SOMU-SOMU. 147 
was very near involving them in difficulties; and had it not been 
for the timely caution of Charley, there is little doubt but a disaster 
would have happened to them. The two boats were under charge of 
Lieutenant Underwood and Passed Midshipman Sinclair. In the 
foremost of them was a chief of the island, in the latter was Charley. 
Lieutenant Underwood approached the shore-reef, with the intention of 
getting some hogs and yams, which he had sent the natives to seek ; 
but they would not trade unless the boats landed, and this Lieutenant 
Carr had expressly ordered Lieutenant Underwood not todo. When 
the natives discovered they could not be induced to land, they col- 
lected in great numbers, headed by a chief, became very noisy, and 
showed signs of hostility. Lieutenant Underwood, notwithstanding 
the precautionary orders, was unprepared to meet an attack; and the 
necessity of resorting to their arms was only thought of, when Charley 
called out, “ You had better stand to your arms, gentlemen; they are 
after mischief.” Upon this the boat was immediately hauled out. 
When the arms were displayed, the natives took to their heels. 
According to Charley, these islanders, not long since, seized a boat 
belonging to a trader, and, after plundering it, would only liberate the 
crew on receiving a large ransom. Such appears to have been the 
over-confidence and carelessness of some of the officers on these boat 
duties, that they neglected not only the strict orders, to be at all times 
prepared, but likewise needlessly put in jeopardy the lives of the men 
entrusted to them. It is now, on looking back, a wonder to me that 
we escaped accident so long as we did, and certainly not extraordinary 
that one did at last happen. Iam well satisfied, that had full attention 
been paid to the orders given, and specially impressed upon all, no 
disaster could have happened. 
Lieutenant Carr, finding that his time was almost expired, eid: 
mined to proceed to Ovelau, by passing close to the Mothea Reef, off 
the southern point of Nairai. On the 25th, the tender anchored at 
Levuka. On receiving Lieutenant Carr’s report, I immediately 
despatched him to survey the passage round the western side of 
Ovolau. The eastern portion, together with the harbour of Levuka, 
had already been completed by the Vincennes. Lieutenant Carr had, 
in the performance of this duty, reached the island of Moturiki, when 
the time allotted for the purpose had expired. He accordingly left 
the two boats under Lieutenant Underwood, to complete the remain- 
ing part of the work, which occupied them two days, during which 
time, it appears, from Passed Midshipman May’s account, they had 
another narrow escape from disaster, under the following circum- 
