46 COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



snapper, Pagrus unicolor, which are so much prized by 

 the New-Zealanders. They are delicately flavored, and 

 during the rest of our stay on the island formed one of 

 our principal articles of food. 



The native name of the island was Matuihe, and a 

 more charming spot for a collector's station it would 

 be difficult to find. It was about three miles long, and 

 covered with forest and fine English grass. Both ends 

 were high and precipitous toward the sea, but the 

 middle was low, sandy, and narrow. A large flock of 

 sheep and countless rabbits fatted on the luxuriant 

 vegetation. Wild fruits were abundant; but although 

 I tasted of everything I came across, I seldom found 

 anything palatable. One day I found, incased in a 

 pod, a small orange-colored fruit, which was very 

 pleasant to the taste. It turned out to be the Cape 

 gooseberry, and was very like what we commonly call 

 strawberry tomatoes. 



One of the passengers informed us one evening that 

 a large island, about two miles distant, was covered 

 with wild peach-trees, and that it was time for the 

 fruit to be ripe. After Barelli and I went up to our 

 room, we fell to discussing the flavor and digestive 

 qualities of peaches; and we came to the unanimous 

 opinion that they were "good for food, and pleasant 

 to the eye." 



Now, there was a notice on the door of our house 

 that any one leaving the island without permission 



