170 LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 
at Sydney, and had evidently profited much by his trip. He was 
acquainted with the characters of Napoleon and Washington, and 
when prints of them were shown him, he expressed a desire to have 
them, which was complied with. On seeing a likeness of the Duke of 
Reichstadt, he asked if he had not been poisoned. The print of General 
Jackson was highly prized by him. 
Mr. Calvert was landed in the evening, and the next morning, the 
16th, the brig resumed the surveying duties, the islands of Komo, 
Ularua,and the Aivas, (both the high and low,) Oneata, and Motha, all 
in the neighbourhood of Lakemba, were observed on and explored. 
At night there was a violent squall, accompanied with lightning and 
rain. Among these islands and numerous reefs, such squalls become 
very dangerous, but fortunately they are not of long duration. 
The two Aivas are both uninhabited; they lie between Lakemba 
and Oneata, and are surrounded by an extensive reef, with the excep- 
tion of a large opening in the northeast side, which affords anchorage, 
exposed, however, to the northeast winds. 
On the 17th they were engaged in exploring the great Argo Reef. 
Its native name is Bocatatanoa, and it is one of the most extensive and 
dangerous in the group. Its English name is derived from the loss (on 
its southeast end) of the English brig Argo, which happened in the 
year 1806. 
The outlying reefs off Angasa and Motha, were also examined and 
surveyed. Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold then proceeded towards 
Oneata. Here they found excellent anchorage, under Observatory 
Isle, near a settlement on the northeast side of the island. A second 
anchorage is to be found off the west side of the island, near a large 
sandy bay. No water is to be had here, except from wells, but there 
is abundance of fruit, vegetables, and poultry. The population is two 
hundred. Two Tahitian missionaries were found here, and about one 
half of the people are Christians. 
The natives showed themselves sharp traders. They seldom adhere 
to the value they have set upon an article, after their first demand is 
agreed to, but ask a more exorbitant price, and show an indisposition 
to comply with their engagements. It was amusing to witness the 
trade between them and the sailors. They generally took a fancy to 
some one thing, and nothing would suit them but it. Bottles were 
found here to be the articles in most request, and a porter-bottle would 
purchase two baskets of yams or sweet-potatoes, and be received in 
preference to knives or cloth. 
The village is situated on the south side of the island, in a grove of 
cocoa-nut trees, but from the clouds of musquitoes, was not the most 
