252 TYE AND SUALIB. 
continued, and many of its reefs and sunken patches determined. 
The next day was similarly employed. 
On the 6th, the Porpoise reached Somu-somu, where they found the 
missionaries all well; but the town was nearly deserted, as the king 
and chiefs had gone to a distant town to a feast. 
The Porpoise experienced here the same gale of wind we had at 
Mbua Bay, from the 7th until the 11th. On the 10th, it having abated 
a little, Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold started for Rambe with the 
launch in tow, intending to despatch the boats inside the reef, down 
the north side of Vanua-levu, agreeably to my orders. On reaching 
the open straits he found that it still blew a gale, and he was obliged 
to run for shelter under the northwest side of Kea, an island on the 
Vanua-levu side of the straits. This place they termed Port Safety, 
having run imminent risk in reaching it. The weather continuing 
boisterous, the time was usefully employed under the lee of the island, 
in examining the bay, reef, and island, officers being sent to the dif- 
ferent points to determine its height, and connect it with the other 
stations that were in sight from its top. Dr. Holmes was one of the 
number who went on a botanical excursion, and after reaching the top 
with the party, he set out to return alone. An adventure then befell 
him, which will be better told in his own words, which I extract from 
his journal. 
“JT started alone to return, intending to deviate a little from time to 
time from the direct path, to collect a few botanical specimens. I had 
walked a short distance only, when I struck off into a fine cocoa-nut 
grove, and pursued my new path so long, that I was puzzled to retrace 
my steps. At length I thought I had succeeded, and reached the 
beach. The form of the island is peculiar; it is narrow, and along its 
central part runs a long range of hills, whose sides are covered with a 
thick tall hedge and underbrush, so densely as to make it impossible to 
cross from one side to the other, except by paths with which I was of 
course unacquainted. I pursued my course along the beach for an 
hour or two quite cheerfully, expecting every moment to see the brig; 
but as I rounded point after point with quick steps and anxious eye, no 
vesse] appeared, and I was fain to push on again for some more dis- 
tant promontory, promising myself that there my walk was to end. 
After spending four hours in this manner, my strength began to fail, 
and I was forced to believe I was on the opposite side of the island to 
that where the brig was anchored. To retrace my steps was now im- 
possible, and I was completely ignorant how far I should be forced to 
walk before I should be in safety. I pushed on until I was completely 
exhausted, and, moreover, found myself stopped by a thicket of man- 
+ 
