42 VOYAGE TO THE 



Nearer the sea-shore, which here forms a bay, was a 

 morai, surmounted by four images standing upon a 

 long low platform, precisely answering the descrip- 

 tion and representation of one given by Perouse; 

 and also an immense enclosure of stones, and several 

 large piles, which, as well as the images, were capped 

 with something white, a circumstance noticed both 

 by Captain Cook and M. Perouse. 



The greatest attention appeared to be paid to the 

 cultivation of the soil. Such places as were not 

 immediately exposed to the scorching rays of the 

 sun were laid out in oblong strips, taking the direc- 

 tion of the ravines ; and furrows were ploughed at 

 right angles to them, for the purpose of intercepting 

 the streams of water in their descent. Near the 

 middle of the small bay just mentioned, there was 

 an extinguished crater, the side of which, fronting 

 the sea, had fallen in. The natives, availing them- 

 selves of this natural reservoir for moisture, in which 

 other parts of the island are so deficient, had culti- 

 vated the soil in its centre, and reared a grove of 

 banana-trees, which, as we passed, had a very pleas- 

 ing effect. The natives lighted fires, and followed 

 the ship along the coast, their numbers increasing at 

 every step. Some had a white cloth thrown loosely 

 over their shoulders, but by far the greater number 

 were naked, with the exception of the maro. 



When the ship had arrived off the N.W. point of 

 the island, she was hove to for the purpose of taking 

 observations ; and a boat was lowered to examine 

 the bays, and obtain soundings near the shore. Im- 

 mediately she put off, the natives collected about 

 the place where they supposed she would land. The 

 sea broke heavily upon the rocks, and some of them 



