SOMU-SOMU. 151 
In the mean time, I obtained my return meridian distances and the 
night observations. 
Before | left Levuka, Seru, Tanoa’s eldest son, paid us another visit, 
and brought some hogs and other provisions, as a present. On this 
occasion, his conduct towards Mr. Vanderford was not what it should 
have been, for he appropriated some of that officer’s property to him- 
self. I regret I did not learn this until some time afterwards, for | had 
no opportunity of speaking to Seru again; but I sent him word that 
his conduct was not approved of, and he must not take such a liberty 
again. 
Orders were left with Lieutenant Carr to despatch Lieutenant 
Underwood and Passed Midshipman Sandford, with two boats, to 
survey the islands of Ambatiki, Nairai, and Angau, all of which are 
in sight from Ovolau. 
At five o’clock the next morning we were under way, in the tender, 
with two boats of the Vincennes in company, and crossed over to 
Wakaia, where I left Passed Midshipmen Knox and May to survey 
that island and Mokungai, with their reefs. Here I fixed a station, and 
observed, with the theodolite, on the distant signals. I then made an 
endeavour to get out of the reef, but the weather looking bad, I put: 
back and anchored in a snug bay, which I had called Flying-Fish 
Harbour. This is on the west side of the island of Wakaia, and has 
two passages through the reef to it. 
The next morning we again got under way, and stood for Nemena, 
or Direction Island, where we anchored, after passing through a 
narrow passage in its outlying reef. Direction Island forms two high 
regular hills, covered with a dense foliage. It is not inhabited, being 
only occasionally resorted to for turtles by the natives. : 
On the 7th, we were engaged in the survey of the island and reef, 
with the boats, while I fixed a station on its western summit, where I 
passed the day observing for longitude and latitude and angles, on all 
the points, peaks, and signals, in sight. 
In the evening, we sailed for Vuna Island. The wind was very 
light, and we did not make much progress, but spent the greatest part 
of the next day in getting up with the island. Not wishing to be 
detained, I took my gig and pulled for Somu-somu, where I communi- 
cated with the missionaries, Messrs. Hunt and Lythe, who had heard 
nothing of the Porpoise; and as the townspeople were rather uproari- 
ous, keeping a feast, ] thought it advisable that I should repair to the 
small island of Corolib, about a mile and a half from it in the strait. 
Towards dark, not seeing any thing of the tender, and having been 
supplied with some yams, &c., by the missionaries, I went to the island 
