456 APPENDIX. 



U. S. Ship Vincennes, 



August 12th, 1840. 



Sir, 



You will proceed and make the reef off Kie, and sail it close 

 aboard, as far only as Round Island. You will not look for it to 

 the westward of Round Island, from whence you will proceed to 

 carry out my order of the 11th inst., with all despatch. 



You will use the patent log, and report the result of all your trans- 

 actions to me. 



I am, &c, 



Charles Wilkes, 



Commanding Exploring Expedition. 



Acting-Master Sinclair, 



Tender Flying-Fish. 



XVI. 



U. S. Ship Peacock, 



August 1st, 1840. 



Sir, 



I address you this letter, for the purpose of stating the circum- 

 stances attendant upon the death of Smith, a man attached to the 

 Kai-viti, under my command. I was at anchor on the night of the 

 14th of July, pretty near the land. Happening to be awake at eleven 

 o'clock, I thought I would ascertain if the look-out was awake. I got 

 up in the companion-way, and called him by name two or three 

 times. Receiving no answer, I went forward and found him asleep. 

 Taking up a small piece of sennit stuff, I struck him with it smartly 

 on the hand. He awoke, and I reproached him for having neglected 

 his duty. He denied having been asleep, and became insolent. I 

 began to walk aft, but finding that he continued his impudence, I 

 attempted to chastise him, and finally hove a small piece of wood at 

 him. He caught it, and advanced with it uplifted, to strike me. 

 Seeing this, I said " What, you dare !" and then seized him by the 

 shirt, and made some blows with my fist. He clenched me, and in 

 the struggle that followed, we both pitched overboard. He dragged 

 me a few feet below the surface, but fortunately lost his hold. I rose, 

 and got on board by the fore-channels. At the time of his death, 



