KI DOULAN. 467 



with ninety fathoms, two ships' lengths from the 

 beach. 



At daylight on the 5th we entered the strait 

 between the greater and lesser Ki, the shores on 

 both sides of which are lined with small patches of 

 cultivation. During the day we observed several 

 small detached reefs, and at sunset anchored on a 

 reef, extending from the north end of the lesser Ki, 

 in thirteen fathoms. 



April 6 After breakfast, I started with some of 



the officers to visit Ki Doulan, the principal village 

 in the lesser Ki, and sent another boat to sound 

 towards a small island to the westward. After 

 leaving the brig we passed a luxuriant grove of 

 cocoa-nut trees, extending along the beach, under 

 the shade of which we saw several villages, where 

 the natives were busily employed building boats. 



A pull of three miles brought us to the town of Ki 

 Doulan, situated near the beach, and surrounded by 

 a stone wall, which had every appearance of antiquity. 

 On the sea side, where the wall was in its best 

 state of preservation, there were three gates leading 

 towards the beach, but accessible only by means of 

 ladders four or five feet high, which could easily be 

 removed in case of attack. The stones forming the 

 sides of the central gateway were ornamented by 

 rude bas-reliefs, representing figures on horseback ; 

 and the gate itself, formed of hard wood, and strong 

 enough to keep out any party not provided with ar- 

 tillery, was richly carved. Within the walls there 



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