Tuvni pui on ihorr. vrw cnrTU ufiifc B^l'» Pyramid.— JVrt JrcV»oci entered- » 



RaoralliaoiL-Mlttbewi' Rock. NEW SOUTH WALES. Arrival at Sydney. 



with the shore, and resolvud to take advantage of 

 it by landing tho prisoner Tuvai. I conceived 

 that ttiii* would accomplish nil the ends 1 had in 

 view in removing him from Ins native island, par- 

 ticularly a* the course of the wind is such, for the 

 ^n-atiT part of the year, as to prevent canoes pro- 

 ceeding from Wullis Island to tile Samonu Group, 

 and then? is in consequence no communication be- 

 tween them. His fate would of course remain 1 

 mystery to hia countrymen, and the impression 1 

 hud Imped to produce on their minds would he 

 effectually made. My original intention had been 

 to land him tit I loom Lnbnd, which is two days' 

 tail further to the south ; hut a similar opportunity 

 might not perhaps have presented itself there. 



Having decided on llus course, 1 committed him 

 to tlie charge of the person who had hoarded us, 

 rind gave particular directions that he, wiih his 

 rolls of tftpn, should he immediately taken and 

 presented to the chief. The customs of the islanders 

 promised that this would insure him good treat* 

 tmmt, by giving htm at once a protector J or at 

 least that he would he only rubbed by a single 

 person, and not exposed to the pillage of tho whole 

 population, who would in all probability have 

 stripped him of his property the instant he lauded, 

 if not restrained by the authority uf a chief. 



Tuvai seemed delighted at being released from 

 his confinement on ship-board, and took his leave 

 by shaking hands with the sentry. Thus, while 

 the culprit has not been exposed to any unneces- 

 sary severity of punishment, 1 feel satisfied that I 

 fully accomplished my object uf convincing his 

 countrymen that they could not hope to commit 

 murders upnn their white visitors with impunity. 



These islands appear to be well wooded, and we. 

 saw many large native houses upon them. As we 

 drew near, we perceived upon a rocky Hut a few 

 natives waving a white ting. The native who came 

 on board informed me that the inhabitants were 

 numerous, and that among ihcni there were ten 

 white men. 



Tho entrance to the lagoon is on the south side 

 of iho Group, and llie pilot, if so he may be called, 

 informed me that there was ample room for the 

 ship tit pass within tho reef. Wood, water, and 

 refreshments may he obtained here. 



lloom Island we made the following day. It 

 was discovered in 101G by Sehoutcn nnd Le Mnire. 

 Its highest point is two thousand live hundred 

 feet above the sea ; on its northern side many 

 rocks are visible, and the whole surface appears 

 hold nod precipitous, affording, as fur as we could 

 perceive, little soil for cultivation. Cocoa- palms 

 in considerable numbers, were, however, observed 

 upon a low point projecting from its southern side. 

 This island is inhabited, and 1 have been informed 

 that an unsuccessful attempt to establish a mission 

 upon it was made by the Calholics in 1H1D. 



On the lb*ih we saw Matthews' Rock, whose 

 height we ascertained to he I lb'N feet. It is of a 

 conical shape, about a mile in circumference, and 

 principally composed of conglomerate. A dike of 

 basalt was observed occupying about a third of the 

 width of the island. In order to obtain specimens, 

 a boat was despatched to endeavour to effect a 

 binding : the undertaking proved difficult, but was 

 accomplished by Dr. Fox and Midshipman Henry, 

 who swam through the surf. They brought off 

 some specimens of porphyritic rock, and a few 



small crystals of seleuite. I'atches were seen on 

 the northern side of the island appearing as if 

 covered with sulphur. As has been so often men- 

 tioned in speaking of other uninhabited islands, 

 great numbers of birds were seen upon and around 

 it. This island is in latitude 22° 27' S, longitude 

 172" Iff' 33" E. 



On the 20th November we made Rail's Pyra- 

 mid, which appears to be a barren rock rising 

 abruptly from the sea. 



At sunset on the 29th of November we made 

 the light -house on the headland uf Tort Jackson. 

 We bad a fair wind for entering the harbour, nnd 

 although the night was dark, and wo had no pilot, 

 lot as it was important to avoid any loss of lime, 1 

 determined to run in. 1 adopted this resolution, 

 because, although we were all uuacquaiuted with the 

 channel, L was assured that the charts in our pos- 

 session might bo depended upon, and 1 stood on 

 tinder n press of sail, accompanied by the Peacock, 

 At 0 tJtt we found ourselves at the entrance of the 

 harbour. Here n light erected on a shoal called 

 the Sow and Pigs, since the publication of the 

 charts, caused a momentary hesitation, but it was 

 not long before it was determined where it was 

 placed, and with this new aid, I decided to run up 

 and anchor off the Cove. In this I succeeded, nnd 

 the I'eaeock, directed by signal, followed the Viu- 

 cennes. At ha If- past 1() f.lt. we quietly dropped 

 anchor off the Cove, in the midst of the shipping, 

 without any one having the least idea of our 

 arrival. 



When tho good people of Sydney looked abroad 

 in the morning, they were much astonished to see 

 two men-of-war lying among their shipping, which 

 had entered their harbour in spite of the difficulties 

 Of the channel, without being reported, and un- 

 kurjwn to the pilots. Their streets were speedily 

 alive with our officers and men, who wire de- 

 lighted at finding themselves once more in a 

 civilized country, and one where their own lan- 

 gunge was spoken. 



The Porpoise and Flying- Fish arrived the next 

 day. 



Our consul, J. W. Williams, Esq., came early on 

 board to welcome us. He communicated the in- 

 formation that the Relief had arrived wifely, and 

 lauded all our sLores, which were ready for us and 

 close at hand; after whirl), and about ten days 

 lieforc our arrival, she had sailed for the United 

 Stales. 



Our arrival was duly announced by an officer, 

 and through him I was informed that the governor, 

 Sir George Gipps, would be happy to receive tne 

 at eleven o'clock. In compliance with this intima- 

 tion, I had the honour of waiting upon his n- 

 n .llcncy at that hour, in company with Captain 

 Hudson, and our consul. I made my apologies 

 for having entered lite harbour in so unccromontoafl 

 a manner, and slated the reasons why I could not 

 tender the customary salutes. 



The reception I met with was truly kind : every 

 assistance which lay in his power was cordially 

 offered ; and I was assured lhat I had only to 

 make my wants known to have them supplied. 

 The use of Fort Macqunrie was immediately 

 granted me for an observatory, a position which, 

 being within hail of my ship, gave me great facili- 

 ties for conducting my experiments, and at the 

 same time superintending my other duties. 



