SURVEYS. 



tants were numerous, and addicted to cannibalism, and of a warlike 

 and inhospitable disposition. It was under these circumstances that 

 our duties were to be performed ; yet, discouraging as they were, I 

 aimed at accomplishing all we could in the shortest possible time, and 

 feel gratified that we succeeded in making a full and complete examina- 

 tion of the whole Group. It must be evident that little time was lost ; 

 and I trust I may be permitted to express here the admiration I felt 

 for the ardor and zeal manifested by those under my command in 

 this duty, and for the accuracy with which the greater part of the 

 minute details were performed, when surrounded, as they oftentimes 

 were, by numbers of savages, who were constantly upon the watch to 

 surprise or overpower the parties. 



On our approach, the Porpoise was left at the Eastern Islands, to 

 carry the examination to the north ; this duty, I supposed, would oc- 

 cupy her for a limited time, or until I was able to visit the Northern 

 Islands, where I intended to meet her, and give further instructions. 

 With the Vincennes, Peacock, and Tender, I sought the Harbor of 

 Levuka, in the Island of Ovolau, as the most central position, to esta- 

 blish the observatory, and to begin the general survey. On my ar- 

 rival, I found it admirably adapted to the object, and no time was 

 lost in directing the operations. Had it been possible to visit the 

 interior of the large or even smaller high islands, without jeopardy to 

 the lives intrusted to my care, the task would have been an easy one, 

 and attended with much less anxiety, as well as labor, to both the 

 officers and men ; but in the work to be performed it was necessary 

 to keep near the shores, and remain under the protection of the boats, 

 as much as possible, to avoid surprise and prevent accident ; conse- 

 quently, we all suffered from confinement in such limited accommo- 

 dations as the boats afforded, and incurred unavoidably greater 

 fatigue in our duties. 



The plan adopted was, to determine the position of Ovolau (the 

 centre of the Group), by a careful set of astronomical observations, 

 and from it to obtain meridian distances to all points, as well as their 

 latitude by observations, including the measurement of the angles in 

 the triangles, with the azimuthal bearings of the sides : this gave a 

 series of large triangles, connecting all the prominent peaks, points, 

 &c, of the islands with each other, and constituted the primary work. 

 The lesser triangulations embraced the minor surveys and hydrogra- 

 phic operations, and were often connected with the larger triangles 



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