GAMBIER ISLANDS. 177 
cairn, was at the Gambler Islands, where he 
employed himself as a teacher, biding his 
time in patience, and employing, in his own 
homely and useful manner, the talent en- 
trusted to him. 
Gambier's group, about three hundred miles 
W.N.W. of Pitcairn, consists of eight islands, 
surrounded by coral reefs, inclosing a lagoon 
in which there are several secure anchoring 
places, but which contains dangerous knolls 
of coral. Captain Beechey gives a pleas- 
ing account of his visit to these islands in 
January 1826, and of his interviews with the 
natives. His vessel rode safely in the lagoon, 
where the crew caught a large quantity of 
fish. The people came out on rafts to the 
vessel, and were delighted with the presents 
which they received. One of them snatched 
up a small terrier dog, which was not in- 
tended for him ; and it was only by force 
that he was prevented carrying it away. 
Others wanted to possess themselves, without 
a title, of a large Newfoundland dog ; " but," 
says Captain Beechey, " he was big and surly 
enough to take care of himself." 
In about nine months after Mr. Nobbs 
