APPENDIX. 423 



them, and who speaks English : you will communicate with the chief 

 who resides there, and has the control of the whole group, and of 

 course conciliate his good-will, to obtain the necessary assistance. A 

 missionary resides there, through whom you may effect this desirable 

 end. 



On your reaching Duff's Reef, which I think you will do prior to, 

 or by the 1st of June, you will put into the Harbour of Somu-somu, 

 where you will find me, or orders directing your movements. 



In the discharge of this duty, I would call your attention par- 

 ticularly to the necessity of great accuracy in the bearings of the 

 different islands, shoals, and reefs, from each other, the latitude and 

 longitude of the different points, and their distance from each other. 



The chart that accompanies this is extremely inaccurate, and is in 

 fact but an apology for one. It is, however, though a poor guide for 

 your labours, the best that exists at present, therefore all due caution 

 is necessary in sailing over space that you have not already explored. 

 I would recommend your constructing one from it on a larger scale, 

 (roughly,) say one- fourth of an inch to a mile, and correcting it as 

 you go on, at the same time constructing another on a similar scale 

 for a fair copy. 



On service of this kind, accidents are to be looked for : in case of 

 your meeting with any, you will immediately take measures to 

 give information, which will reach me at Ovolau, in the way you 

 may think most advisable. 



You will make magnetic observations at all places you can, and 

 obtain all the information in your power, relative to the character of 

 the natives, their actual state, and obtain all specimens of things you 

 may meet with in the different departments of science, which must 

 be carefully preserved. Do not omit to measure the heights of the 

 different islands by triangulation, or with the sympiesometer, and 

 obtain sketches of the natives, their dresses and implements. 



Great confidence is felt in your successful accomplishment of this 

 duty, and it is hoped that you will be favoured with fine weather. 

 The coming moon will be of assistance in protecting you from acci- 

 dents. It is very desirable that both sides of the reefs and islands 

 should be examined at the same time ; this you will be enabled to do 

 with your boats. The winds are to be expected from the southeast 

 to east, with fine weather ; and in order to make the most of it, I 

 should deem it advisable that you begin operations every day at day- 



