T U T U I L A. 69 



to give it up so willingly. It was some time before he could be made 

 to understand what the reward was for, but when he found it was for 

 his honesty, he laughed heartily. 



This having excited our suspicions, the boat's crew informed me 

 that a canoe that was paddling off had been alongside of the gig, and 

 that they felt satisfied that the natives had taken something from us. 

 It being in our course towards the ship, we gave chase, and being 

 favoured by the wind, soon overtook the canoe, to the great fright of 

 the two natives, who were paddling with all their might, and whose 

 eyes were full of tears when overtaken. They had nothing at all in 

 their canoe, and after examination it proved we had lost nothing. To 

 console them for this alarm, I gave them a few trifles, and they 

 became easy and cheerful. 



The coral reef around this island was different from any I had 

 hitherto seen. It consisted of two regular shelves, the outer one from 

 fifty to sixty feet wide, and the inner in places measuring one hundred 

 and forty feet. A distinct mark of high water was measured along 

 the beach, and found to be twenty feet above the ordinary sea-tide, 

 which has from four to five feet rise. 



The rock at Manua was volcanic conglomerate, with large blocks 

 of vesicular lava lying loose on the coral beach. 



Before sunset the boats returned to the ship, having completed the 

 survey of both islands. 



Ofoo lies to the westward of Oloosinga. There is a passage for 

 boats of about a fourth of a mile in width between them, and anchor- 

 age on the western side. Ofoo resembles Oloosinga ; and, from the 

 accounts we received, it has but few inhabitants : those of Oloosinga 

 having made war upon them, and killed the "natives" off. There is a 

 small and comparatively low islet off its western end, near which there 

 is an anchorage. After sunset we bore away for Tutuila, which can 

 be seen in fine weather from these islands. 



The temperature in the passage from Tahiti to the Samoan Islands 

 had increased from 77-6° to 81-11° in the air; and that of the water 

 from 79-6° to 81-6°. 



As it was my intention to make a thorough examination of this 

 group, I resolved, in order to accomplish it in the least possible time, 

 to divide the squadron, so as to put all the remaining islands under 

 examination at the same time. The island of Tutuila being the most 

 central, and, from the information I had obtained, the best position for 

 my astronomical observations, I selected it for the Vincennes. That 

 of Upolu was reserved for the Peacock and Flying-Fish when they 

 should arrive ; and in case of their being detained longer than I anti- 



