TK PITO TE HENUA, OK I. 1). 4' 



sleep upon. Successive generations of natives probably occupied this 

 ancient cavern; an extensive corral has beeu built near by, and Messrs. 

 Salmon and Brander sleep here while rounding up their earth'. Drink- 

 ing-water, the great desideratum on the island, obtained from sources 

 that form the crater of liana Roraka, was, owing to its animal and 

 vegetable impurities, unpalatable, while the supply from the springs 

 was more so, but afforded a pleasing variety, which enabled us to 

 exercise a preference for some other, whenever either kind was used. 

 The so-called springs are holes into which the sea-water percolates, 

 and aie as .sail as the ocean, at high tide, and decidedly brackish at all 

 other stages. 



December 25. — The forenoon was devoted to the exploration of the 

 face of the bluff to the eastward of Tama Point. Many caves were 

 reached after difficult and dangerous climbing, and were found to con- 

 tain nothing of interest, while others of traditional importance were in- 

 accessible from below, and we were not provided with ropes and the 

 necessary appliances for reaching them from above. Xo doubt there 

 are caves in this vicinity with contracted entrances that have been 

 covered by loose rocks and intentionally concealed. One such cavern 

 was found by accident. It contained a small image about 3 fee: high, 

 carved out of hard gray rock. It was a splendid specimen of the work 

 and could be easily removed to the boat-landing at Tongariki. lietrae- 

 ing our steps toward the camp, the ground between Puakalika eleva- 

 tion and liana Roraka was thoroughly examined dining the afternoon. 

 The plain is completely covered with cairns, tombs, and platforms. 

 Many of the most promising were completely demolished and the 

 foundations dug up to a depth of six feet. All contained human re- 

 mains in various stages of decay, and the earth upon which they were 

 built proved to be a rich loam tilled with sea-shells of minute size, free 

 of stones, while outside of the foundation-walls the composition was 

 composed of bowlders of all sizes with very little earth. Among the 

 vast ruins are many fragments of images and crowns scattered about, 

 and it is evident that platforms were erected and destroyed by suc- 

 ceeding generations. The traditions assert, and appearances indicate, 

 that this plain had from the earliest times been one of the most densely 

 populated districts on the island. Only the remains of walls and cis- 

 terns wert' found here. They were generally small, the largest being !> 

 feet in diameter, 11 feel (hep, and surrounded by a sloping bank 

 paved with small stones to facilitate the collection of rain-water. 



In honor of the day, work was Suspended earlier than usual, and we 

 lirned to camp a couple of hours before sundown, but we found that 

 oiii' Christmas cheer had been reduced to "hard-tack" and island mut- 

 ton by the leger-de main of our native assistants, though ample stores 

 had been provided for the entire expedition. With no indulgence iu 

 indigestible Christmas Luxuries, we were enabled to retire to an audia 

 turbed rest a' an earlier hour than would have been probable in a more 

 Civilized land and with different surroundings. 



