SANDWICH ISLANDS. 3 



the chief of the Sandwich Islands, on the 23rd of 

 August, 1848, the voyage having been greatly pro- 

 tracted by calms and contrary winds, and the very 

 indifferent sailing qualities .of our vessel. This 

 town presents from the outer anchorage the most 

 picturesque type of a tropical village in all its loveli- 

 ness. It extends along the sea-shore for about tw^o 

 miles; the houses are grouped in small clusters, 

 surrounded by luxuriant plantations of sugar-cane, 

 banana, and other fructiferants of torrid climes, 

 surmounted by the lofty palm. 



With the exception of the pubhc edifices and a few 

 of the better class of houses, which are built of brick, 

 stone, or even slabs of coral, the habitations are for the 

 most part only rude huts, yet neat and cleanly-looking 

 from a distance : from their sombre hue, they present a 

 fine contrast to the varied tints of tree and herbage here 

 exhibited. I thought it a perfect paradise. The sweet 

 tale of Paul and Vu^ginia, with the description of their 

 home, came across my memory, and I pictured their 

 land to be such an one as this. 



In the bay were numerous diminutive fishing-boats, 

 each with an outrigger to prevent it from overturning, 

 so narrow and frail are they. This curious balance is 

 composed of a branch of considerable thickness, with 

 a straight stem about five feet in length, terminating 



b2 



