PAUMOTU GROUP. 325 



There were nineteen men counted, which would make the population 

 about fifty souls. No women or children were seen. 



At all the inhabited islands we found the greatest numbers of the 

 common house-fly : while at Honden Island (uninhabited) none were 

 perceived. No one can estimate the annoyance they cause, until it 

 has been experienced. 



The huts of the natives of Otooho are different from those of the 

 neighbouring island, but quite as rude. 



About three quarters of an hour after sunset, the naturalists were 

 again on board, and we bore away on our course to Raraka. Having 

 been informed that several islands were supposed to be in this neigh- 

 bourhood, that were known to the natives, but not laid down on the 

 charts, I determined to lie-to during the night. At daylight we again 

 bore awav, spreading the squadron in open order of sailing. 



On the 20th, at daylight, land was reported, and we soon ascer- 

 tained that it was not laid down on the charts. It is low, nearly of a 

 circular form, and well covered with trees and shrubs, and has a 

 lagoon of some extent, Its centre is in latitude 15° 42' 25" S., longi- 

 tude 144° 38' 45" W. I named it King's Island, after the man at the 

 masthead who first discovered it. After completing the survey of it, 

 we landed on its lee side, where the water was quite smooth, and 

 spent the afternoon in examining it. There were no natives on it, but 

 every indication that it had been inhabited recently by a party of 

 pearl-fishers. The lagoon appeared to be well supplied with the pearl 

 oyster. We found on the island two small springs of fresh water, 

 near its lagoon, and a good supply of cocoa-nuts. Many specimens 

 of plants were obtained, and several interesting objects of natural 

 history were added to our collections ; for an account of these, the 

 reader is referred to the reports of the naturalists. 



This island had more soil on it than any yet met with, and seemed 

 to be productive. Large quantities of cocoa-nuts were lying about in 

 heaps, no doubt gathered by those who had visited it before us. 



The magnetic observations were also made here. The width of 

 the island to the lagoon was found to be twelve hundred feet. A very 

 narrow reef surrounded it, and the whole island was but six feet above 

 the sea reef. No coral blocks were seen. It lies twenty miles to the 

 northeast of Raraka. There is no opening to the lagoon, and the 

 island is thickly wooded all round. An old canoe was found, very 

 much decayed and broken, and the remains of a hut on the beach. 



In the morning we bore away for Raraka, and shortly afterwards 

 made it. As we approached it, another island was discovered, to the 

 northward and westward, which was not laid down on any charts. 



2C 



