194 LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU. 
wind was becoming light, to enter through the narrow passage 
in the reef, and anchor under it, rather than remain surrounded 
by reefs during the night. Tom Granby had some doubts about 
the propriety of attempting it, but, as I knew the passage well my- 
self, I determined to try it, if we reached it before sunset. On our 
Way across, we saw a school of sperm whales. These begin to fre- 
quent the seas around these islands in the month of July, are most 
plenty in August and September, and continue about the reefs and 
islands four or five months. Iam informed that they are frequently 
seen from the town of Levuka, near the harbour and adjacent reefs. It 
seems remarkable that the natives of these islands, who value whales’ 
teeth so highly, should have devised no means of taking the animal 
that yields them, although it frequents their seas for three or four 
months in the year. The chiefs, of whom I inquired, seemed to show 
an ignorance upon the subject that I was a little surprised at. Although 
daring navigators in other respects, they showed a great difficulty in 
comprehending the mode of capturing whales. Their canoes would 
not be adapted to this object, being easily overturned, and, as yet, they 
have but little intercourse with whale-ships. It was nearly four o’clock 
when we reached the passage and passed through. Out of either gang- 
way a biscuit could have been tossed on the reef: there is not room for 
two vessels to pass. Tom could not help congratulating me and him- 
self that we had got through in safety. Three miles more brought us 
to the anchorage. The weather being perfectly clear, and all the peaks 
of Ovolau and the other islands to the south in sight, I determined to 
take advantage of it. I therefore had my boat lowered, and, as soon 
as the ship dropped her anchor, pulled for the shore, where I reached 
the station I had before occupied when in the tender, and succeeded in 
getting all the observations I desired. 
Before leaving the ship, I had ordered Lieutenant Alden and 
Passed Midshipman Colvocoressis, with two boats, to join the tender, 
and proceed to the survey of Goro and the Horseshoe Reef.. On 
my return on board, I was surprised to see her returning, and ascer- 
tained that they did not think she could get through the reefs, on 
account of the darkness. I immediately sent boats to assist her 
through with lights, for I did not think the alleged impediment a suffi- 
cient one to prevent her. She had been familiarly nicknamed by the 
crew as “The Night-Hawk.” By this aid she got through, and, in 
consequence, they were off Goro the next morning, ready to begin 
the survey. Thus, much time was saved by a little perseverance, 
and a determination on my part to have the work executed. The 
occurrence will serve to show the difficulties that frequently arose in 
