32Q MALOLO. 



by his warriors and people, armed, who all appeared much agitated 

 and alarmed at the second visit of the ship. Every thing was, how- 

 ever, done that could be to quiet his fears, but not with much success. 

 Captain Hudson having furnished his first-lieutenant with written 

 instructions, returned to bring the Vincennes round from Mbua Bay. 



Hugh M'Bride was afterwards found at Muthuata, secreted by 

 natives, and strong suspicion existed that it was with the full know- 

 ledge and concurrence of the king. Many surveying signals were 

 also stolen, even in sight of the ship, and in broad daylight. It 

 therefore became necessary to put a stop to these thefts, which not 

 only impeded the operations, but could not be overlooked without the 

 risk of further depredations. Captain Hudson visited the king, and 

 told him distinctly that the articles must be returned in a day, or he 

 must take the consequences. The king made many promises, and 

 kept them better than those he had before given, for he set about 

 effecting the recovery of the signals in earnest. 



On the 26th July, the king's son Ko-Mbiti, returned from Somu- 

 somu in state, without bringing any guests to the famous fete they 

 were preparing. Instead of them he presented his father with a large 

 whale's tooth, and a request that he would take part in the war about 

 to take place against Seru, who headed the Ambau warriors. The 

 son, it was understood, favoured the Somu-somuans, but the old king 

 more prudently desired to observe a strict neutrality. 



The observations at Lecumba Point having been finished, and 

 Captain Hudson having returned from Muthuata to take the Vin- 

 cennes, every thing was embarked in her, and on the 29th they got 

 under way for Muthuata. In the evening they anchored in Naloa 

 Bay, where the next morning they took in a quantity of wood, and 

 visited the town of Tavea on the island of that name. Here Mr. 

 Drayton witnessed the making of pottery by women. The clay used 

 is of a red colour, and is obtained in quantities on the island, and the 

 vessels are formed by the women with the same instruments that are 

 described in another place. Some of their work appeared as round 

 as though it had been turned in a lathe. The pots are dried in the 

 open air, and for baking or burning them, they use a common wood 

 fire, without any oven. The vessels are of various shapes, some of 

 which are quite pretty. The tenacity of the clay is such, that even 

 without baking the pottery is quite strong. 



The islands from Naloa Bay to Muthuata, are for the most part 

 low, and covered with tiri (mangrove) bushes. There is one within 



