100 VOYAGE TO THE 



C ^ P - weather, and by swarms of house-flies which infest 

 w- vw the island, and are said to have been imported there 

 SS. by H. M. S. Briton. 



As soon as we had gained the first level, our 

 party rested on some large stones that lay half buri- 

 ed in long grass on one side of a ravine, from which 

 the blue sky was nearly concealed by the overlap- 

 ping branches of palm-trees. Here, through the 

 medium of our female guides, who, furnished with 

 the spreading leaves of the tee-plant, drove away 

 our troublesome persecutors, we obtained a respite 

 from their attacks. 



Having refreshed ourselves, we resumed our jour- 

 ney over a more easy path ; and after crossing two 

 valleys, shaded by cocoa-nut trees, we arrived at the 

 village. It consisted of five houses, built upon a 

 cleared piece of ground sloping to the sea, and com- 

 manding a distant view of the horizon, through a 

 break in an extensive wood of palms. While the 

 men assisted to pitch our tent, the women employed 

 themselves in preparing our dinner, or more proper- 

 ly supper, as it was eight o'clock at night. 



The manner of cooking in Pitcairn's Island is 

 similar to that of Otaheite, which, as some of my 

 readers may not recollect, I shall briefly describe. 

 An oven is made in the ground, sufficiently large to 

 contain a good-sized pig, and is lined throughout 

 with stones nearly equal in size, which have been 

 previously made as hot as possible. These are 

 covered with some broad leaves, generally of the 

 tee-plant, and on them is placed the meat. If it be 

 a pig, its inside is lined with heated stones, as well 

 as the oven; such vegetables as are to be cooked are 

 then placed round the animal : the whole is care- 



