PAUMOTU GROUP. 34 j 



marks of having been uplifted at different periods; the cliff, at two 

 different heights, appears to have suffered abrasion by the sea. Stalag- 

 mites were observed under the cliffs, and some stalactitic columns, 

 fourteen feet high by six in diameter. On coming towards the village, 

 we saw many natives returning with loads of taro, &c, which they had 

 been sent to gather. On our return, we were taken again to the chiefs 

 house, and entertained with cocoa-nuts, baked taro, and bread-fruit, 

 which had been cooked during our absence. At the boat we found 

 more articles for purchase than we had the means to pay for, or the 

 boat could carry ; and every one seemed desirous of securing the sale 

 of his fruits and vegetables. Notwithstanding the over-supply, the 

 prices were I thought rather enhanced than lowered, and there was an 

 evident feeling among the crowd that we had not been so liberal in 

 buying as we ought to have been. I was glad to get off, in order to be 

 freed from the flies, which are in incredible numbers in all the inhabited 

 islands, and a great nuisance. I left the island under the impression 

 this little community was a happy and contented one. At about five 

 o'clock, we joined the ship, some distance to the southward of the 

 island ; all the surveying boats having returned, we bore away for 

 Tahiti, at which island we arrived on the 10th. At 5 p. m., Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Ringgold boarded us, and brought off Jim, the pilot ; he 

 reported all well on board the Porpoise. At sunset, we anchored in 

 Matavai Bay. I hastened to ascertain the correctness of our chrono- 

 meters, and the next day landed the instruments on Point Venus, and 

 took observations. They gave for its longitude 149° 31' 13-5" W. 

 Krusenstern makes it 149° 29' 17" W. 



Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, in the Porpoise, after parting 

 company on the 1st of September, proceeded to the south side of 

 Raraka, in fulfilment of his instructions. He found the whole southern 

 part of it a bare reef, with the surf breaking violently over it. When 

 off the south point, he made the isle of Katiu or Sacken to the south, 

 and that of Makima to the east, and connected them ; after which he 

 proceeded to the westward, passing Aratica (Carlshoff), and thence to 

 Nairsa or Dean's Island, which he made on the 5th; fixed its western 

 end, passed along its south to its western side, and thence to Krusen- 

 stern's Island, to the westward, which he circumnavigated ; from thence 

 went direct to Tahiti, anchored in Papieti Harbour on the 9th, and the 

 next day proceeded to Matavai Bay, the place of rendezvous. 



On the 12th, the Peacock arrived, having passed to the Rurick 

 Islands or Arutua, the north end of which lies in latitude 15° 15' 00" 

 S., longitude 146° 51' 00" W. A landing was attempted at several 

 places in the boats. One of them succeeded near a cocoa-nut grove, 



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