24 BOWDITCH ISLAND. 



of whom we had formed a good opinion during our former visit, and 

 who, it was then generally supposed, would succeed his father in 

 authority. He is warmly attached to the missionary cause, and affords 

 important aid in carrying out their plans, having much influence with 

 his father, and restraining his evil propensities. He has the reputation 

 of being very popular with the common people in the town of Sagana, 

 where he resides and is a teacher. From him our gentlemen obtained 

 the news of our friends among the nobility. Emma, his sister, whom 

 we had all admired so much, and whose portrait is given in the second 

 volume of this Narrative, was married to Samuel, the tall and hand- 

 some chief of Faleatii. The haughty Vavasa was in Manono, which 

 was the case also with Malietoa. Tooa was absent, and many other 

 chiefs who have attended the fono, were at their districts. Opotuno 

 was still in Savaii, on the alert to prevent surprise, and it was reported 

 that he had made some advances to join the missionaries with his peo- 

 ple; but little credit was given to this story. They also learned that 

 at the time Captain Hudson was in search of him he was concealed, 

 with a few of his followers, at a short distance. 



For the first eight days after the Peacock's arrival, they had almost 

 continual rain, with the wind varying from the north to west, and with 

 a disagreeable swell setting into the harbour. 



Tents were erected on shore to afford an opportunity for the neces- 

 sary repairs to be made to the boats, and others for the use of the 

 magnetic instruments. 



On the 10th, they experienced a strong gale from the northwest- 

 ward, with a heavy sea and torrents of rain. One of their anchors 

 started, but they soon brought up with their sheet-anchor, although a 

 ship would usually ride with very little strain upon her cables, owing 

 to the strength of the tide, which causes her to lie nearly in the trough 

 of the sea, and to roll very heavily. The stream of fresh water which 

 empties into the harbour, has some tendency, when it is much swollen, 

 to maintain a ship in this disagreeable position, by the force of its 

 current. The harbour, through its discharges, is at times strewed with 

 quantities of drift-wood. 



The rain continued without intermission for nearly the whole time 

 of their stay, so that no opportunity could be had of airing or drying 

 the sails. So long a duration of wet, together with the heat, caused 

 some fears relative to the health of the crew, and particularly those 

 who were away in the boats, from their being more exposed to the 

 weather. Every precaution was taken to prevent sickness. 



A few days after they had been at anchor, Captain Hudson received 

 a letter from Lieutenant Perry, who was of the surveying party, stating 



