UPOLU — M ANONO — S AVAIL H3 



are formed in the ravines, but these soon disappear after the rains 

 have ceased. 



The coral reef attached to this island is interrupted to the south and 

 west, where the surf beats full upon the rocky shore. There are, in 

 consequence, but few places where boats can land, and only one 

 harbour for ships, that of Mataatua; even this is unsafe from November 

 to February, when the northwesterly gales prevail. 



The soil is fertile, and was composed in every part of the island that 

 was visited, of decomposed volcanic rock and vegetable mould. 



The Porpoise, having taken Dr. Pickering and Lieutenant Maury 

 again on board, set sail for Tutuila, for the purpose of joining the 

 Vincennes, and beat to windward along the south side of Upolu. 

 During this passage many of the crew became sick, which rendered 

 it necessary to stop for a few days at Pago-pago, in order to recruit 

 them. Here they all speedily recovered, except one man, named 

 David Blodget, who died. The disorder was attributed to the damp- 

 ness of the vessel. 



The delay in the arrival of the Porpoise at Apia caused me to send 

 the Flying-Fish to Tutuila, whence they both returned to Apia. 



Previous to sailing, at the pressing instance of the chiefs, I ordered 

 the marines and small-arm men of the squadron, in all about one 

 hundred and fifty, to be sent on shore, with their music, for exercise. 

 They had been well drilled to act on shore should occasion require, 

 and were provided for the occasion with blank cartridges. The 

 natives from far and near were collected to witness the review, and 

 few scenes that occurred during the voyage were as amusing as this. 

 The old and young were equally delighted, and it was ludicrous to see 

 them endeavouring to imitate the soldiers, in their marches and 

 countermarches. They were not satisfied unless the drummers were 

 constantly beating, and were particularly delighted with the bass-drum. 

 The firing occasioned some alarm at first, but when they saw it did no 

 harm, they became reconciled to it, although even to the last they 

 would scamper off to a distance at each discharge. 



The review left an impression on their minds of the superiority of 

 our arms that will not soon be forgotten. 



The men were embarked at sunset, and had many jokes to relate ot 

 the conduct of the natives, and particularly old Pea, who on this, as 

 on other occasions, acted as master of the ceremonies. 



During our stay in this group, we experienced two slight shocks of 

 earthquakes; their occurrence here is not unusual, but there is no 

 account of any damage having been done. Their motion is generally 

 tremulous and horizontal; one, however, has been experienced of a 



vol. ii. K 2 15 



