26 FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS 



their proper abode elsewhere, and only visit this 

 island at times. A white lump was brought me, 

 resembling white chalk, the use of which I did 

 not learn till I had become more acquainted with 

 the islanders. A plant grows here, called by the 

 natives mogomuk, and its root, which resembles a 

 small potatoe, is dried in the sun, and rubbed to 

 powder; it produces a fine flour, which, when 

 pressed into lumps, may be kept a long time with- 

 out spoiling. When it is to be eaten, a little is 

 broken off one of these lumps, mixed with water 

 in a cocoa-shell, and boiled till it becomes a thick 

 pap : its taste is not amiss, and has a great resem- 

 blance to our potatoes : this plant grows wild. 



Early on the 8th we saw the boat with our friends 

 sailing to the E., where it soon vanished. They 

 probably went to distant islands to carry the news 

 of the arrival of the large ship with the white 

 men. At noon, I went on shore, in the hope of 

 meeting with some people ; but they were all gone ; 

 which I regretted the more, as I had provided my- 

 self with useful presents ; six goats, a cock and a 

 hen, and various kinds of seeds, and yams, were 

 all objects not to be expected here, and with which 

 I hoped to enrich them for the future. We landed 

 opposite the hut where Schischmareff had been 

 yesterday so kindly received. The goats received 

 their liberty, and immediately fell to upon the fine 

 grass, which, after their long voyage, they found 

 growing beside the huts : tlie cock, with his hen, 



