312 PAUMOTU GROUP. 



thirty feet, seven fathoms (hard coral), being at the edge of a nearly 

 perpendicular shelf; thence to the shore, the bottom was uneven, 

 decreasing to four, three, and two fathoms, until a second or upper 

 coral shelf rose, over which the water at high tide flowed. This 

 extended to where the beach is composed of broken coral and shells, 

 and arose on a gentle declivity to ten feet high. 



The Peacock sounded within three quarters of a mile from the 

 southern point of the island : at three hundred and fifty fathoms, the 

 lead brought up for a moment, and then again descended to six hundred 

 fathoms without reaching bottom. When it was hauled up, it had a 

 small piece of white and another of red coral attached to it. The 

 west side of the island is a bare reef, over which the surf breaks 

 violently. There is no opening or entrance to the lagoon. 



For the purpose of surveying the island, the Peacock and Flying- 

 Fish took the west side, while the Vincennes and Porpoise kept on 

 the east. Boats w r ere lowered and sent on shore for the purpose of 

 landing; several of the officers and naturalists succeeded in reaching 

 the beach, (swimming through the surf,) where they remained about 

 two hours making collections. 



I saw some natives, five men and two women, and endeavoured to 

 hold communication with them. The former were armed with long 

 spears. They were cautiously watching our movements ; and after 

 the boats had left, they were seen examining the beach for articles 

 that might have been dropped. Every inducement was held out to 

 them to approach my boat, but without success ; and we were obliged 

 to return on board for the night, not having succeeded in finishing 

 the survey. Wishing to communicate with the natives, and effect a 

 landing, we lay-to, and by morning found that we had drifted off 

 from the island eight miles to the northwest, and did not again reach 

 our station until towards the afternoon. I then proceeded to the 

 beach, taking with me as interpreter, John Sac, a New Zealander, 

 who spoke the Tahitian language, determined, if possible, to enter 

 into communication with the natives, and to land to make observa- 

 tions. Seventeen natives were now seen on the beach, armed with 

 long spears and clubs, which they were brandishing with menacing atti- 

 tudes, making motions for me to retire. As I approached them with 

 a white flag flying, many more were seen in the bushes, probably in 

 all about one hundred. I told John Sac to speak to them, which he 

 did, and found he was understood. The only answer he could get 

 from them was, several of them crying out at the same time, " Go to 

 your own land ; this belongs to us, and we do not want to have any 

 thing to do with you." It was impossible to beach the boat without 



