, so densely as to 

 make it impossible to cross from one side to the other, except by 

 paths with which I was of course unacquainted. I pursued my 

 course along the beach for an hour or two quite cheerfully, expecting 

 every moment to see the brig ; but as I rounded point after point with 

 quick steps and anxious eye, no vessel appeared, and I was fain to 

 push on again for some more distant promontory, promising myself 

 that there my walk was to end. After spending four hours in this 

 manner, my strength began to fail, and I was forced to believe I was 

 on the opposite side of the island to that where the brig was anchored. 



