CHAPTER III. 



T U T U I L A. 

 1839. 



On the 29th of September, at daylight, having the wind from the 

 northward and eastward, we got under way, and made sail to the west- 

 ward, passing the Society Island Group : viz., Sir Charles Saunders' 

 Isle, Huaheine, Tahaa, Borabora, Maufili, and Moutoiti. All of these, 

 with the exception of the last, are high lands. 



On the 30th, we made Bellinghausen's Island, which is a low coral 

 island, similar to those which have been already described. It was 

 uninhabited, and is of a triangular form, with the usual vegetation, 

 with the exception of cocoa-nut palms. We landed upon it, and made 

 the magnetic experiments. 



Birds were in great plenty, and as tame as we had found them at 

 other uninhabited islands we had visited. No lizards or rats were 

 observed, nor was the common fly seen. The lagoon had no passage 

 into it at low water, but the tide flowed into it over the reef. 



During the time of our stay on the island, the tide rose and fell 

 upwards of two feet, and it was high water at 8 a. m. Many specimens 

 of fish were obtained here, of which the department of Natural History 

 will treat. 



In the afternoon, we again made sail to the westward, for Rose 

 Island, and on the 6th of October, we passed near the locality of the 

 Royal George Shoal, but saw nothing of it. 



On the 7th, which was the day appointed for our rendezvous off 

 Rose Island, we came in sight of it, and at the same time descried the 

 Porpoise. That vessel had passed by Nairsa or Dean's Island, and 

 connected the survey of it with that of Krusenstern's and Lazareff. 

 Both of these were found to have entrances into their lagoons ; they 



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