a Mountain hi the Island of Owhyhee, 205 



indeed, there was no possibility of making any retrenchments 

 whilst we were in the midst of such bustle and confusion, and 

 surrounded by such a numerous group of the natives. 



We therefore set out in the forenoon, in the best manner 

 we could, for the mountain, which was directly back from the 

 village; but, a little before our departure, I observed the 

 barometer at high-water mark, where it stood at 30 in. lOpts., 

 and the thermometer in the shade was at 81°. At first our 

 progress was slow, being exposed to the scorching heat of the 

 meridian sun, over a dreary barren tract, of a gradual ascent, 

 consisting of little else than rugged porous lava and volcanic 

 dregs, for about three miles, when we entered the bread-fruit 

 plantations, whose trees, with spreading boughs and beautiful 

 foliage, were scattered about, at this distance from the shore, 

 along the side of the mountain, as far as we could see on both 

 sides. Here the country began to assume a pleasant and 

 fertile appearance, through which we continued our route for 

 about two miles further, surrounded by plantations of the 

 esculent roots and vegetables of the country, industriously 

 cultivated, till we came to the uppermost village, consisting of 

 a few scattered huts, where we were importuned by our con- 

 ductor to take up our abode for the night ; and though we 

 were impatient to go on as far as we could with daylight, yet 

 we were obliged to comply with his request, as he wanted, he 

 said, to muster his party, and make up any deficiency in our 

 stock of provisions, before he quitted these plantations ; it also 

 gave him time to send messengers back to Hanua-oora for 

 whatever was forgotten or wanted. 



From this place we had a delightful view of the scattered 

 villages and winding shore underneath us, and of the luxuriant 

 plantations around us ; but a thick cloud enveloped the moun- 

 tain and woods above us, from which, in the evening, we had 

 light refreshing showers of rain. 



Next morning the clouds dispersed, and gave us a fine pros- 

 pect over the woods of the naked peak of Wha-ra-rai, which 

 did not appear to be farther from us, in a direct line, than the 

 village we had quitted at the sea-side. This gave us fresh 

 spirits, and we set out pretty early, in expectation of soon 

 accomplishing our object. After travelling about two miles 

 by a narrow path, through an uncultivated tract, overgrown 

 with ferns and small bushes, we entered the forest, the verge 

 of which was adorned with rich and fruitful plantations of 

 bananas and plantains, from which we supplied ourselves with 

 a good stock for our journey. We then penetrated the wood 

 by a winding path, so narrow that we could only follow one 

 another; and in this manner we proceeded for about three 



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