I,ATK ALLAN CUNNINGHAM, ESQ. 299 



scarcely capable of sheltering its inmates from the weather, 

 being generally in a dilapidated state. The men were ab- 

 sent in their canoes, while their women were busily engaged 

 in the preparation of the soil, which was very poor and stony, 

 for the planting of Koomeras, or sweet potatoes. This ope- 

 ration was effected by a careful clearing of the surface of 

 weeds, and then loosening it by a superficial digging, which 

 exposed to our view the hungry nature of the soil. As the 

 weather appeared doubtful, and the wind had freshened 

 much in the N.E. quarter, it was proposed to return; and 

 by the hour of three in the afternoon, when we reached the 

 open bay, the breeze had considerably increased, rendering 

 it better for the boat to continue along shore direct to the 

 ship, rather than pull so far to leeward to land me at the mis- 

 sionary station. I therefore passed the night on board the 

 Indian, and landed early next morning — it being my full 

 intention, in order to form a clear idea of the vegetation 

 of the woods, in the environs of this station, ere I commence 

 my journeys to those at a distance, to make an excursion 

 among the hills immediately at the back of this little settle- 

 ment. To afford an idea of the face of the country, it ap- 

 pears necessary here to state, that the surface of this part of 

 the island (and I am informed it is generally so,) is a con- 

 tinued undulation constituting an assemblage of rounded hills 

 and interjacent valleys, without any absolutely lofty land of 

 mountainous character, or open level plains. Tlie summits 

 of many (all?) of these rounded hills are covered with Pteris 

 esculenta, to whose roots the natives have, as their dernier res- 

 sort, a resource whenever their sweet potatoes or maize crops 

 fail. This species of Fern grows about three feet high, is 

 very dense, and among it is frequently interspersed that 

 rambling plant Coriaria sarmentosa of Forster, from the bac- 

 cated fruit of which the natives express a drink, said to be 

 intoxicating. The slopes or declivities of these hills, and the 

 interjacent valleys themselves, which are frequently exceed- 

 ijigly sharp in proportion to the proximity of the summits, 

 and the dip of declivity, are clothed with trees of great ver- 



