332 STcetch of the Life of Mr. David Douglas, 



due tor of sound, but there may be also something in tbe mineral 

 substance of Mouna Kuab which would effect this," 



'' Were the traveller permitted to express the emotions he feels- 

 when placed on such an astonishing part of the earth's surface, 

 cold indeed must his heart be, to the great operations of nature^ 

 and still colder towards nature's God, by whose wisdom and power 

 such wonderful scenes were created, if he could behold them 

 without deep humility and reverential awe. Man feels himself as 

 nothing, as if standing on the verge of another world. The death 

 like stillness of the place, not an animal nor an insect to be seen^ 

 far removed from the din and bustle of the world, the whole im- 

 presses on his mind with double force, the extreme helplessness of 

 his condition ; an object of pity and compassion, he feels utterly 

 unworthy to stand in the presence of a great and good, and wise 

 and holy God, and to contemplate the diversified works of his 

 hands !" 



We find the description of the visit to the great crater of 

 Mouna Roa, undertaken a few days afterwards possessed of even 

 still greater interest, while some amusing traits of the natives are 

 touched upon. We shall therefore draw more largely from this, the 

 last it may be called, of the written work of the lamented Douglas, 



" On the 22nd of January, the air being pleasant, and the sun 

 occasionally visible, I had all my packages assorted by nine A. M. 

 and engaged my old guide Honori, and nine men to accompany 

 me to the volcano and to Mouna Roa. As usual there was a for- 

 midable display of luggage, consisting of papas, calahasheSj 

 poe, tar a &c., while each individual provided himself with the 

 solace of a staff of sugar cane, which shortens with the distance, 

 for the pedestrian when tired and thirsty sits down and bites off an 

 inch or two from the end of his staff. A friend accompanied me 

 as far as his house on the road, where there is a large church, his 

 kind intention being to give me some provision for the excursion, 

 but as he was a stout person I soon out-stripped him. On leaving 

 the bay, we passed through a fertile spot, consisting of pare 

 patches in ponds, where the ground is purposely overflowed and 

 afterwards covered with a deep layer of fern leaves to keep it 

 damp. Here were fine groves of bread fruits, and ponds of mullet 

 and ava-fish. The scenery is beautiful, being studded with dwel- 

 lings, and better plantations of vegetables, and of Monis papyAfera 

 of which there are two kinds, one much whiter than the other. 

 The most striking feature in the vegetation consists in the tree- 



