28 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



department of the naturalist, from whom the reader 

 must expect further information. The island was 

 covered in many places with an impenetrable wood, 

 where the pandanus, which diffuses an agreeable aro- 

 matic smell, is the most frequent kind of tree ; the 

 bread-fruit tree, which arrives here to an immense 

 thickness and height, is also very frequent: the 

 time of the fruits seemed to be past. Cocoa trees 

 are very rare j we, however, found some young trees 

 of this species, which had been lately planted. 

 Of animals, we have only seen rats of a middling 

 size, and lizards j the former are so bold, that 

 they run about us without showing the least fear. 

 We did not see any land birds. In a square pit, 

 in a low part of the island, we found clear water, 

 of so pure a taste, that I sent for some every day. 

 When we left the island, which I called Goat's 

 Island, we saw the goats, with the cock and hen, 

 in their old place. The inhabitants will certainly 

 be much surprised at their new guests, but, as Talso 

 left a piece of iron behind, they will, at the same 

 time, be convinced, that we came here only with 

 good intentions. 



The evening and the follovving night we had a 

 violent squall of wind and rain from E. by N. j 

 and the 9th we spent the morning in various works, 

 and in vain expectation of the inhabitants. In the 

 afternoon I sent a boat for water, and at the same 

 time the mateChramtschenko was charged to draw 

 a base line, and to take angles. The boat returned 



