VATE. 219 



own accord, soon lessened by one-half. The paths leading 

 into the interior were very narrow. That which we took 

 was partially barred by a split cocoa-nut leaf, fixed across 

 two sticks stuck in the ground, which we were given to 

 understand was a public notice that the cocoa-nut trees 

 were tabu. We passed over ground covered witli high 

 reed grass and wild sugar-canes some ten feet high. We 

 had soon to cross a river that flowed on with its clear 

 waters, and which, seen from the bank, appeared of great 

 depth, though in reality not more than one foot deep. We 

 perceived a great luimber of huts as well as plantations of 

 banana trees. But few birds were to be seen, and these 

 so timid that they would not suffer us to approach within 

 gun shot. One, however, I did shoot which was perching 

 on a large tree ; it was a honey-sucking jjarrot, with a 

 long tongue, short, red, and yellow beak, and plumage of 

 blue, red, black, yellow, and green mixed. I also saw some 

 swifts and swallows. Cocoa-nut trees abound in great 

 numbers around the huts, and we were Uberally presented 

 with their fruit for our refreshment. There were also 

 papaus and two kinds of bananas, one with small fruit and 

 another witli larger. I constantly came upon a plant which 

 first appeared to be the ava, but which, on close inspection, 

 I found to be something quite different. Ferns were few, 

 and I saw but a single species which was arborescent, 

 and this had at its base pulu or coarse down. There 

 were several beautiful crotons with their vai'iegated foliage, 

 bright with green, yellow, and red. 



