GAMBIER ISLANDS. 181 
and the Pacific Directory, is good anchorage, 
and best water. I landed immediately to see the 
watering-place ; but it was with much difficulty 
that we succeeded in getting the gig over the 
reef, and found only a very small stream of 
water, not more than would run from the neck 
of a bottle, with a few detached wells. Before 
moving the ship, I went the next morning 
in the gig to see the water, and landed on 
Peard Island, to the southward of Mount Duff, 
marked in Beechey's plan ' good water.' Here 
the landing is impracticable for a loaded boat, 
but we found a good stream a long way in 
shore, which is now divided to irrigate the tara 
beds, and trickles at last over the rocks into 
the sea in numerous little streamlets. The 
east side of the island, near the King's house, 
was the only place we could find fit for water- 
ing ; and on the following morning I moved the 
ship over, and anchored off the S.E. angle of 
Peard Island, about a mile from the watering- 
place, in twenty-two fathoms (sand), and a laby- 
rinth of coral patches all around us. By turning 
two streams into one, and damming it up, we 
were enabled to fill about three tuns in two 
hours, and to bring off with some difficulty about 
ten or twelve tuns daily. As water is abundant, 
reservoirs and tanks might easily be constructed, 
should they ever become a rendezvous. I found 
the French Protectorate flag flying on shore, and 
five French families, but no one in any official 
capacity. There are three Romish priests on the 
islands, Father Cyprian being at their head, who 
holds the king and natives in the most perfect 
