1845.] HABITS OF THE PEOPLE. 309 



those on Batan, with very strong timber frame work, 

 put together with great skill, much in the style of ship- 

 building, and thatched with fine grass, resembling rush, 

 but very strong. The population of each Pueblo is esti- 

 mated at 400 souls, which will give about 1,600 for the 

 whole island. The people appear to be of a peculiarly 

 mild disposition, lighter coloured, better formed, although 

 less civilized, than those of Batan, and from the difficulty 

 of following any maritime vocation, are completely de- 

 voted to agricultural pursuits. Notwithstanding the 

 unpromising exterior of this island, it is infinitely more 

 fertile, as regards its produce, than Batan; the latter 

 has, however, a richer volcanic soil, better adapted for 

 garden than agricultural produce, although many fruits 

 are abundant here which fail in Batan, particularly Limes 

 and Pine Apples. This may result from the perfect 

 shelter of this basin-formed island. The rocks and cliffs 

 even to their summit, on the western side of Ibayat, are 

 coralline limestone, apparently upheaved : on the eastern side 

 generally of black basalt. The only two elevations are of 

 a red steatitic clay, with occcasional streaks of a whitish 

 substance, like baked pipe-clay, or porcelain. Their exports 

 to Batan consist principally of maize, fowls, and timber, 

 the latter generally of hard woods and ebony, for anchors. 

 As money is not current with them, our payments were 

 in calico (provided for such purposes, before leaving 

 England), a yard of this substance proving far more 

 attractive than a dollar at Batan. Their services were 

 very freely and cheerfully rendered, and many ex- 

 pressed the hope of meeting us again, during our visits 

 to Batan, where they promised to bring objects of 



