6ia Voyage of the Novara. 



up by it upon the strand. Animals are still more scarce. A 

 few sea-swallows and insects form the whole Fauna of the 

 group. The sea furnishes the only supply of animal food, in 

 the shape of fish, crabs, and shell-fish. One may well ask, 

 what degree of moral or spiritual development can be at- 

 tained by a race of men whose sphere of action is confined 

 to a solitary coral reef! Yet the mode of existence of the 

 inhabitants of Stewart's Islands is by no means of the most 

 primitive or simple nature ; through the occasional visits of 

 ships they have obtained much, by which they have sensibly 

 improved their condition. They now possess swine, poultry, 

 and various tubers, which seem greatly to thrive on the is- 

 land, and which they can now exchange for other articles of 

 prime necessity. 



Sikayana is the only member of the group which is per- 

 manently inhabited, and that by a sincerely hospitable, most 

 friendly race. Their origin is variously accounted for. 



Among the natives themselves there is a dim tradition that 

 Captain Cook transported hither the first settlers. Another 

 version is, that the first inhabitants came from South Island, 

 130 miles W. of Stewart's Islands, and that they were 

 brought hither by whalers, which latter, when they no 

 longer needed the services of these |)oor people, sought how 

 most easily to get rid of them. At the same time several 

 English and American sailors, who at various times have 

 been left in these islands in consequence of sickness, want 

 of further employment, love of adventure, or quarrels with 



