GAMBIER ISLANDS. 167 
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 landing on Peard 
Island to the southward of Mount Duff, marked 
in Captain 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 round us. By turning 
two streams into one, and damming it up, we 
were enabled to fill about three tons in two 
hours, and to bring off with some difficulty about 
ten or twelve tons daily, as the casks had occa- 
sionally to be thrown overboard to lighten the 
boat on the reef. 
" Not having seen any notice of these islands 
since 1826, I do not consider they have any 
natural advantages as a watering place at pre- 
sent ; but 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 
