MALOLO. 321 



and there are several towns around the bay. Indeed, the north shore 

 of Vanua-levu appears to be well peopled. 



At 3 p. m., we were off the island of Mali, which is thinly inha- 

 bited. Native villages were seen on the high bluffs of the island. 

 Opposite to Mali is the Mali Passage, through which it was ray 

 intention to put to sea with the squadron, which I had, in conse- 

 quence, directed to meet me. As we proceeded to the place of ren- 

 dezvous, and before sunset of the 9th August, we met the remainder 

 of the squadron on their way to Mali, when I joined the Vincennes. 

 The wind failing soon after, we cast anchor. 



I now received the reports of the operations of the other vessels 

 during the time I had been separated from them. 



Under the direction of Captain Hudson, the bay of Mbua had 

 been again surveyed, with all its reefs. The work began on the 16th 

 July, and continued until the 21st As soon as it was concluded, 

 Captain Hudson proceeded with the Peacock to Muthuata. During 

 his absence a tent was set up at Lecumba Point, for the accommo- 

 dation of the sick, who were sent on shore. The case which rendered 

 this more particularly needful, was that of J. Baxter, the second mate 

 of the Leonidas, who, as has been stated, had been badly burnt with 

 gunpowder on the 29th June. His wounds were so severe, that from 

 the first the surgeon entertained bat little hope of his recovery, and 

 he did not long survive. Before his decease he disclosed his real 

 name, that of Baxter being an assumed one. He was a native of 

 France, about thirty years of age, and his true name was Vincent 

 Boudet. 



Our officers and naturalists, during their stay at Mbua, had several 

 opportunities of making short excursions into the country. 



They found a considerable difference in the vegetation since their 

 former visit, about five weeks before. Many plants, of which there 

 were then no signs, were now in full bloom. Several of these were 

 very showy, among which were the willow-leaved acacia, a species of 

 callistemon with scarlet flowers, &c. They also met with a new 

 species of iron-wood, (Casuarina,) which is a tree of upright growth, 

 thirty feet high, with a dense green top ; its cones are large and 

 terminal. The country, for five or six miles Inland, is a range of low 

 barren hills, producing small shrubs, with masses of wild sugar-cane 

 and fern. 



Dr. Pickering and Mr. Brackenridge penetrated, in one of their 



VOL. III. 81 



