diameter, and of considerable depth; it is about half a mile from the village, to the north, and situated within the line of woods. Watering is very troublesome and fatiguing when the boats are outside, and it is necessary to transport it a long distance; but having leathern wateringbags, it was less difficult for us. By entering the lagoon through the opening, the boats could approach very near the pool. There would be some difficulty in passing into it when the tide is setting out. It was reported that there was enough water to supply the squadron. The water was thought by some to be a little brackish, but it was found quite potable.

Many botanical specimens were obtained here, similar to those collected on the other islands; also several birds, a harmless scorpion, and lizards, the same as found on the other islands.

The reefs were covered with Holuthuria and some Biche-de-mar, but none of the valuable kinds; we also obtained a large number of shells. The fish here are said to be poisonous; but the natives, we understood, eat some of the kinds, so that the remark does not apply to the whole. The position of the west point of the island was determined to be in longitude 145° 39′ 46′′ W., and latitude 15° 26' S.

Having obtained all the water we could in the afternoon, amounting to three hundred and ninety gallons, I directed the course of the squadron to the northward and eastward, towards King George's Group, having fresh breezes from the east-northeast. The next day at noon, the most southern island was in sight, and finding the ships could not make it without much loss of time, I despatched the tender to the group, with orders to circumnavigate and examine the islands, and then to follow us to Tahiti; whilst the Vincennes and Peacock bore away to the westward, for the doubtful island of Waterlandt. At 5 P. M. it was discovered from the masthead, and at six from the fore-yard, bearing northwest-by-north.

We stood on and off all night, and at daylight again made the land; we reached its north point at four o'clock P. M., when the Peacock was ordered to take the east, whilst the Vincennes took the west side; we continued the survey until dark, when we took the necessary angles to resume the work in the morning. Many natives were seen, and smoke was rising in several places. On the 6th of September, we continued our surveying operations, and shortly afterwards joined the Peacock, Captain Hudson having completed his side of the island. The Peacock now made the signal of land to the westward. Wishing to land and make an examination of this island, as well as to have communication with the natives, the boats were lowered, and the naturalists from both vessels, and many officers, landed, and rambled

over the western part of the island for several hours. The few natives were very friendly, and informed us that the native name of the island was Manhii. This is, in all probability, the Waterlandt of Schouten and Le Maire, and also Wilson's Island of the Duff. There is a large and deep entrance in the southeast end into the lagoon of Manhii Island, in which, the natives informed me, vessels had often anchored, whilst engaged in the pearl-fishery. Many cocoa-nut trees were seen on this island, and fresh water is to be procured from a pool on the southwest side. The island at this end is upwards of half a mile wide to the lagoon; the coral reef is here quite broad. Soundings are not to be had with one hundred fathoms of line, fifty feet from the edge of it.

There were some small compact coral rocks here and there, but no regular upper or second shelf; the lower coral shelf was three hundred feet in width, and had many long longitudinal cracks, from six to eight inches wide, resembling those seen in ice-fields. In some places these were quite deep, and in the chasms numerous shells of the chama species presented to our view their beautiful colours. Some of the gentlemen reported that they found a stone sarcophagus, or something much resembling one. We made a set of magnetic observations on this island, and many shells, plants, &c., were procured.

To our surprise, one of the men of the Peacock, by the name of Penny, here deserted from the boats. He had been formerly much among the islands, engaged in pearl-fishing, and spoke the language well. Strict search was made for him, until the officer in charge of the boats became satisfied that he had no intention of returning. On hearing of it, I was convinced that he had chosen this opportunity to leave us, particularly as he must have been aware that there is very frequent communication with Tahiti. The chief of this island informed us that he was a relative of the one-handed chief of Raraka.

The east end of the island lies in latitude 14° 26' 22" S., longitude 146° 04' 20" W.

Several of us had our feet severely blistered, from going barefoot on the reefs, and were made very uncomfortable from this cause. After returning on board, we bore away to the other island, to which the natives gave the name of Ahii. I have also added that of Peacock Island, to mark that its correct position was first established by the Expedition. It lies west three-fourths north per compass from Manhii, and was found by the patent log to be eight and six-tenths miles from reef to reef. On coming up with it, the Vincennes and Peacock took opposite sides, and surveyed it; and the next morning parties landed. I was hardly able to move, on account of my feet, but the desire of getting observations of the eclipse, urged me to make the attempt; I

only succeeded in getting the last limb and good observations for time. After four o'clock, we returned on board. This island is not inhabited, and has only a small boat-entrance into its lagoon, on the west side. The coral belt is similar to that last described; it was found to be upwards of half a mile in width, and was covered with the same kind of vegetation as the last, excepting cocoa-nut trees, of which none were found on the island. The lagoon is quite shallow. A favourite fish with the natives is found in it, and at certain seasons they visit the island for the purpose of catching them. The coral shelf varied from two to five hundred feet in breadth.

Being desirous of making the examination of as many of the coral islands as possible, I now despatched the Peacock to the Arutua or Rurick Islands, with directions to examine them, and then to proceed along the south side of Dean's Island, whilst, in the Vincennes, I steered for the north side of the latter, to pass along it. We then parted company, and Dean's Island was made by us the next morning. After establishing our position, we ran along the northern shore, and reached its western point at 4 P. M. Off this point we obtained sights for our chronometers, which put it in longitude 147° 58′ 34′′ W., latitude 15° 05′ 15′′ S. During the day we passed an entrance into its lagoon, and some natives came off from a small village, in two canoes, to visit us. They acknowledged themselves subjects of Queen Pomare of Tahiti, and were very desirous we should land. They brought off a few shells, and told us they had many fowls, pigs, taro, &c. There are several islets in the lagoon covered with trees. Vast numbers of large blocks were seen lying on its reef. The shore-reef is not more than two hundred feet wide, and is composed of only one shelf. The current was tried, but none was found. We had the wind very fresh from east-bynorth all day. When off the western point we discovered Krusenstern's Island to the west, and hauled up to pass between it and Nairsa. The passage was found to be twelve and two-thirds miles wide, and free from all danger. In the evening I stood for Metia Island, to the southward. Nairsa or Dean's Island was found to be sixty-six miles in length.

On the morning of the 9th of September we were in sight of Metia or Aurora Island, the north end of which is in latitude 15° 49' 35" S., longitude 148° 13' 15" W. It was totally different in appearance from those we had met with, though evidently of the same formation. It was a coral island uplifted, exposing its formation distinctly, and as such was very interesting. On approaching its eastern end, I sounded at about one hundred and fifty feet from its perpendicular cliff, and found no bottom with one hundred and fifty fathoms of line. The

cliff appeared worn into caverns. We landed close in its neighbourhood, and on measuring its height, it proved to be two hundred and fifty feet. The coral shelf was found to be five hundred feet in width, extending on the north side of the island, and gradually diminishing in width until it loses itself at the western end. This island has all the features that one would naturally be led to expect from a low island uplifted. The north, east, and west sides present a perpendicular cliff or wall, but this character does not prevail on the south side, although it has some high knolls. The north ridge is nearly level, and there is a break through it (by which we ascended to its top) very much like the opening of a lagoon. The north side is concave, and there is found within the indentations between its two points, an extensive inclined plane, composed of large masses of limestone and vegetable mould, on which the village is situated, in a luxuriant grove of breadfruit, cocoa-nut, pandanus, and other trees, similar to those already spoken of, as seen on the other islands. There were several copious springs, but the natives informed me that there were no running streams on the island.

The natives all seemed delighted to see us, crowding around my boat, and assisting to haul it up; men, women, and children flocked around us; all the population were gathered, to the number of about three hundred and fifty. We were at once invited to the chief's and native missionary's house, situated in the centre of the village. The house was constructed of the bread-fruit wood, for a frame, and reeds of the wild sugar-cane for the uprights, with interstices for the passage of the air, and lining of mats to exclude it when required. It was well thatched, and the whole had a cool and comfortable appearance. Cocoa-nuts were soon brought us, and all our questions were answered with an alacrity and pleasure that showed their strong desire to oblige and assist us.

The natives had gathered in crowds around the door to look at us.

They were a fine-looking race, though forming rather a motley group. The manner of carrying their children particularly attracted our notice; it had a pleasing effect. We found it afterwards practised throughout Polynesia. Many questions were put to me, and now and then I could hear a voice saying, "Me ship, captain; me go Tahiti." All were more or less clothed in the cast-off garments of whites, and not very particular whether they possessed one, two, or parts of garments, as long as it appeared different from their own tapa, and of foreign fashion. This appeared more ridiculous, for on our first landing few were to be seen except in their native dresses, but shortly afterwards one might have believed the contents of all the old clothes shops of one of mot din yunyors of Shim guild asids of aloid