3d of October.—The Lyra’s crew were allowed to go
on shore to-day to wash their clothes, and amuse themselves
by running about on the side of the hill. Two of the
sailors of this party, who happened to be singing near the
well, drew a number of natives round them, who expressed
great pleasure a t hearing their songs. At first the crowd
Consisted entirely of the peasantry, who listened with great
attention, and never interrupted the sailors; but in about
half an hour, a person of some rank, with a number of
attendants, came up, and begged them to sing several
of their songs over again : we could not find out who this
person was, but i t was probably one of the chiefs, some of
whom axe remarkably fond of our music.
4th of Octobertffi-The survey on the reef was .completed
to-day: the only inconvenience we had experienced here,
was the limited time which the tide allowed us each day,
otherwise the situation was well adapted for a base, from its
commanding a view of all parts of the anchorage. During
the progress of the principal survey, the young gentlemen
sent by Captain Maxwell, in conjunction with the midshipmen
of the Lyra, completed a survey of the reef itself; A
native of a genteel appearance, but not in the dress of a
chief, visited the Lyra to-day, and gave me a present of two
pipes and two bags of sweet, potatoes.
5th of October.—Captain Maxwell called for me this
morning at sunrise, on his way to the shore. The chiefs had
not expected us so early, and our only companion for some
time was an old peasant, who now and then ran on before
to give notice of our approach. Two well dressed people
shortly afterwards came up, and continued with us during
our walk, which at first lay along the beach, but afterwards
led into the country; some exception was taken to this
by our companions, but as no attention was paid to them,
they desisted.
After walking about a mile, we passed through a grove
of young trees, and f o u n d ourselves close to a village, which
lies in the bottom of a glen highly cultivated, the houses
being almost entirely hid by trees, of which the bamboo is
the most conspicuous.
This village is surrounded by a close hedge, and every
separate house also has an inclosure ■- some of the houses
have attached to them neat arbours, formed of a light
frame of bamboo covered with a variety of creepers. The
rice fields are divided by small banks of earth, made to
retain the water, and along the top o f each bank there is a
foot-path; the whole'valley having much the air of a scene
in India. A number of the villagers, accompanied by their
children, came out to meet us, but there were no women