258 TYE AND SUALITB. 
quickly given, “That it would be the last of him and them; that 
there were some foolish people, who thought they would live in some 
other world; but they were very ignorant, and there were very few 
who thought in this way.” 
The next morning the boats were ordered to survey and sound out 
Ya-sau-y-lau Harbour, and thence to go on beyond the island of Na- 
viti, passing those of Androna and Yangata. All these islands have 
passages between them, and are little incommoded with coral reefs. 
Some of them rise to a considerable height, that of Naviti being nine 
hundred and fifty-four feet high. They all have many small villages 
on them, which are generally built on a snug bay, and have near 
them a secure place of retreat, on the top of some inaccessible rock. 
I had expected to find anchorage and a good position for observing at 
Naviti, but none was accessible. 
Just to the south of Naviti, is an island, the name of which I could 
not obtain, and which I subsequently called Eld Island, after Passed 
Midshipman Eld. To three others near it I gave the names of Fox, 
Agate, and Sinclair. Eld Island was found to be adapted to my 
purposes. We ascended its peak, and obtained the requisite observa- 
tions. I then despatched the tender to bring up the boats. 
During the absence of the tender, we discovered three or four canoes 
with a number of natives concealed just around the bluff of the next 
island. ‘These natives were watching our motions very closely, and I 
deemed it necessary to put the men at the boat, which was some 
distance from us below, upon their guard, and sent extra boat-keepers 
to reinforce them. These natives learned that we were well-armed, 
by the occasional firing of our guns at birds, and did not trouble us. 
On the arrival of the tender, they went off, and we saw no more of 
them. It was by no means pleasant to be constantly feeling that if one 
of us should straggle, he might be kidnapped and taken off to furnish a 
cannibal feast. The boats again at night pitched their tents on the 
beach near the tender. s 
Naviti has several large villages, though there is little level ground 
for cultivation. From the top of Eld Island, that of Biva, in the west, 
extensive coral reefs trending north from the island of Vomo to the 
east, and the small islands in the southern part of this group, could be 
distinctly seen. 
A few natives were seen on this island, who had swum across the 
narrow passage between it and Naviti. They were living in a mise- 
rable hut, and their principal food appeared to be the yaka, which an 
old woman was baking in the fire. From the natives digging in search 
