54 OVOLAU. 
of the loss we met with before leaving this group, and taught, when 
too late, the necessity of obeying strictly the orders of their com- 
manding officer, whether absent or present. 
On the 12th, whilst engaged at the observatory, the canoe of Tanoa, 
the King of Ambau, was discovered rounding the southern point of 
the island: it had a magnificent appearance, with its immense sail of 
white mats; the pennants streaming from its yard, denoted it at once 
as belonging to some great chief. It was a fit accompaniment to the 
magnificent scenery around, and advanced rapidly and gracefully 
along; it was a single canoe, one hundred feet in length, with an out- 
rigger of large size, ornamented with a great number (two thousand 
five hundred) of the Cyprzea ovula shells; its velocity was almost 
inconceivable, and every one was struck with the adroitness with 
which it was managed and landed on the beach.* 
Tanoa disembarked, accompanied by his attendants, who are gene- 
rally Tonga men, forty of whom had the direction and sailing of his 
canoe. Shortly after landing, he was met by Mr. Vanderford, who 
had formerly been shipwrecked here, and who had lived under his 
* I was told that Tanoa frequently amuses himself, when sailing, by running down ca- 
noes, leaving those who belong to them to recover their canoe and property the best way 
they can. 
