148 SOMU-SOMU. 
stances. The night the boats left ithe tender, they imprudently landed 
on the island of Moturiki, where they unloaded their boats, allowing 
the natives to help them up, and then removed all the things out of 
them up to the mbure, although there was reason to apprehend, from 
their conduct, that mischief was meditated. They deemed it neces- 
sary to have sentinels posted, and all the men remained with their 
arms by their side. ‘The natives before ten o’clock had dispersed, 
except ten or fifteen, who were seemingly on the watch. These were | 
discovered passing in some clubs, which were secretly laid by a log. 
Lieutenant Underwood then determined to compel them all to quit the 
house, which they did, going out in rather a sulky manner. The 
moment the tide floated the boats, it was thought necessary to load 
them and shove off. They then anchored, and passed the remainder 
of the night in them. The next night, for greater safety, they sought 
shelter from the rain and wet under the rocks, which caused them 
much difficulty in lighting their fires. This was not overcome until 
their old native guide took the tinder, and, ascending a tall cocoa-nut 
tree to the fronds, quickly returned with a blazing torch. Having 
finished the survey of that part of the Moturiki Passage assigned them, 
they returned to the ship at Levuka. 
The island of Moturiki is almost in contact with that of Ovolau to 
the south of it. The same reef extends around both of them, and 
there is no passage between them, except for boats and canoes. A 
large square castellated rock lies midway between them, called Lau- 
dolib, of which there is a tradition, that Ndengei was bringing it to 
block up the big passage of Moturiki, which, according to the natives, 
leads to his dominions, but being overtaken by daylight, he dropped it 
where it now lies. 
Moturiki is three miles long, and one broad; it is not so much 
broken as Ovolau, though it rises in its centre, forming a high ridge. 
There are two small islands, named Leluvia and Thangala, to the south 
of it, and between these and Moturiki is the entrance to the bay of 
Ambau, termed the Moturiki Passage: this is about two miles long, 
and is a mile in width towards its eastern end; the tide flows strongly 
through it, and the flood sets to the westward. 
On the 28th, I had a visit from Tanoa’s youngest son, Rivaletta, 
who is a fine-looking young man, about eighteen years of age. He 
was accompanied by a number of young fellows of his own age, but 
could not be induced to visit the ship, either from fear of detention, or, 
as Tui Levuka told me, because he had no presents to give in return 
for those which he should receive, and therefore would not pay a visit 
