564 Voyage of the Novara. 



The animals on this island seem to be less numerous and less 

 varied ; there are no large ones at all. Of doves, as also of 

 sand-pipers and parrots, we saw some very beautiful species, of 

 which the fowling-pieces of our sportsmen furnished numerous 

 specimens for our zoological collection. All along the bank of 

 the river and around the hills lay scattered at will, under the 

 shade of the most beautiful and abundant vegetation, the dwell- 

 ings of the natives. Near where the pretty Roankiddi falls into 

 the sea, rises on the left bank the handsome mission house built 

 of wood, which serves the missionaries for school, church, and 

 residence in one. Close by is a stone building, which serves 

 as a larder. Unfortunately, the sole missionary, Mr. Sturges 

 of Pennsylvania, was absent on a tour of inspection, and only 

 his assistant (a native of the Sandwich Islands, who had re- 

 ceived his education in the States) was at home with his 

 family. A third missionary, also a native of the Sandwich 

 Islands, lives at what is called Foul-weather Harbour, where 

 he also occupies his time with meteorological observations. 



The mission, which has been in the island since 1851, 

 is supported at considerable expense. A schooner, the pro- 

 perty of the American Missionary Society, keeps up regular 

 communication with the neighbouring islands and the Sand- 

 wich Islands, and supplies the missionaries with provisions 

 and other necessaries. These industrious, energetic men 

 have quite recently made experiments in planting several 

 sorts of vegetables, as also tobacco and sugar-cane, nearer 

 their houses, in the hope, if successful, of inciting the 



