694 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1897. 



meu into their cave, the officers into their tent. Previously to doing 

 so, however, we took precaution to stuff our ears with paper, in order 

 to exclude the " snapping beetle," one of the Ulateridcc, credited by 

 the natives with a predilection for that organ, and myriads of which 

 had been assailing us. 



Our bed was composed of the moku — native grass — over which we 

 placed our rubber sheets. At 2 o'clock in the morning we were 

 awakened by a heavy rain storm, against which our Himsy patchwork 

 tent proved but poor protection, the water either pouring through or 

 running under our bed of litter. 



On Wednesday, December 22, after a hearty breakfast, finding that 

 we were none the worse for the previous night's experience, we struck 

 camp, the pack animals were loaded, and at an early hour we were 

 uuder way again. Our course this day continued along the coast line to 

 the northward and around North Cape, skirting the base of Rana Hana 

 Kaua. The shore all along this part of the island is bold, locky, pre- 

 cipitous, the black frowning basalt cliffs rising in many places to the 

 height of hundreds of feet, truly an "iron-bound" coast, upon which 

 the seas break with terrific fury, dashing the spray high in the air. 

 The powerful solvent action of sea water upon even the hardest vol- 

 canic rock may here be seen exemplified in the fantastic shapes wrought 

 by the waves on every side, the arches cut through, the innumerable 

 caves excavated in the face of the cliflfs, the pinnacles, towers, basins, 

 etc., visible at every step. Many of the caverns were explored, and 

 human and other bones found in some of them. The character of the 

 surface land was about the same as on the preceding day, and the 

 tramp over rocks and stones was a weary and trying one. 



During the afternoon a detail of men was again sent ahead to locate 

 the camp for the night, near a fresh-water spring known to the natives, 

 and which the remainder of the party reached toward sunset. This, 

 which we named "Camp Day" in honor of our commanding officer, was 

 situated in the district of Yal-maitai (good water), near Motukan 

 Point, about 3 miles distant from our camp of the night before, but 

 fully three times as many by the route we had taken. One of the 

 natives was sent back to the ship, with a note, for additional supply of 

 stores. Two caves were occupied at this camp, one by the officers, the 

 other being allotted to the men. 



Despite the promising name of the district, the water again proved 

 bad, being brackish. A couple of sheep had been captured and dressed, 

 and from these and canned food, garnished with taro, sweet j)otatoes, 

 and bananas, baked by the natives in their inimitable way, and washed 

 down with copious drafts of tea, an excellent meal was made. Our 

 cave proved a damp, ill-smelling place, and visions of pneumonia, rheu- 

 matism, and other resultant affections dominated our dreams, render- 

 ing sleep fickle and unrefreshing. 



At 7.30 on the morning of Thursday, December 23, we were again 



