P A U M O T U GROU P. 331 



which intoxicated him, and he became of a most joyous temperament 

 and full of affection. 



The way of catching fish practised here is quite amusing, and to it 

 we owe the many specimens in that department of natural history 

 which we obtained. The natives enjoy the sport amazingly, and both 

 old and young are all in some way participators in it. Near the mouth 

 of the lagoon are laid some coral stones, forming a rude and shallow 

 pen, with a channel leading to it ; several natives proceed about one- 

 third of a mile up the beach of the lagoon, where they enter the water, 

 ranging themselves in a row, the tallest in the deepest water. They 

 then move along down towards the pen, quite noiselessly at first, driving 

 the fish before them. As they approach, they begin to splash and make 

 a noise ; the clamour gradually increases, until it becomes one continued 

 shout. They then contract themselves towards the pen, and the fish 

 are seen jumping and dashing in all directions, as if very much 

 alarmed, until they are forced to enter the pen, which is then closed 

 with a few stones; afterwards the natives begin to spear them with great 

 dexterity, and many were obtained. It was gratifying to witness the 

 pleasure that both old and young appeared to take in this employment, 

 and quite surprising that the fish do not escape over the low r wall that 

 surrounds them, only two or three inches above the water ; but they 

 appear bewildered. The natives regretted that their success was so 

 small, and imputed it to the water being too high. Some fresh water 

 may be obtained here. The spring or pond is on the west side of the 

 entrance. What the natives had in their cocoa-nut shells was sweet. 

 It is, however, in no great abundance. 



Many specimens were here added to our collections. This was one 

 of the islands in which I attempted to sound the lagoon. We began at 

 the entrance, but found, within a very short distance, that the depth 

 increased to thirty fathoms, the water being as blue as that of the 

 ocean. So great a depth made it an undertaking far beyond what my 

 time allowed. The sounding, in every case of any depth, was coral 

 sand. 



Towards sunset we all embarked, and my leave-taking with the old 

 chief was amusing, He with all his household and retinue, began to 

 cry and whine over me, so that I was glad to escape from the display 

 of so much friendship and parental affection. 



After reaching my ship, the Porpoise again joined us. She had 

 been despatched early in the morning towards the eastern end of the 

 island, to ascertain its extent, and fix its point in that direction ; not 

 being able to accomplish this, Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold re- 

 turned for further orders. This night we lay-to under the lee of 



