184 LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU, 
had not been kept up there for the last week or ten days. His views, 
whatever they may have been, were, however, frustrated. 
Lieutenant Underwood and Passed Midshipman Sandford, I found 
had returned from the survey of the islands of Angau, Nairai, and 
Ambatiki, to the eastward of Ovolau. David Whippy, the Maticum 
Ambau, had been sent with them as an interpreter, and to hold proper 
authority over the natives. 
The first island which had occupied their attention, was Ambatiki. 
It is in shape nearly an equilateral triangle, surrounded by a reef, 
which offers no protection for vessels, and only passages for boats. 
The island is seven hundred and fifty feet high, of a dome shape, and 
contains five hundred inhabitants, all subject (or ygali) to Ambau. 
The people were civil, and gave them taro and yams in plenty, but 
would not part with any pigs. The reason given for this was, their 
fear of Tanoa. They live in villages and seem thriving. The island 
has very little wood on it. The reefs extend one-third of a mile from — 
its shore. 
Nairai was the next island visited by them. They first anchored on 
the west end of the Onoruga Reef, that extends off from the middle of 
Nairai, five miles in a westerly direction. There is a passage between 
this and the Mothea, or Eliza Reef, stretching off from the island to- 
wards the south; and there are also a good passage and harbour be- 
tween the reef and the island. The Cobu Rock is a good mark for 
the former passage, when it bears east. It lies a mile south of the 
south point of Nairai. 
The boats anchored in the harbour of Venemole, which may be 
known by two small islets, joined to Nairai by the reef, which forms 
a protection against the north winds; and vessels of any draught of 
water may anchor here in fifteen fathoms, with good bottom, from a 
quarter to half a mile from the shore. Somewhat farther to the south- 
ward is a three-fathom bank, which is the only danger that exists 
inside the reef towards the Cobu Rock or southwest passage. About 
a mile to the north is Venemole Bay. It is circular, with a narrow 
entrance, affording, seemingly, a good harbour; but, on examination, 
this entrance proved to be quite shallow. The bay had the appear- 
ance of having been an old crater; at low water, it may almost be 
said to become a lake. The officers were much struck with the 
beauty of the bay. It contains a village of the same name, and also 
another, called Tulailai; but both are small. The natives were quite 
peaceable. 
They anchored at night off the town of Toaloa, which lies in a 
bight at the north end of the island, and proved the largest town on 
