Portlock and Dixon JVafrn'ng-. 



191 



at a considerable distance from the shore, and so high that it was scarcely practicable, and by no 

 means safe for a loaded boat to venture over: this circumstance made us despair of filling our water 

 at this island ; but Captain Dixon taking notice that most of the people in the canoes had several 

 gourds or calabashes full of water, he directed us to purchase them, which we easily did for nails, 

 buttons and such like trifles : indeed so fond were thej' of this traffic, that ever}' other object was 

 totally abandoned, and the whole Island, at least that part of it which lay next us, were employed in 

 bringing water: for a small or a middling sized calabash, containing two or three gallons, we gave 

 a small nail ; and for larger ones in proportion. Thus in this very singular, and I may venture to 

 ^ay, unprecidented manner, were both ships compleatlj' supplied with water, not only at a trivial 

 expence, but also saving our boats, casks, and tackling, and preserving the people from wet, and the 

 danger of catching cold.*' 



FIG. 176. IPU LE'I for fish HOOKS AND LINES. 



In Puna, where springs are scarce and streams unknown, large ipu are placed 

 in lava caves to catch the drip through the poroits lava roof. This was common prac- 

 tice all throtigh the lava region and many a thirsty traveler has quenched his thirst 

 at such reservoirs. 



Rats and mice troubled the ancient as they do modern dwellers on these islands. 

 Menzies and his party from Vancouver's ships, who ascended Hualalai on Hawaii, 

 were greatly annoyed by these rodents in the hut where they passed a night in the 

 mountain region. To reduce the number the Hawaiian used a small bow and very 

 light arrow, such as shown in Fig. 177. How earl}- they invented the bow and arrow 

 we do not know, but they do not seem to have made great use of this weapon in war. 



°° A Voyage round the World ; but more particularly to the North-west coast of America; performed in 1785, 

 1786, 1787, and 1788 in the King George and Queen Charlotte, Captains Portlock and Dixon. By Captain George 

 Dixon. London, 1789. p. 52. 



L375I 



