CHAPTER VIII.

TYE AND SUALI B.

1840.

UPON the junction of the Peacock with the Vincennes in Mbua Bay, I had it in my power to examine and collate all the work that we had thus far accomplished. After doing this, I found that so much yet remained to be done before a thorough survey of the Feejee Group could be completed, that I must either leave this important duty unfinished, or devote more time to it than had originally been contemplated. I deemed this to be among the most important of the objects of the Expedition; and considering that the seas around these islands abound in dangers whose position had up to this time been entirely unknown, I resolved not only to complete the surveys, but not to leave the group until I had entirely satisfied myself of the accuracy of the work.

In furtherance of the last object, I set all who had been employed in the service to work in plotting and calculating their surveys, while the features of the region were yet fresh in their memories. This duty occupied several days after my arrival at Mbua Bay, and was performed without any loss of time that could have been employed in actual surveying; for the weather was bad, in consequence of a gale from the southeast that lasted four days, and it would have been impossible to work in the open air.

In consequence of our protracted stay, it became necessary to reduce the allowance of the men's provisions one-third. Orders to his effect were, in consequence, given. The men, when informed of it, readily acquiesced, and I heard not a word of complaint.

On the 9th, Lieutenant Alden, in the tender, returned from the Annan Islands, without having completed all the duties he was

charged with, and he had seen nothing of the shoal he had before. reported to me. On the same day I despatched Lieutenant Case and Passed Midshipman Blunt, in the second cutter of the Peacock, around the north side of the island of Vanua-levu, for the purpose of falling in with the schooner Kai-viti, Passed Midshipman Harrison, and with directions to proceed with her to Somu-somu, and there purchase a cargo of yams. Lieutenant Case had also orders, on overtaking Lieutenant Walker, to relieve him, and to continue the survey with which that officer was charged, as far as Somu-somu, after which he was directed to return by the south side of the island of Vanualevu, surveying and examining the harbours as he went along.

The Rev. Mr. Hunt took advantage of this opportunity to return to his home. Notwithstanding it was raining and blowing a gale, I could not delay this service any longer, particularly as I believed that the gale would moderate before the cutter would reach the other party, and that, as they would pass under the lee of the shore, they would not be very much exposed to it. Necessity alone, however, would have induced me to despatch a party in such weather.

For a few days, at this time, every one was employed, who could work, in repairing the boats, preparatory to the further examinations which I contemplated making on the hourly-expected arrival of the Porpoise.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Lieutenant Perry arrived in the launch, bringing with him Mr. Knox and the crew of the first cutter. That boat had been captured by the natives, at Sualib Bay, about twentyfive miles to windward, on the same island. In this bay the launch and first cutter had taken refuge during the bad weather, although it offers indifferent accommodation. After being there two or three days, they attempted to beat out, when the cutter, in trying to go about, near the reef, missed stays and was thrown on it. At the time this occurred, it was low water. The natives, who, it was supposed by the party, had anticipated the accident, had followed along the reef, and, as soon as it happened, crowded down, all well armed with clubs, si ears, stones, &c. Mr. Knox, finding it impossible to get the boat off, thought of looking into his means of defence, and found himself completely in 'he power of the natives, for all his arms and ammunition were soaked with salt water. Lieutenant Perry, finding that the launch could not make headway against the wind and sea, had anchored at long gunshot from the spot where the cutter had gone on shore. As soon as he saw what was going forward, he opened a fire on the natives, but without effect; for they, notwithstanding, collected around Mr. Knox's party, and gave them to understand that they must abandon the boat

and go on board the launch. Having no choice left, he took out all the arms and the chronometers, and, keeping the natives at bay, by pointing the guns at them and threats of killing them, the crew reached the launch in safety. The natives took possession of the first cutter, dragged her over the reef, and stripped her of every thing. They then appeared to be eagerly watching the launch, at which they occasionally fired their muskets, with which they are better provided on this island than elsewhere. They did not prove good marksmen, however, for they did no damage.

Two natives, from another part of the shore, now swam off to the launch, with offers of assistance to Lieutenant Perry; but he supposed that this was done to spy out his weakness, and learn how to take advantage of it. He, therefore, at once seized and retained them. They proved to be a great chief and an inferior one. After he had obtained possession of these men, the natives on shore gave him no further trouble, but remained lurking about the mangroves.

The next morning, the weather having moderated, he was enabled to get out of the bay, and reached the ship at the above date.

it was my inWe, however,

This occurrence was another cause of detention. Immediately on receiving the report, I ordered the two prisoners to be put into irons, and the schooner and eight boats, four from each ship, to be ready for service at sunset. Twenty additional men and officers were put on board the tender. Captain Hudson and myself both accompanied the party, which left the ships at the appointed time. Our first rendezvous was about twelve miles from the ship, and tention to reach Sualib by daylight the next morning. found so much sea on the outside of the reefs, from the late gale, that it was difficult to pull against it. Tom Granby, of whom I have before spoken, took an oar in my boat, somewhat reluctantly, to pull with the crew. It was no sinecure, particularly to one who was not accustomed to rowing, and Tom soon grew weary, as became quite apparent to me, by an occasional expression of fatigue, which an oar twenty feet long soon brings about. After a hard pull, we reached the small island, and I immediately ordered the few boats' crews that had arrived to get what rest they could previous to the arrival of the others. My own tent was quickly pitched for that purpose, and all were snugly slumbering in a short time, except Tom, whose ill-humour would not allow him to take rest. He continued grumbling for some time, and, finding that no notice was taken of him, allowed his moroseness to get the better of him. His complaints became so loud as to keep many of us from sleeping, and I was compelled to silence him, by threatening to tie him to a tree, and leave him there until our re

turn, if he did not desist. This, with a threat to take a shot at him, brought him to his senses, and in part restored his wonted goodhumour. After a rest of two or three hours, most of the boats having joined, we left the island, and reached Sualib Bay at about eight o'clock in the morning. Here I again awaited the arrival of the schooner and boats, which began to drop in.

The cutter, we found, had been drawn up to a considerable distance, and the tide being low, there was a wide mud-flat between her and the place where we lay at anchor, through which a small tortuous creek led up to her.

The natives of the two towns on each side of the bay, one called Tye and the other Sualib, seemed both to be active in preparing to give us a warm reception. Our interpreter gave me reason to expect that we should not get the boat without a sharp fight, and that she would be perhaps destroyed by fire before we should be able to save her. As it would, in all probability, have been attended with loss of life to make the attempt at low water, I determined to await until the tide rose, and in the mean time to attempt to procure her restoration by negotiation. I therefore sent Whippy and Tom to hold a parley, and to state to the natives, that if they restored the boat and every thing belonging to her, I would, for this time, forgive them. One of their chiefs came half-way to meet Whippy, and, both being unarmed, they held a long conference, during which they occasionally referred to their principals. Finally the chiefs agreed to deliver up the boat, which they launched and brought some distance down the creek towards us, whither I sent men to receive her; but she had nothing in her but her spars: all other articles, of every description, including the men's clothes, books and instruments of the officers, breakers, sails, &c., had been detained.

My conditions not being complied with, I determined to make an example of these natives, and to show them that they could no longer hope to commit acts of this description without receiving punish

ment.

The dinner hour had now arrived, and finding that the tide would not suit for two or three hours, I ordered the boats off to the tender to get dinner, telling the men that we should burn the town before sunset. We accordingly pulled to the tender and took dinner. In the mean time I was occupied detailing the boats with officers and men in divisions, and when the time came, the boats shoved off from the tender, leaving only Dr. Palmer and two men in charge of her.

We moved on in an imposing array, keeping ourselves well prepared for an attack, to which we were necessarily exposed on our approach.