PIRON ISLAND. 185 



be long' and low^ resting' on the ground^ with an 

 opening' at each end^ and an arched roof thatched 

 with palm-leaves. The most picturesque situations 

 Avere chosen for these hamlets in the shade of the 

 cocoa-nut trees^ and about them we could see 

 numbers of children^ but no w^omen "\^^ere made out^ 

 and most of the men were fishing* on the reef. At 

 one place we observed what appeared to be a portion 

 of cultivated g'round 3 a cleared sloping' bank above 

 the shore exhibited a succession of small terraces^ 

 with a bush-like plant g'roAving' in reg'ular rows. 



June 14:tJi. — In the morning' we found ourselves 

 so far to leeward of the opening' seen last nighty 

 with a strong' breeze and a considerable head sea^ 

 that the attempt to work up for it was abandoned^ 

 and we kept away to the westward to look for an 

 anchorag'e. We then ran along' the northern side 

 of Pii'on* Island^ which is five miles in lengthy and 

 one and a half in breadth^ of moderate elevation^ 

 and sloping' g'ently towards each extreme. It 

 exhibits a range of low grassy hills^ with smooth 

 rounded outline^ a straggling* belt of wood — often 

 mang'roves — along the shore^ patches of brush 

 here and there in the hollows^ and on the hill 

 tops_, scattered along' the ridge^ a few solitary tall 

 bushy trees with silvery-looking' foliag'e. The 

 bright g'reen of the tall g-rass g'ave a pleasing' 

 aspect to the whole island^ larg-e tracts of which 



* Piron was draughtsman to D'Eiitrecasteaux's Expedition. 



