MBUA BAY AND MUTHUATA. 209 
The Peacock now took the launch and cutter in tow, and began 
beating up for the purpose of reaching the Malaki Islands, in order to 
take a departure from Amboa Bay. 
The natives on this side of the island speak quite a different dialect 
from that of the other portions of the group, and the interpreters were 
not able to understand them at all. Few canoes were seen, and none 
visited them. The land close to the shore is low, but it gradually 
rises for five or six miles in hills from five to seven hundred feet in 
height; and here and there through the breaks may be seen the dis- 
tant blue mountains, towering above them. 
While the ship was standing in towards Ba, the launch capsized 
and sunk. At the time there were two men in her, by whose care- 
lessness the accident occurred; these were both picked up. Captain 
Hudson immediately brought the Peacock to an anchor, lowered all 
the boats, and made every possible exertion to recover the launch, 
but without success. This was a great loss to our surveying opera- 
tions, and compelled us to redouble our exertions. 
In the evening they anchored off Ba, where the ship Leonidas, 
Captain Eagleston, had been fishing for biche de mar. He had left 
his long biche de mar house, which was deserted, but contrary to the 
custom of persons in this business, had not been destroyed. A large 
quantity of wood was found near it, which Captain Hudson supplied 
himself from. ‘This was the only house in the valley, but there are 
several towns along this part of the coast, though it has not the ap- 
pearance of being densely inhabited ; and the natives, who are usually 
found following a vessel, seemed all to have vanished. Paddy Connel, 
who was with the boats that landed, showed himself a true Feejee 
man on the occasion, for finding the officers were desirous of having 
communication with the natives, he ascended one of the hills, and 
kept up a continuous hallooing in such a variety of voices that those 
who were left on the beach, believed that a whole host was coming 
down; but he did not succeed in bringing any to the shore. 
The 30th and 31st they continued beating up to the windward. On 
the latter day, in getting under way, William Dunbar (seaman) had 
the misfortune to have his hand caught in the chain-nipper, which 
crushed several of his fingers so much, that amputation of them 
became necessary. 
On the 30th, they anchored off the town of Tabooa, to the north- 
ward and eastward of the island of Votia. Off this island is a passage 
. through the sea-reef, which I have called the Ba Passage. 
On the Ist of June, they reached Dongaloa, where they had some 
communication with the natives. They were very shy, which Paddy 
VOL. II. 27 
