350 CHARLES WILKES. 



and gradually diminishing in width until it loses 

 itself at the western end. This island has all the 

 features that one would naturally be led to expect 

 from a low island uplifted. The north, east, and 

 west sides present a perpendicular cliff or wall ; but 

 this character does not prevail on the south side, 

 although it has some high knolls. The north ridge 

 is nearly level, and there is a break through it (by 

 which we ascended to its top) very much like the 

 opening of a lagoon. The north side is concave, 

 and there is found within the indentations between 

 its two points an extensive inclined plane composed 

 of large masses of limestone and vegetable mould, 

 on which the village is situated, in a luxuriant grove 

 of bread-fruit, cocoanut, pandanas, and other trees, 

 similar to those already spoken of as seen on the 

 other islands. There were several copious springs ; 

 but the natives informed me that there were no 

 running streams on the island. 



"The natives all seemed delighted to see us, 

 crowding around my boat and assisting to haul it 

 up : men, women, and children flocked around us ; 

 all the population were gathered, to the number of 

 about three hundred and fifty. We were at once 

 invited to the chiefs and native missionary's house, 

 situated in the centre of the village. The house 

 was constructed of the bread-fruit wood for a frame, 



