CHAPTER XV. 



PAUMOTU GROUP. 



1839. 



On the 13th July we had finished the necessary outfits and taken in 

 our stores. The remainder of the latter were embarked in the store- 

 ship Relief, which was ordered to land a part of them at the Sandwich 

 Islands, and the rest at Sydney, New South Wales, after which to 

 proceed to the United States by the way of Cape Horn. 



We took leave of our kind friends, Edwin Bartlett, Esq., United 

 States Charge d' Affaires, and Edward M'Call, Esq., United States 

 Consul. To both of these gentlemen I am under many obligations for 

 their kindness, and information in relation to the country and its 

 affairs. Their long residence had made them familiar with those 

 subjects; and many of the transactions they communicated had 

 happened under their own eyes. 



At 5 p. m., having a light breeze, the signal was made to get under 

 way, and we were soon standing out of the bay under all canvass. 

 Captain M'Keever accompanied us until we reached the point of 

 San Lorenzo. On his taking leave, we expressed our thanks for the 

 important aid he had rendered us, by giving him several hearty 

 cheers. 



The day after our departure, we fell in with a Peruvian brig, from 

 San Bias, in want of water, which we supplied. She had fallen to 

 leeward of her port, and her people were reduced to much distress for 

 want of that necessary article. 



I had felt much anxiety lest the small-pox should make its appear- 

 ance among us, and looked forward daily with apprehension to the 

 hour when the sick reports were made. On the 14th my worst fears 

 were realized, for the Peacock made signal that they had a case of 

 that disease on board. It fortunately proved of a mild type, and no 



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