TYE AND SUALIB. 273 



in great dread for a long time, but desperation drove them to seek his 

 abode on this rock, where they were so fortunate as to find the bird 

 asleep on its nest, and killed it. 



Tau-tha-ke was found to be seven hundred and eighty-one feet in 

 height. 



The boats' crews pitched their tents on shore for the night, near the 

 schooner's anchorage. During our visit to Tau-tha-ke, although the 

 natives appeared friendly, and were powerless from the late depreda- 

 tions, I thought it necessary to get the chief safe on board the tender as 

 a hostage. I found him very ready to comply, for they were always 

 sure of receiving presents when the time was up. After we returned 

 on board, he remained during the evening, when we sent up some of 

 our "fiery spirits," which greatly astonished him. He seemed to be 

 more intelligent than the others we had met with. Through the 

 interpreter I asked him several questions ; among others, what would 

 become of him and his people when they died. The answer was 

 quickly given, " That it would be the last of him and them ; that 

 there were some foolish people, who thought they would live in some 

 other world ; but they were very ignorant, and there were very few 

 who thought in this way." 



The next morning the boats were ordered to survey and sound out 

 Ya-sau-y-lau Harbour, and thence to go on beyond the island of Na- 

 viti, passing those of Androna and Yangata. All these islands have 

 passages between them, and are little incommoded with coral reefs. 

 Some of them rise to a considerable height, that of Naviti being nine 

 hundred and fifty-four feet high. They all have many small villages 

 on them, which are generally built on a snug bay, and have near 

 them a secure place of retreat on the top of some inaccessible rock. 

 I had expected to find anchorage and a good position for observing at 

 Naviti, but none was accessible. 



Just to the south of Naviti, is an island, the name of which I 

 could not obtain, and which I subsequently called Eld Island, 

 after Passed Midshipman Eld. To three others near it I gave 

 the names of Fox, Agate, and Sinclair. Eld Island was found to 

 be adapted to my purposes. We ascended its peak, and obtained 

 the requisite observations. I then despatched the tender to bring 

 up the boats. 



During the absence of the tender, we discovered three or four 

 canoes with a number of natives concealed just around the bluff of 

 the next island. These natives were watching our motions very 



vol. in. 69 



