186 LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 
the hands of the natives, who fished them up from the water. They 
were afterwards traded off to the whites, some of whom told me they 
yet occasionally saw a native wearing one as a kind of medal; but 
none fell under our notice. This accident brought the notorious rascal 
Charley Savage among them. 
They now steered for the northeast point of Angau, whence the 
reef extends off one mile and a half, and has no deep water inside of it. 
It was, therefore, difficult to find a place where they could anchor the 
boats, but at last they found anchorage off the town of Vione, which 
is concealed from view by the mangrove bushes that line the shores of 
this island for several miles. Angau is much larger and higher than 
either Ambatiki or Nairai. 
They found the natives of Angau much more shy than they were 
at either of the other islands. Whippy landed and chased one of them 
into the woods, before he could make him understand that he was the 
great Maticum Ambau of whom they had heard so much. On its 
becoming known to them, they became reconciled, and took the pro- 
visions on shore to cook them. 
The reef continues round the east side, close to the island. There 
are several openings in it, but none that offer a fit place for a vessel 
to anchor. As the south side is approached, the reef extends off several 
miles, and the water upon it is so shoal that even the boats were 
forced to keep on the outside, and, for want of an opening, were 
obliged to anchor without the reef. In the morning they crossed the 
reef at high water, and soon got into deep water. The survey of the 
southern side proved there was safe anchorage, the holding-ground 
being good in twenty fathoms water in the bay, and opposite the town 
of Lakemba; but during a southerly blow, a vessel would be much 
exposed to the wind and sea. There are several openings and clear 
passages through the reef on the northwest side, and clear water round 
to the south, but the bights to the north are full of coral patches. 
There are villages every few miles around this island. It is subject 
to Ambau, and its inhabitants are considered much more savage than 
those of the other islands in its neighbourhood. 
Having completed the surveys, agreeably to his instructions, Lieu- 
tenant Underwood returned by the way of Ambatiki, and reached 
Levuka after an absence of nine days. The men had been at their 
oars pulling almost constantly for the period of eight days, sleeping in 
the boats, and seldom allowed to land. 
Mr. Knox and Colvocoressis were sent with the tender to complete 
the surveys of Wakaia, Mokungai, and Mekundranga. All three con- 
tain few inhabitants, and have been the scene of the horrid tragedies 
+) —e a 
