64 T U T U I L A. 



are uninhabited, though occasionally visited by the natives of Nairsa 

 Island. The position of Recreation Island was passed over, but no 

 signs of land discovered. 



Rose Island, the most eastern of the Samoan Group, was discovered 

 by Freycinet, who gave it its name. It appears, at first, like a round 

 knoll of land, but on a nearer approach, this is found to arise from a 

 large clump of Pisonia trees, similar to those found growing in the low 

 archipelago. It is a low annular coral island, of small dimensions, 

 inundated at high water, with the exception of two small banks, one 

 of which is entirely covered by the clump of trees. The other is formed 

 of dead coral, without any vegetation. The tide was found here to rise 

 about four and a half feet, the flood setting to the eastward. The 

 breakers on its weather or southeast side are heavy ; and there is an 

 entrance into the lagoon, having four fathoms depth of water through 

 it. The lagoon has from six to twelve fathoms in it. A remarkable 

 coral formation, like a submerged tree, thirty feet in diameter over its 

 top, was found in the centre of the lagoon, rising to the level of low 

 water, and having all around it a depth of six fathoms. The currents 

 set regularly out and in to the lagoon, according to the state of the tide. 

 In stormy weather the sea must make a complete breach over the reef. 



Some boulders of vesicular lava were seen on the coral reef; they 

 were from twenty to two hundred pounds weight, and were found 

 among blocks of coral conglomerate. 



Birds were seen flying over the island, and on landing we found them 

 in great numbers and very tame. The frigate-birds, and boobies (sula), 

 whose nests had before been observed on low bushes, were here found 

 on the tops of trees fifty feet high. The noddies laid their eggs on the parts 

 of the island destitute of vegetation. Tern were in great numbers; 

 their breeding-place was in a thicket on the weather side of the island, 

 or that which was exposed to the wind and sea, and was remarkable 

 from the regularity with which the eggs were placed, about three feet 

 apart, without any nest, and, with but few exceptions, out of many 

 thousands, each egg lay separately. The colour of the eggs is a dirty 

 white, mottled with brown. The noise made by these birds when dis- 

 turbed was almost deafening ; but on making a loud sound, such as the 

 firing of a gun, their cries would cease for a moment or two, producing 

 a singular stillness. 



Several small turtles, similar to those seen at Honden Island, wore 

 observed here. One of them was taken, but its flesh proved coarse, 

 and was drier than that of the green turtle : they feed upon a species 

 of fucus that grows upon the reefs. Here we made observations for 

 intensity and dip. 



