332 PAUMOTU GROUP. 



Raraka ; but as it proved dark and squally, we stood to the northward, 

 and about one o'clock we were surprised by seeing a signal from the 

 Peacock, of danger close aboard, under the lee. I immediately tacked, 

 and we soon cleared it. It proved to be the reef of Kawahe, over 

 which the surf was breaking violently. The Peacock was so close to 

 it, that Captain Hudson felt himself obliged to stand on his course 

 rather than run the risk of missing stays, and continued to run along 

 it for several miles, until, by its trending to the westward, he was 

 enabled to clear the danger. 



On the 1st of September, at daylight, we found ourselves between 

 the two islands, and the Peacock was out of sight ; but two hours 

 afterwards, she was again seen. I made signal to the Porpoise, and 

 despatched her to examine the southeast side of Raraka, and thence to 

 follow on to the westward as far as Krusenstern's Island, passing 

 along the south side of Nairsa or Dean's Island. I then despatched 

 the Peacock to the north end, and the tender to the south end of 

 Kawahe, to secure meridian observations, whilst the Vincennes was 

 employed in surveying its eastern shores. The wind was well adapted 

 to our object, and at sunset we met off the north end, having completed 

 our work. The current was tried, but we found none. The wind was 

 fresh from the eastward, with occasional squalls. On the morning of 

 the 2d, I determined to land the naturalists on the newly-found island, 

 and for this purpose made signal to the tender to come within hail. 

 My ship was lying with her main-topsail to the mast, and forging 

 ahead about a knot an hour. The tender came up on our lee quar- 

 ter, and lufTed quite unexpectedly directly across our bow. Her 

 mast just escaped coming in contact with our jib-boom. I at once 

 ordered all the sails of the Vincennes to be thrown aback, which 

 stopping her way, prevented the dreadful accident of running the 

 tender down. It was a most miraculous escape. 



We landed on Vincennes Island, and obtained the usual observations. 

 Its south point is in latitudes 15° 59' 48" S., longitude 145° 09' 30" W. 

 It was found to be sixteen miles long by ten wide; its greatest diameter 

 lying north and south. It is a narrow annular ridge, consisting of 

 many blocks and slabs of coral, which give a clinky sound when 

 struck. The coral shelf seemed to dip in one place at an angle of 15°, 

 forming a ridge, which was so low that the tide was beginning to flow 

 over it before high water. There is an opening into the lagoon on the 

 southwest side; on its southeastern part is a high clump of trees, 

 looking like a knoll at a distance. The rest of the island is covered 

 with a growth of bushes, ten or twelve feet high. The blocks and 

 slabs above spoken of were very much water-worn, and were strewn 



