CHAP rT T 
OVOLAU. 
1840. 
Ar daylight on the 4th of May, the squadron got under way from 
the harbour of Nukualofa, and passing without the reefs through a 
narrow passage, safely bore off to the westward under all sail, having 
the wind from east-northeast. At meridian we had the islands of Honga 
Tonga and Honga Hapai to the north of us; these are both high, and 
are distant from Tonga twenty-seven miles. On the 5th we had a sight 
of Turtle Island, and determined it to be in longitude 178° 33’ W., 
latitude 19° 48’ 8.;* it has the appearance of a small rounded knoll. 
The wind was blowing fresh from the southeast, and after dark I 
determined to heave-to, to await daylight, off the southern and eastern 
islands of the Feejee Group ; this was done in order to set the Porpoise 
at her work. Since leaving Tonga, we have found ulcers prevalent 
among our men, from the bites they had received; they were inflam- 
matory and difficult to cure, prevailing among those apparently most 
healthy. Just at dawn we made an island, and at the same time a 
large sandbank, about half a mile from us; had darkness continued. 
half an hour longer, we should have probably been wrecked upon the 
latter, as I did not believe myself within five miles of it. Our unex- 
pected vicinity to it was caused by a strong current to the northward. 
At 6 a. m. we began our observations, and at eight I made signal to 
the Porpoise to part company, in order that Lieutenant-Commandant 
Ringgold might proceed to carry into execution the orders which will 
be found in Appendix IL. 
We continued our course with the Peacock and Flying-Fish in 
* Subsequent observations by the Porpoise, place it in longitude 178° 37’ 13” W., lati- 
tude 19° 51S 
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