46 Mr Stewart's Account of' an Jscevit to the 



luggage, provisions, &c. &c. Sir Joseph Banks, or, as more 

 familiarly styled, " Joe Banks,*" was also in attendance in his 

 diversified capacity of interpreter, gentleman in waiting to Lord 

 Byron, &c. &c. The Regent (Kaahumanu), had left nothing in- 

 deed undone to render the trip as comfortable as her authority 

 could make it. Neat temporary houses for refreshment and 

 sleeping had been erected, by her command, at intervals of 

 twelve to fifteen miles ; and the people of the only inhabited 

 district through which we were to pass, had, the week before, 

 been apprized of the journey of the " British Chief,"'' with strict 

 orders to have an abundance of pigs, fowls, taro, potatoes, &c. 

 &c. in readiness for the supply of his company. When all as- 

 sembled, we formed quite a numerous body, and from the va- 

 riety of character and dress, the diversity in the burdens of the 

 natives, bundles, tin-cases, portmanteaus, calabashes, kettles, 

 buckets, pans, baskets, &c. &c. with two hammocks, by way of 

 equipage, slung on long poles, and each borne by four men, made 

 a lively and grotesque appearance, while passing in single file, 

 along the narrow winding-path which formed our only road. 



" For the first four miles, the country was uneven and open, 

 and beautifully sprinkled with single trees, clumps and groves 

 of the bread-fruit, the lauala (^pandanus)^ and tutui, or candle- 

 tree. We then came to a wood, four miles in width, the out- 

 skirts of which exhibited some of the richest and most delight- 

 ful foliage I have ever seen. It was composed principally of 

 lofty and wide-spreading candle-trees, whose whitish leaves and 

 blossoms afforded a strong contrast with the dark green of the 

 various creepers, which hung in luxurious festoons and pen- 

 dants, from their very tops to the ground, forming thick and 

 deeply shaded bowers round their trunks. The interior, how- 

 ever, was far less interesting, presenting nothing but an almost 

 impenetrable thicket on both sides of the path. This was ex- 

 cessively rough and fatiguing, consisting entirely of loose and 

 pointed fragments of lava, which, from dieir irregularity and 

 sharpnessj not only tore and cut our shoes, but constantly en- 

 dangered our feet and ankles also. The high brake, ginger, &c. 

 which border and overhang the path, were filled with the rain 

 of the night, and, from their wetness, added greatly to the un- 

 pleasantness of the walk. An hour and a half, however, saw 



