17?H. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 2,57 



us than any other nation whom we had visited in the 

 course of the vovage. 



After a fortnight's had weather, the 19th proving 

 a fair day, we availed ourselves of it, to get up the 

 top-masts and yards, and to fix up the rigging. And, 

 having now finished most of our heavy work, I set 

 out the next morning to take a view of the Sound. 

 I first went to the west point, where I found a large 

 village, and before it a very snug harbour, in which 

 was from nine to four fathoms' water, over a bottom 

 of fine sand. The people of this village, who were 

 numerous, and to most of whom I was well known, 

 received me very courteously, every one pressing me 

 to go into his house, or rather his apartment ; for 

 several families live under the same roof. I did not 

 decline the invitations ; and my hospitable friends, 

 whom I visited, spread a mat for me to sit upon, and 

 showed me every other mark of civility. In most of 

 the houses were women at work, making dresses of 

 the plant or bark before mentioned, which they ex- 

 ecuted exactly in the same manner that the New 

 Zealanders manufacture their cloth. Others were 

 occupied in opening sardines. I had seen a large 

 quantity of them brought on shore from canoes, and 

 divided by measure amongst several people, who car- 

 ried them up to their houses, where the operation of 

 curing them by smoke-drying is performed. They 

 hang them on small rods ; at first, about a foot from 

 the fire ; afterward they remove them higher and 

 higher, to make room for others, till the rods, on 

 which the fish hang, reach the top of the house. 

 When they are completely dried, they are taken 

 down and packed close in bales, which they cover 

 with mats. Thus they are kept till wanted ; and they 

 are not a disagreeable article of food. Cod, and 

 other large fish, are also cured in the same manner 

 by them ; though they sometimes dry these in the 

 open air, without fire. 



From this village I proceeded up the west side of 

 VOL. vi. s 



