25 July 1840: sixty crewmen of United States Exploring Expedition burn Malolo island towns of Sualib and Arro, destroyed all the crops and huts between them

On 25 July 1840 a group of sixty crewmen of the United States Exploring Expedition burned the towns of Sualib and Arro and destroyed all the crops and huts between them. This was after the nephew of the Exposition leader Commander Wilkes and another crew member was killed. “A search of Sualib produced some [...]

May 1840: Fijian hair dos and tattoos

On arrival in Levuka, Charles Pickering, M.D., Member Of The United States Exploring Expedition. wrote, “I soon began to perceive the resemblance of the Feejeeans to Labillardiere’s portraits of New Caledonians; and a further acquaintance with the people presented novelty at every step.
Fijians a unique race: Points connected with their personal appearance first arrested attention [...]

May 1840: United States Exploring Expedition “secure within the territory of the chief of Levuka”

Charles Pickering, M.D., Member Of The United States Exploring Expedition reported “One of our first inquiries on landing regarded the safety of travelling ; and we were informed; that ” we should be entirely secure within the territory of the chief of Levuka.”
But not safe in the mountains: It appeared, however, that his dominion included [...]

8 May 1840: ship, The Peacock of the United States Exploring Expedition squadron arrives at Levuka

“On the morning of the 4th of May, 1840, the Squadron left Tongataboo; (Tonga) and towards the evening of the following day we came in sight of TURTLE Island, which is small and unimportant, except as a guide to the navigator. We rested on our course for the night ; but by daylight we had [...]

1840: The town of Levuka contains about forty houses

Five volume Narrative of The United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 reported in 1840 - “The town of Levuka contains about forty houses; it is situated on the east side of the island of Ovolau, in a quiet and peaceful
valley, surrounded by a dense grove of cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees, with a fine stream of fresh [...]

1840: United Starts Exploring Expedition, squadron of four shipsy way of Vatoa Passage, on 5th May

The outstanding event of 1840 was the visit of the United Starts Exploring Expedition. The squadron of four ships - the sloops-of-war - arrived by way of Vatoa Passage, on 5th May.;
• Vincennes (flagship of Commodore Charles wiles); and
• Peacock (Captain Wm. L. Hudson);
• the brig Porpoise (Lieut.Commandant C. Ringgold); and
•  the [...]

1840: Whaler Shylock, wrecked at Vuata Vatoa

Vatoa is a low island, easily missed in bad weather, or at night; three miles to the south there is a dangerous reef - Vuata Vatoa; the whaler Shylock was wrecked here in 1840.
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