515 VOYAGE IN SEARCH 



botanifls by the name of dolichos tuherojui, and 

 which thefc iflanders call yalai. Thefe roots had 

 not long been pulled out of the ground, for 

 they were ftill adhering to the (lalk which was 

 loaded with flowers and fiuir. They partook 

 of the aridity of the foil in which they had 

 grown; their fibres were almoft ligneous, and 

 they were not more than two decimeters in 

 thicknefs by three or four decimeters in length. 



Quite clofe to this fpot we met with a fmall 

 family that appeared alarmed at our approach. 

 We immediately made them all fome prefents, 

 in hopes of diffipating their fears : this fuc- 

 ceeded with refpeCl to the hufband and the two 

 children ; but one of our party having offered a 

 pair of fciffars to the mother, and endeavoured 

 to fhew her the ufe of them by cutting fome of 

 her hair, the poor woman immediately fell a 

 crying: doubtlefs fhe imagined that it was all 

 over with her; however flie became pacified ai 

 foon as (he was put in polTefiion of the fciffars. 



The inhabitants of thefe mountains appeared 

 to us to live in the greateft mifery ; they were 

 all extremely meagre. They fleep in the open 

 air, without however being tormented by the 

 mufkitoes ; for thofe infects are driven from 

 thefe heights by the eafi: fouth-eafl winds, 

 which blow here conftantly. The fame winds 

 fo materially obftrucl; the growth of vegetables, 



that 



