INTRODUCTORY NOTE. THE journal, from which these extracts are taken, was written without any expressed intention of publication, but it has been thought that, under existing circumstances, it may be of interest to many, and perhaps of use to some. It has been reproduced exactly as it was originally written, often at the end of a long and fatiguing day, and it was probably never read over again by the writer; and this will account for occasional negligences of style which may appear; but it has been thought better to leave it untouched rather than to make any alterations, however slight. In a few instances it has been a little added to by extracts from the writer's private letters. All allusions to the politics of Fiji, to the enquiry which Commodore Goodenough and Mr. Layard made in those islands, and to the annexation of that colony, have, for obvious reasons, been omitted. With regard to the remarks concerning the formation of the coral islands, it may be said that they are those of a practical observer, and not of an adept or of a student, the Commodore never having specially studied the subject until he found himself among the islands. V. H. G. CHAPTER I. THE OUTWARD VOYAGE-PERTH-WELLINGTON. May 22nd, 1873.-Went on board the Pearl at 8.30; hoisted the pendant at 9; men joined; 10.30 reported the ship to the admiral; 12 went to dinner, all hands having been stationed; 1.15 fell in by watches, and then to quarters. June 2nd.-Came out of harbour. Got powder and swung ship for deviation of compasses. June 3rd.-Went on six hours' run-9'7 knots; tant bien que mal. June 5th.-Inspection by Sir Rodney Munday. June 11th.-Weighed at about II A.M. with the whole ebb tide down to St. Alban's Head. June 19th.-Saw Cape Rocca lights, and came up to Lisbon at 8.15. June 21st.-At 9.30 A.M. weighed and steamed out. July 11th. - Crossed the equator at twenty minutes before noon; current sixty-six miles in twenty-four hours to the westward. I gave the people word to bring Neptune on board, and at 8 we had the whole thing as in old days-just as in the Collingwood in 1844. Hands turned up to trim sail. Bugle sounded "still," and ship hailed from jibboom and cross jack yard backed; and aft they came on a gun limber. Neptune gave me a fish, a skip |