CHAPTEK II. 



TAHITI AND EIMEO. 

 1839. 



The Porpoise, having been refitted, was sent to sea on the 20th 

 September, for the purpose of again visiting the west end of Nairsa or 

 Dean's Island, with Krusenstern's and LazareiF. She was also ordered 

 to pass over the supposed locality of Recreation Island, and then to 

 meet the Vincennes at Rose Island, the easternmost of the Samoan or 

 Navigator's Group.* 



A stormy evening having occurred previous to our leaving Matavai 

 Bay, " Jim," the pilot, desired to see me ; on his coming into the 

 cabin, to my great amusement, he urged me to allow him to go to 

 Papieti, where he was sure he would be wanted ; and when I asked 

 for what purpose, he told me that the " thunder and lightning would 

 bring in ships of war." He was displeased when I laughed and said, 

 that as he was engaged on board my ship, I would wait until I saw 

 the ships before I could give him permission. He then reminded me 

 of the night before we arrived, when there was plenty of thunder and 

 lightning, and that he had told me as soon as he came on board that 

 he expected us. He went on to repeat that he was sure that they 

 w r ould want him early in the morning at Papieti, but I persisted in my 

 refusal ; and in the morning he appeared much disconcerted to find 

 that there was nothing in sight out of which he could make a ship of 

 war. 



The surveys of the four harbours of Matavai, Papaoa, Toanoa, and 

 Papieti, had been, as stated in the preceding chapter, commenced soon 

 after our arrival; they had made considerable progress before the 



* A copy of the orders will be found in Appendix III. 



