138 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



Devil's-own Point is the weather shore, and ought by all means to be 

 hugged as much as possible ; the flood tide sets on to Point Distress 

 and the Tower, and there divides, part running out of the harbor ; 

 the ebb, on the contrary, flows directly out, and a little to the eastward : 

 therefore, it will be seen that in a vessel attempting to beat out, when 

 in the jaws or entrance between the points, with the flood, she will 

 have the influence of the tide on her weather-bow, and consequently 

 is liable to miss stays, and as the wind is here very apt to fall light 

 and variable, a vessel may be placed in an awkward situation, if not 

 in a very dangerous one. With proper precautions and a vessel that 

 works tolerably well, with the ebb tide, and during the continuance 

 of a fresh trade, these difficulties are readily overcome. 



The approach to this island is generally mad^e from the eastward. 

 Matafao Peak is the first land made. On a nearer approach a -small 

 island off the southeast point is made, called Anuu : it is of moderate 

 elevation. Here canoes come off to vessels with white men, who act 

 as interpreters. The class of vagabonds, so denominated, it is perhaps 

 needless for me to warn the navigator against, as his experience must 

 have taught him, before reaching these islands, that very little confi- 

 dence is to be placed in them as a class. 



Anuu is surrounded by a shore- reef ; there is a good passage, of 

 three-fourths of a mile wide, between it and Red Point. 



On the east end of Tutuila there are two towns, Alao and Tula; 

 between them the shore is sandy, and fringed with coral. The coast 

 trends north and south 2 miles. Near Tula there are two remarkable 

 black rocks. 



In proceeding westward from Red Point, until reaching Fagaitua 

 Bay, the coast trends west-southwest, and is steep and iron-bound. 



Fagaitua Bay is bounded on the east by Round Bluff, and on the 

 west by the Lion's Head, a distance of H miles asunder. In this bay 

 are situated three towns, Fagaitua, Pougai, and Rofao, which are built 

 in groves of cocoanut palms and separated by rocky points. Near the 

 centre of the bay there is a sunken coral patch, the least water on 

 which is 3 fathoms. The anchorage in the bay cannot be recom- 

 mended, not being sufficiently protected from the southeast quarter ; 

 the best berth is well up in the bight, towards Rofao, where the depth 

 of water is from 14 to 18 fathoms. These towns offer refreshments, 

 but Fagaitua is the largest, and there supplies of both wood and 

 water can be most readily obtained. At Fagaitua there is a good boat- 



