PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 171 



CHAP. 

 VI. 



Jan. 



The natives were unwilling that we should touch 

 any of these, and we did not offend them by so 

 doing, but approached within a few feet to ascertain 1826. 

 whether there were any offensive smell from the 

 corpse, but none could be discerned. 



Further on we came to an open area, partly paved 

 with blocks of coral, and divided off from the culti- 

 vated land by large slabs of the same material very 

 evenly cut, and resembling those at the Friendly 

 Islands. At one end of this area stood the large 

 hut which had before excited our curiosity : it was 

 about thirteen yards in length by six or seven in 

 width, and proportionably high, with a thatched 

 roof. On the south side it was entirely open, and 

 the gables nearly so, being constructed with upright 

 poles, crossed by smaller ones, forming an open 

 frame-work, through which the sea breeze circulated, 

 and refreshed the area within. Beneath the roof on 

 the open side, about four feet within the eaves, there 

 was a low broad wall well constructed with blocks 

 of coral, hewn out and put together in so workman- 

 like a style, and of such dimensions, as to excite our 

 surprise how with their rude instruments it could 

 have been accomplished. The blocks were five feet 

 long by three wide, and one foot thick ; and were 

 placed upon their narrow edge in a manner in which 

 we traced a resemblance to the walls in Hapae, as 

 described by Captain Cook. Upon this eminence 

 was seated a venerable looking person about sixty 

 years of age, with a long beard entirely grey ; he 

 had well proportioned features, and a commanding 

 aspect ; his figure was rather tall, but lassitude and 

 corpulency greatly diminished his natural stature ; 

 he was entirely naked except a maro, and a crown 



