nd on the 21st of February, 1830: it bore west by
south-half-south, about twenty-five miles distant; at 11 A.M. when close
in, standing for the anchorage, we were boarded by several natives, who
came off in their canoes, and surprised us by their acquaintance with
the English language; this it seems they had acquired from their
occasional intercourse with shipping, but principally from the European
seamen, who had deserted from their ships and were residing on the
island in savage luxury and indolence. When at anchor, the extremes of
the land bore from east by north to west by compass. An island rather
high, quoin shaped, and inhabited, situated at a short distance from the
main land, (between which there is a passage for a large ship,) was at
some distance from our present anchorage, and bore west-half-north by
compass; it was named Ouer by the natives. Close to us were two rather
high islands, or islets, of small extent, planted with cocoa-nut trees,
and almost connected together by rocks, and to the main land by a reef;
they shelter the bay from easterly winds. Their bearings are as
follow:--the first centre bore east-half-north; the second centre bore
east-half-south, extreme of the main land east-south-east by compass.
One of the chiefs, on our anchoring, addressing the Commander made the
following very _humane_ observation, "If Rotuma man steal, to make
hang up immediately." Had this request been complied with, there would
have been a great depopulation during our stay, and it is not improbable
that a few chiefs might have felt its effects.

On a second visit to this island in March, 1830, we anchored in a fine
picturesque bay, situated on the west side of the island, named Thor, in
fourteen fathoms, sand and coral bottom, about three miles distant from
the centre. A reef extends out some distance from the beach at this bay,
almost dry at low water, and with much surf at the entrance, from which
cause the procuring of wood and water is attended with more difficulty
than at Onhaf Bay.

On landing, the beautiful appearance of the island was rather increased
than diminished; vegetation appeared most luxuriant, and the trees and
shrubs blooming with various tints, spread a gaiety around; the clean
and neat native houses were intermingled with the waving plumes of the
cocoa-nut, the broad spreading plantain, and other trees peculiar to
tropical climes. That magnificent tree the callophyllum inophyllum, or
fifau of the