S'4 



A VOYAGE T O- 



J7:'7- it; amongfl: which were feveral of thofe called etoa^ very 

 large. Theie, as they refemble the cyprefs, had a fine effect 

 in fuch a place. There was, alfo, a row of low palms near 

 one of the houfes, and behind it a ditch, in which lay a 

 great number of old bafkets. Mr. Webber's drawing of 

 \\\\.% jiatooka^ will fupply the defecfts of my defcription. 



After dinner, or rather after we had refreQied ourfelves 

 with fome provifions which we had brought with us from 

 our fhip, we made an excurfion into the country, taking a 

 pretty large circuit, attended by one of the king's miniflers. 

 Our train was not great, as he would not fuffer the rabble 

 to follow us. He alfo obliged all thofe whom we met 

 upon our progrefs, to fit down, till we had pafi!ed ; which is 

 a mark of refped: due only to their Sovereigns. We found 

 by far the greateft part of the country cultivated, and 

 planted with various forts of producTcions ; and moft of 

 thefe plantations were fenced round. Some fpots, where 

 plantations had been formerly, now produced nothing, lying 

 fallow ; and there were places that had never been touched, 

 but lay in a Hate of nature ; and, yet, even thefe were ufe- 

 ful, in affording them timber, as they were generally co- 

 vered with trees. We met with feveral large uninhabited 

 houfes, which, we were told, belonged to the king. There 

 were many public and well-beaten roads, and abundance of 

 foot-paths leading to every part of the ifland. The roads 

 being good, and the country level, travelling was very eafy. 

 It is remarkable, that when we were on the moft elevated 

 parts, at leaft a hundred feet above the level of the fea, 

 we often met with the fame coral rock, which is found 

 at the fliore, projeding above the furface, and perforated 

 and cut into all thofe inequalities which are ufually feen in 

 rocks that lie within the wafli of the tide. And yet thefe 



'^ery 



