288 TRAVELS IN THE CONFEDERATION 



and smaller. Most of these are by the sea or near it, 

 and doubtless owe their origin to the water. I have 

 heard of a very large cave at the western end of the 

 island, 10-12 miles from the town, of such a size that 

 a chaise may be driven into it. Here and there among 

 the hills in the middle of the island are many large, 

 deep holes 6-10 ft. and more across, and as much as 

 20-30 in depth. They contain no traces whatever of 

 volcanoes, as certain of the inhabitants have believed, 

 strata of the common rock being plainly observable in 

 them. In these caves dwelt the aboriginal Indians, 

 where often now Indian utensils and antiquities are to 

 be found. They are filling up gradually with plant- 

 earth, and at times trees grow in them, which although 

 high, barely show above the surface. Proof elsewhere 

 of the hollowed state of this and other of the islands is 

 furnished by the ponds and plashes found at a distance 

 from the sea and yet rilled with salt water. These, 

 although quite surrounded by hills, and having no 

 visible land-connection with the sea, rise and fall with 

 the flood and ebb tides. 



From the same cause there is observed a periodical 

 rise and fall of the water in the wells of the town dug 

 near the shore through the soft rock. That is to say, 

 the water in these shallow wells never stands higher 

 than the water in the harbor the farther off from the 

 sea, the better. One can count on finding sweet water 

 everywhere, even on the higher hills, if digging is car- 

 ried down to the level of the sea-water, which is well 

 purified by the species of rock found here. At times 

 filters are made of these stones for the use of sea- 

 farers. These dug wells never go dry and the water 

 of them keeps excellently on voyages. 



