This, village is called Oonting, and is certainly the same
that is alluded to by the chiefs, and which we formerly wrote
down Winching and Oonching.
This excellent harbour, which we discovered, has been
named Port Melville, in honour of Lord Viscount Melville,
First Lord of the Admiralty.
I t was quite dark when we reached the brig. As a
heavy swell was rolling in, no time was lost in getting under
weigh, but before we could succeed in running well o£F the
reefs, the wind suddenly changed, and the weather, which
before had been fine, became so dark and squally, that we
almost lost sight of the shore. Our situation was now very
critical, for we had just sufficient knowledge of the coast,
to be sensible how extremely dangerous it was; and the
wind, which blew directly on the shore, came in such
violent gusts, that there was every reason to apprehend
the loss of our topmasts; to reef the sails was impossible,
as the delay which this operation must have caused would
have been fatal. While things were in this state, it became
necessary to tack, but owing to the heavy and irregular
swell, the brig came round again against our will, and
before the sails could be properly trimmed, she })ad gone
stern foremost almost to the verge of the reef, on which the
sea was breaking to a great height. Had this occurred
a second time, nothing could have prevented our being
wrecked. After beating about in this awkward predicament
for two hours, the wind shifted a little, and enabled us to
stretch off clear of all danger.
12th of October.—I t blew so hard that we kept out at
sea clear of the shore.
13 th of October.—As the weather had become moderate,
we stood in, and determined the position of five islands
which lie to the northward of Port Melville.'
14th of October.—-During this day the whole of the
east side of the great island was explored. The north and
north-east sides are high, and destitute of cultivation;
nearly in the middle, on this side, there is a deep indenture
on the coast, and the wind being such as to admit of sailing
out again, we ran in under low sail with the usual precautions;
notwithstanding which we were very nearly on the
reefs, for the water shoaled |suddenly from, twenty-four to
eight fathoms; and although the brig was instantly tacked,
the soundings as she came round were only fiv.e fathoms,
and to leeward of us the ragged tops of a rock just level
With the surface were discovered a t the distance of only
fifty yards. In exploring such places there ought to be
a boat on each bow, as well as one a-hcad. The coast
from this bay to the south point of the .island has a belt