LAKEMBA AND SAVU-SAVU, 195 
enforcing the strict observance of orders, by which a loss of time 
incompatible with the service we were upon was often sustained. 
The next day completed my observations and finished the survey 
of Nemena, or Direction Isle. In the afternoon we got under way, 
and stood over to the northward for Savu-savu on the island of 
Vanua-levu. The wind was quite light when we passed out of the 
reef, on the opposite side to that where we had entered it. I had 
previously sent two boats to examine the passage, and anchor in the 
deepest water. We approached the passage with a light air, having 
all sail set, but had very little headway. The water- was perfectly 
clear, and the rocks, and fish, with the bottom and keel of the ship, 
were plainly visible. When we got in the passage, the officer in the 
boat told me that the keel looked as if it was in contact with the coral; 
the lead, however, gave three fathoms, one and a half feet to spare. It 
was a little exciting for twenty minutes, but we did not touch. If we 
had, the ship, in all probability, would have been a wreck; for, as the 
tide was falling, she would have hung on the coral shelf, and been but 
partly supported by it. This is the great danger attendant on the 
navigation of this group, as indeed of all coral islands. 
We were becalmed during the whole night; and the next morning, 
finding the calm still continued, I took to my boat, directing Lieu- 
tenant Carr to steer in for the bay when he got a breeze, supposing it” 
would set in at the ordinary time, eleven o’clock. I landed on a small 
islet, about six miles from the place where I left the ship, and near the 
mouth of the bay. ‘To reach the islet we pulled in over the reef, 
which had on it about four feet of water. The islet was composed of 
scoriaceous lava, much worn, and about twelve feet above the coral 
shelf. Here I established myself, and was busy securing my observa- 
tions, when I discovered that my boat was aground, and that the tide 
was still falling. The islet as well as the reef became dry. It was 
not long before we observed the shadow of natives projecting from a 
rock about fifty yards from us, who it now appeared were watching 
us closely; and not long after not less than fifty shadows were seen in 
different directions. I at once ordered all the arms and ammunition 
to be brought up on the top, and made our situation as defensible as 
possible, for I had little doubt if they saw that we were unprepared 
they would attack us. The firing of one or two guns, and the show 
that we were all on our guard, at once caused a change in their inten- 
tions towards us, which they manifested by bringing articles of trade. 
The natives of this part of the group are considered by the rest as 
the most savage, and have seldom been visited by the whites. The 
afternoon came; and the ship not having made much progress, I 
