6 TONGATABOO. 
they were throughout consistent in their account of the alleged mis- 
fortune, and apparently showed much proper feeling for the fate that 
had befallen their companions. 
Until the 19th we had light breezes; in the afternoon of this day 
we saw the appearance of a water-spout, forming about half a mile 
from the ship; the water was seen flying up, as if from a circle of fifty 
feet in diameter, throwing off jets from the circumference of the circle, 
not unlike a willow basket in shape, and having a circular motion from 
right to left; there was a heavy black cloud over it, but no descending 
tube; and it did not appear to have any progressive motion. Desirous 
of getting near, I kept the ship off for it, but we had little wind; the 
cloud dispersed, and the whole was dissipated before we got near to it. 
The electrometer showed no change. 
The next day, the 20th of April, in latitude 24° 26’ S., longitude 
174° 47' 30" W., we took the trades from about east: passed over the 
position assigned to the island of Vasquez, but saw nothing of it. 
Some appearance of land existing to the eastward, the Porpoise was 
despatched to look for it. 
On the 22d, we made the island of Kooa, and that of Tongataboo. 
The wind the whole day was very variable, with squalls and heavy 
rain; and it being too late to run through the long canal that leads to 
the harbour, I deemed it most prudent to haul off for the night. A 
southerly current drove us further off than I anticipated, and we did 
not succeed the next day in regaining our position; we experienced 
much lightning and rain, with the wind strong from the eastward. 
On the 24th, at 1 p. m., we rounded the eastern end of Tongataboo, 
and stood down through the Astrolabe canal. This is a dangerous 
passage, and ought not to be attempted when the wind is variable or 
light ; it is nine miles in length, and passes between two coral reefs, 
where there is no anchorage; it was at the western end of it that the 
Astrolabe was near being wrecked in 1827. It is from half to one 
mile wide, gradually narrowing, until the small island of Mahoga 
appears to close the passage. When nearly up to this island, the 
passage takes a short and narrow turn to the northward ; in turning 
round into this pass, I -was aware of a coral patch, laid down by the 
Astrolabe, and hauled up to avoid it, by passing to the eastward; but 
the danger was nearer the reef than laid down, and the sun’s glare 
being strong, we were unable to see it, and ran directly upon it. For 
a moment the ship’s way was stopped, but the obstacle broke under 
her, and we proceeded on to the anchorage off Nukualofa, the residence 
of King Josiah, alias Tubou. In our survey of the above passage, no 
