1835. 



SATL—WHYLOOTACKE— EIllDS. 



557 



with Taati, Utaame, and others. Old Ua was there also, to 

 thank me for some trifles sent to him by one of the queen's 

 maidens, who had attended her when on board the Beagle ; 

 and I was glad to hear that the damsel had executed her com- 

 mission in a most punctual manner.* 



They expressed great anxiety about the arrival of another 

 man-of-war, with, perhaps, harsher orders : and were very ' 

 desirous to know when I should arrive in England, and when 

 they would hear from me. I endeavoured to satisfy them on 

 these points, before Mr. Darwin and I wished them farewell (in 

 the most earnest meaning of the word) and, after taking leave of 

 Mr. Pritchard's family, embarked. Mare and Mr. Pritchard 

 accompanied us to the vessel, then under sail outside the reefs, 

 — wished us a great deal more happiness than most of us will 

 probably enjoy, and returned with Mr. Henry and the pilot in 

 their own boats. We made all sail, and soon lost sight of this 

 beautiful island. 



Easterly winds swept us along a smooth sea for many days, 

 after leaving Otaheite.-f At daylight on the 3d of December 

 we saw Whylootacke (or Wailutaki) a small group of islets 

 encircled by a coral reef, from four to eight miles in diameter. 

 The principal one is 360 feet high, and nearly four miles long. 

 There was a native missionary upon it, educated at Otaheite, 

 On the 11th a few white tern were seen near the ship, (in lat. 

 28°. S. and long. 180°.) and as she was about 120 miles from 

 any land then known, this notice may help to show within what 

 limits the sight of those birds may be considered to indicate 

 the vicinity of land. I am not at all surprised that the early 

 voyagers should have taken so much notice of the appearance 

 and flight of birds, when out of sight of land ; since in my 

 very short experience I have profited much by observing them, 

 and I am thence led to conclude that land, especially small islands 

 or reefs, has often been discovered in consequence of watching 



* She was his grand-daughter. 



t We sailed with the land breeze, which at Otaheite is so regular that 

 a ship might sail round the island (in successive nights) AA ith the wind 

 always a-beam, and off the land ! 



