380 HONOLULU. 
describes its whole surface as being covered with cinders and lava. 
When off the island, he saw the volcano emitting to some height 
columns of flame and smoke. 
Both Lati and Koa have also the appearance of having craters, 
particularly the latter, the summit of which is cleft. 
On the Ist of September, at daylight, they found themselves in shoal 
water, the bottom being distinctly seen, and the lead gave but fifteen 
fathoms depth. This proved to be an extensive shoal lying to the 
southwest of Vavao. A few hours after, they passed over another 
shoal, and were in nine fathoms: but the shoal was of much less 
extent. 
At noon they took a white man, as pilot, on board, and passed into 
the fine bay of Vavao, called Port Refuge. In going in, they passed a 
large number of rocky islets, uninhabited, and of volcanic formation. 
The pilot informed Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold that there were 
still five of the Shylock’s crew on the island, the rest having been taken 
off by H. B. M. sloop Favourite, bound for Sydney. 
The Porpoise anchored in twenty-seven fathoms water, in the outer 
harbour of Port Refuge. This harbour is an extensive and beautiful 
sheet of water, studded with many islets with bold and steep shores ; 
there is little tide, and no concealed dangers. They were boarded by 
a canoe, which showed a printed document in Tongese and English, 
containing the regulations of the port ; among them was one prohibiting 
the introduction and sale of spirits, and another fixing the fees for 
pilotage, and other services. 
The inner harbour is completely land-locked, and on its shores the 
village is situated, which is of considerable size, with a large native 
mission church, and a good parsonage-house. The town, as well as 
island, looked desolate, from the effects of the severe hurricanes, of 
which they have had for several years a succession. The houses, 
fences, trees, &c., were many of them prostrate and going to ruin. 
Few natives are to be seen, and those are only the old, decrepit, and 
very young; for all the warriors had accompanied King George to 
Tongataboo, to carry on the war against the Devil’s party. 
Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, and his officers, visited the 
mission, and found the parsonage exceedingly comfortable and well- 
arranged, exhibiting a strong contrast to the devastation and ruin of 
the native huts and houses. The Rev. Mr. Thomas is the resident 
missionary. A printing-press is established here. 
The missionaries from Tonga had lately made their escape, in H. 
B. M. ship Favourite, from the seat of war. The report of the death 
of the commander of the Favourite, Captain Croker, which I had heard 
