TYE AND SUALIB. 275 



of keeping on one's guard for fear of surprise was not a little 

 harassing, and made my anxiety for the parties very great. The 

 more knowledge I obtained of the natives, the less was I disposed to 

 trust them. 



The Waia Islanders are said to be quite independent of any 

 authority except that of their own chiefs. All endeavours made to 

 subjugate them have proved unavailing ; and they keep themselves 

 retired within their own fastnesses, avoiding communication with the 

 other natives, except when they occasionally make an incursion, with 

 a strong force, on the defenceless towns of other islands. From their 

 cruel conduct on these expeditions, they have obtained, even from their 

 cannibal neighbours, the name of savages. The island is said to be 

 fruitful, but I can hardly credit the assertion, for it seems little better 

 than a craggy rock ; it is thought to contain three thousand inhabi- 

 tants. It is surrounded by a few patches of coral reef, but not enough 

 to afford it a harbour. The western sides of the islands are very much 

 worn by the sea, in consequence of there being no sea-reef to protect 

 them from the full swell of the ocean, in the storms which at certain 

 seasons rage here with violence. 



Observatory Peak is one of the many detached peaks which are 

 found in this and the other islands, of which the engraving will give 

 a very good idea. 



The observations from Observatory Peak were quite satisfactory, 

 for we were fortunate in having very clear weather, so that we had 

 all the objects under view that we desired. The height of this peak 

 was found to be about five hundred and fifty-five feet. 



In the afternoon, I made for Vomo, and anchored under it. Here I 

 found Lieutenant Emmons, on his return from his examinations of 

 some detached reefs. 



The southern half of Vomo has a high, narrow, and almost per- 

 pendicular bluff; the northern half is sand, covered with a thick 

 growth of bushes, the resort of many pigeons : it is two miles in 

 circumference. There is a detached rock, of a somewhat castellated 

 appearance, at its northwest end, which I called Castle Rock. There 

 is anchorage for a small vessel, but in any thing of a gale even she 

 would be badly protected. 



Messrs. Sinclair and Eld were sent at early daylight to the top of 

 the rocky bluff, to get a round of angles, in which they succeeded. I 

 passed the greatest part of the day on the beach, making the usual 



