KOMANZOFF ISLAND. ^23 



hiul tied a ticket round their necks, with tlie name 

 oi"the ship and the date. 



A small hzard seemed to be the only animal 

 without wings on RomanzofF Island. A small 

 hutterfly was very common, and the only insect 

 that fell into our hands. 



RomanzofF Island is visited by the inhabitants 

 of other islands, which are not to be seen from it. 

 The landing-place is on the windward side. From 

 thence several shining footpaths, trodden in the frag- 

 ments of sharp coral, lead, in different directions, 

 through the island. We found in the interior a 

 small boat, which was quite decayed, made of the 

 trunk of a cocoa-tree, hollowed out, and furnished 

 with an out-rigger. In two different places stood 

 light circular huts, consisting only of a few sticks, 

 coarse mats, and cocoa-leaves. In one of them we 

 found an instrument resembling a comb of wood, 

 fastened together with strings of cocoa-bast. 

 There were several pits dug for the collection 

 of rain-water. Fire had been kindled on different 

 parts of the ground, but we nowhere found bak- 

 ing.pits. Under the lee of the island, along the 

 shore, was a place contrived to stretch lines ; and 

 near this place was a young tree, with the branches 

 cut off, on which hung cocoa-nuts, and leaves, and 

 a string of cocoa-bast. 



There were no settled dwelling or morais on 

 Romanzoff Island, and we no where found indica- 

 tions tlial people had lately visited it. 



