southeast half a mile per hour, and directly against the wind. Our latitude was 15° 35' S.

Until the 29th we had moderate breezes. The current this day was found east-northeast, one-third of a mile per hour. At 9 P. M. the wind came from the west. This evening we had a beautiful display of the zodiacal light. It was very bright; its altitude was 25°; the upper part of the cone was not well marked, and its apex was not defined; the breadth of its base was 30°. A fair breeze from the southwest continued all the next day, when we had reached the longitude of 113° 29′ W., and latitude 17° 36′ S.

On the 31st, we passed over the locality of an island marked on the charts of Arrowsmith. Although we ran over its position with the squadron spread so as to cover an extent of thirty-five miles in latitude, and on its parallel for several degrees, lying-to at night, nothing whatever was seen to indicate land; and we therefore believe that it does not exist.

On the 4th of August, the current was found north one-third of a mile per hour.

On the 5th, the current was two-thirds of a mile per hour, to the north-northeast.

The winds on the parallel of 18° S., cannot well be termed "the Trades," for at this time of the year they will be found very variable, though prevailing generally from the eastern quarter, with a long swell from the southwest. The upper stratum of clouds were generally seen flying from the southwest. The deep-sea temperature on the 6th, at three hundred and fifty fathoms depth, was 46°, surface 77°.

The 7th proved a calm and fine day, throughout which experiments were made hourly to ascertain the depth at which a white object could be seen; the altitude of the sun was taken at each observation, and also the force and direction of the current. The temperature of the water at one hundred fathoms was 75°, whilst that of the surface was 77°. We were in longitude 125° W., latitude 18° 14' S.

The nights of the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, the meteoric showers were looked for, the officers and naturalists keeping watch, each quarter of the heavens being under vision at the same time. On the 8th, upwards of one hundred shooting stars were seen; but the nights

of the 9th, 10th, and 11th, were cloudy. On the former we had much lightning, thunder, and rain, with squalls from the southwest.

On the 12th, Corporal Alexander Ogle, of the marines, died of inflammation of the brain. He was a valuable man, and had been promoted for his good conduct. He possessed the confidence of his officers, and the esteem of his corps. In the afternoon all hands were called to bury the dead, and his body was committed to the deep, the usual ceremonies being performed by the chaplain, and the vessels of the squadron having their colours at half-mast.

On the 13th of August, at five o'clock, P. M., we made Clermont de Tonnerre, or Minerva Island, and by careful observations the next day, found its southeast point to be in longitude 136° 21′ 12" W., latitude 18° 32′ 49" S. Clermont de Tonnerre, being the first low coral island we had met, naturally excited a great deal of interest. We had pictured them to ourselves as being a kind of fairy-land, and therefore looked for them with some anxiety. At first sight the island appeared much like a fleet of vessels at anchor, nothing but the trees being seen in the distance, and as the ship rises and sinks with the swell of the ocean, these are alternately seen and lost sight of. On a nearer approach, the whole white beach was distinctly seen, constituting a narrow belt of land, of a light clay colour, rising up out of the deep ocean, the surf breaking on its coral reefs, surrounding a lagoon of a

beautiful blue tint, and perfectly smooth. This island was twelve feet above the level of the sea, and six hundred feet wide to its lagoon, and is composed of coral debris and vegetable matter. The shrubs are few, and not more than from twelve to fifteen feet high; the Cocoanut palms and Pandanus, showing conspicuously above them. We found it, by our survey, to be ten miles long, by one and a half wide, lying in a west-northwest and east-southeast direction. The first sounding, on the east side of the island, at three hundred feet from the reef, was obtained in ninety fathoms (coral sand); at one hundred and eighty feet, eighty-five fathoms (coral sand); at one hundred and

thirty feet, seven fathoms (hard coral), being at the edge of a nearly perpendicular shelf; thence to the shore, the bottom was uneven, decreasing to four, three, and two fathoms, until a second or upper coral shelf rose, over which the water at high tide flowed. This extended to where the beach is composed of broken coral and shells, and arose on a gentle declivity to ten feet high.

The Peacock sounded within three quarters of a mile from the southern point of the island: at three hundred and fifty fathoms, the lead brought up for a moment, and then again descended to six hundred fathoms without reaching bottom. When it was hauled up, it had a small piece of white and another of red coral attached to it. The west side of the island is a bare reef, over which the surf breaks violently. There is no opening or entrance to the lagoon.

For the purpose of surveying the island, the Peacock and FlyingFish took the west side, while the Vincennes and Porpoise kept on the east. Boats were lowered and sent on shore for the purpose of landing; several of the officers and naturalists succeeded in reaching the beach, (swimming through the surf,) where they remained about two hours making collections.

I saw some natives, five men and two women, and endeavoured to hold communication with them. The former were armed with long spears. They were cautiously watching our movements; and after the boats had left, they were seen examining the beach for articles that might have been dropped. Every inducement was held out to them to approach my boat, but without success; and we were obliged to return on board for the night, not having succeeded in finishing the survey. Wishing to communicate with the natives, and effect a landing, we lay-to, and by morning found that we had drifted off from the island eight miles to the northwest, and did not again reach our station until towards the afternoon. I then proceeded to the beach, taking with me as interpreter, John Sac, a New Zealander, who spoke the Tahitian language, determined, if possible, to enter into communication with the natives, and to land to make observations. Seventeen natives were now seen on the beach, armed with long spears and clubs, which they were brandishing with menacing atti tudes, making motions for me to retire. As I approached them with a white flag flying, many more were seen in the bushes, probably in all about one hundred. I told John Sac to speak to them, which he did, and found he was understood. The only answer he could get from them was, several of them crying out at the same time, "Go to your own land; this belongs to us, and we do not want to have any thing to do with you." It was impossible to beach the boat without

injury, on account of the surf and coral; and in order to land, it was necessary to swim a short distance, which could not be done without our being attacked, and suffering injury, before we had established a friendly intercourse. I therefore had recourse to throwing presents to them,—all of which they eagerly took,-assuring them that we were friends; but they still continued warning us off, and threatening us with their long spears. I am rather inclined now to think our interpreter was partly the cause of my not succeeding in overcoming their fears and scruples. John Sac was truly a savage, although he had imbibed some feelings of discipline, and was generally a welldisposed fellow. He was a petty New Zealand chief at the Bay of Islands, and had resided some time at Tahiti, where he said he was married. At times it was difficult to control John's movements. On this occasion he soon became provoked at the chief's obstinacy; and the idea of their receiving all our presents so greedily without even thanks in return, excited his native fire; his eyes shone fiercely, and his whole frame seemed agitated. Half naked as he was, his tattooing conspicuous, he stood in the bow of the boat brandishing his boat-hook like a spear with the dexterity of a savage. It was difficult to recognise the sailor in the fierce majestic-looking warrior before us. The chief and John kept passing words until both were becoming vociferous, the one appearing as savage as the other. John's animated attitudes and gestures were the admiration of all. As we could not understand him, he may have said many things to irritate the savage chief before he could be silenced, although he afterwards declared his innocence in that respect. I had been engaged for upwards of an hour endeavouring to overcome their fears, when I was joined by several boats from the other vessels. The officers being anxious to have communication with the natives, were desirous of landing, and I readily gave them permission to do so without arms. They passed a short distance from us, hoping to effect their purpose without opposition, but the natives separated, in order to oppose any landing. One or two officers swam through the surf without arms, and were boldly set upon by three of the natives, when they made a hurried retreat. This evidently gave the natives confidence, and their conduct became more violent. Mr. Couthouy requested permission to land with presents, under the protection of the boat, to which I consented. He swam on shore, pausing now and then, for the purpose of showing the trinkets. The chief motioned him away, but he landed on the rocks. The chief, retiring, appeared as if somewhat alarmed, while Mr. Couthouy advanced towards him, holding out the presents. On being joined by another native, the chief stopped, raised his spear,

and with a shout and distortion of countenance, made a pass at Mr. Couthouy, who at once dropped looking-glasses, trinkets, &c., at his feet, and quickly made for the boat. The savage took no notice of the relinquished offerings, but advanced to attack him with his spear. When he had reached the edge of the surf, the chief made another thrust at him, but fortunately without injury. This precipitate retreat gave them still more confidence; they now began throwing pieces of coral, numbers of which struck the men in my boat. I felt no disposition to do them harm, and yet I had no idea of letting them see and feel that they had driven us off without landing, well knowing, however, if a forcible landing took place, and they made resistance, that injury would befall one side, and probably both. I, therefore, thinking that they had no idea of fire-arms, ordered several blank cartridges to be fired; but they took no notice of them.* According to John Sac, they hooted at these arms, calling us cowards, and daring us to come on shore. I then fired a small charge of mustard-seed shot at their legs, which did not produce any effect. Then, Mr. Peale, who was near by me, was requested to draw his ball, and load with mustardseed, which he did; and Lieutenant North likewise fired, which caused the chief and all the rest to retreat, rubbing their legs. The officers were now permitted to land, under strict injunctions, in order to avoid all contact with the natives, not to leave the beach. So much time had been lost before I could get the instruments safely on shore, that I found it too late to make the observations I desired.

The natives whom we saw, appeared a fine athletic race, much above the ordinary size. Their colour was darker than that of our Indians, but their features resembled them. No tattooing was observed on the men, and the women were not seen close enough to distinguish them. The hair of the former was long, black, and straight. The chiefs had theirs drawn back, and tied in a knot behind; the others had theirs hanging loose. They wore a small maro made of leaves, and the chiefs a pandanus-leaf around their necks, probably to dis-: tinguish their rank. The women wore a piece of tapa as a petticoat; they were not oiled, and the heads of some seemed filled with ashes or lime. They spoke and understood the Tahitian dialect. The only information obtained from them was, that vessels had before been there, but had gone away without landing.

Immediately on their being driven from the beach, a large column of smoke was seen, no doubt a signal to the other inhabitants of the

*I have since understood, however, that the poor natives have been fired upon by trading vessels engaged in the pearl-fishery, in mere wantonness, which will account for their hostile reception of us.