070 TYE AND SUALIB. 



risk, but I would not advise any one to try this route, as there is a 

 free and good channel lying in a direct line from Mbua Bay to 

 Yendua. 



We passed through a narrow entrance in the reef into a very pretty 

 harbour, which I have called Porpoise Harbour ; its form is that of a 

 large segment of a circle, about one mile and a half deep, and a mile 

 in width. It lies open to the southeast, but has a double reef protect- 

 ing it; the entrance is on the east side. This harbour was surveyed 

 by the boats of the Porpoise and the tender. 



Yendua may be said to be divided into two islands, having a boat- 

 passage between them ; both are composed of a black volcanic con- 

 glomerate, and the hills are covered witb large boulders of lava. I 

 landed at once for observations, tents being pitched for the boats' 

 crews. The next morning, Lieutenant Underwood again joined me 

 in the Leopard, and we passed the day on shore, observing for time 

 and latitude. The other officers were variously employed in survey- 

 ing, and some ascended the peak, and succeeded in getting a round 

 of angles on the distant peaks. The day was remarkably clear. 

 Round Island and the Asaua Group were also in sight. 



There is but one village and only about thirty inhabitants on these 

 islands ; very few of the latter are males. Gingi, the noted chief 

 of Muthuata, had passed by a few months before, on his way to the 

 Asaua Group. Having demanded a large quantity of provisions, 

 yams and taro, which it was impossible to supply, as the hurricane 

 of the preceding March had destroyed all the crops, he landed and 

 murdered all the men, women, and children that could be found. 



The anchorage and bays on the west side were all explored, par- 

 ticularly those parts that Lieutenant Emmons, from want of time, 

 had been unable to effect ; but they were of minor importance. The 

 anchorage in the western bays is not good, as they are so much filled 

 with coral patches, as to make it difficult to find a clear berth for a 

 ship. The island is about twelve miles in circumference. The ebb 

 tide was found setting to the southward and westward. 



Having finished the observations I designed making here, prepara- 

 tions were made for an early start in the morning. The boats re- 

 ceived orders to pass at once over to the Asaua Group, while the brig 

 and tender ran down the reef towards Awakalo or Round Island. 



I landed on Round Island in time to secure my observations. The 

 shelf on which we landed was found to be of black conglomerate, 



