285 MALOLO. 
which bear the names of the midshipmen of the squadron. Vatulele is 
well covered with wood, and is inhabited. 
After having finished the examination of Vatulele, we shaped our 
course for Mbenga, and at noon discovered a coral reef extending about 
three hundred yards north and south, by one hundred and fifty east 
and west. It is awash, and bears from the south point of Vatulele 
east-by-north, distant seven miles. After getting angles on Mbenga 
Peak and Vatulele, and obtaining chronometer sights, we left this 
small, though dangerous spot, which I have called Flying-Fish 
Shoal. We passed the night under the extensive reef that surrounds 
Mbenga, not being able to find the entrance, as the night was ex- 
tremely dark. 
In the morning early we stood over for Kantavu, to survey its north 
side, and reached it in time to secure the latitude close to the point of 
its reef off Malatta Bay, which I found to be in 18° 58’ 34” S. The 
distance from Mbenga Reef was found to be twenty-six miles by the 
patent log, in a southeast-by-south direction. We then anchored in 
its harbour, formed by the coral reefs, which only exist to any extent 
about this part, where the island is almost divided in two. So low 
and narrow is the isthmus, that the natives frequently transport their 
canoes over it. 
Many natives came off, but they were not willing to trust themselves 
on board when they understood who we were. 
The whole length of Kantavu is high and mountainous, with the 
exception of a small part of its centre, near Malatta Bay. This bay 
was surveyed; it is small, and offers safety to a few vessels for tem- 
porary anchorage, although it is difficult to chose a place for the 
purpose, on account of several reefs that lie across it. The Flying- 
Fish was anchored in sixteen fathoms, sandy bottom. I now esta- 
blished, from several bases, all the peaks and points for our surveying 
operations the next day. 
Many canoes came off to us before we anchored, but we could not 
persuade the people to come on board, as long as we were under way ; 
they said we might carry them off; but on our anchoring they came 
alongside, bringing a few yams, pigs, &c., which they sold cheap. 
A chief coming off, we succeeded in getting him on board, and 
induced him to remain and send his canoe for provisions. He was 
a remarkably fine-looking man, and extremely intelligent, having 
strongly marked Jewish features. He counted forty-five towns on 
Kantavu, which would make its population upwards of ten thousand. 
The island is well covered with pine timber, resembling the Kaurie 
