348 Sketch of the Life of Mr. David Douglas. 



Woalioo in May, from which place he communicated with his 

 friends in England ; having returned to Hawaii, he was again out 

 on the south side of Mouna Roa, on the 12th July, 1834, on the 

 road to Hido. Here he was cautioned to avoid the pits, dug 

 purposely by the natives, for the taking of wild cattle. Notwith- 

 standing this friendly warning, it appears he was not sufficiently 

 on his guard. Some islanders, on the same day, in pursuit of 

 cattle, perceived one of these pits broken, and on looking in, saw 

 Mr. Douglas' body at the bottom, with a bullock standing over 

 it. Assistance being soon had, the animal was shot, and the ill- 

 fated and amiable naturalist taken out without a sign of life. He 

 had been miserably bruised and gored to death. There had been 

 three pits at this spot, close to some water, two upon the line of 

 the path, and another to one side. On examination, it appeared 

 as if the unfortunate traveller had looked at the two on the road, 

 in one of which was a cow ; that he had afterwards proceeded 

 about thirty paces, and then leaving his bundle and little dog,, 

 had turned back to the third pit, in which there happened to be 

 another animal. He must have approached this too incautiously, 

 and either by the earth giving way, or by a false step have fallen 

 in, and came into the power of the enraged beast. Amid those 

 scenes which he loved so well, but far from human help, so per- 

 ished one devoted to science, and who in a few years, and with 

 slender means had accomplished much in her cause. He had 

 been successful to a high degree in gratifying the lovers of bo- 

 tany by his discoveries, and in adding to the pleasures of those 

 tender hearts who delight in the floral riches of the garden. 

 His contributions had been not so much of a kind to increase 

 largely the number of hot house plants, but rather of those that 

 with a little early warmth and protection, will flourish out of 

 doors in a temperate climate. On this account, therefore, he 

 may be considered to have contributed more abundantly to the 

 amount of amusement and to the benefits of social life. He 

 added to the enjoyment of all those who can aff'ord to have a 

 patch of soil, however small, around their humble dwellings. In 

 this manner has been encouraged the pursuit of a gentle art, the 

 study of which softens the heart and improves the mind, or in 

 the beautiful words of the poet, " Emollit mores, nee sinit esse 

 feros." 



The remains of the deceased were conveyed to Woahoo, on 

 the 3rd August, examined by a medical gentleman, and next day 



