274 THE CBUISE Ot TEE 'CUBArjOA.' 



CHAPTEK XVIII. 



G UADALCANAB ^SOLOMON Gli UP. 



(September 4 to 5.^ 



Maraii Sound — Curaf-a Harbour — Visit Ashore — Marshes — Dwellings — Men 

 and Womea — The Island of Malata in the Distance. 



Oi\ September 4, about six p. m., jusl before the ' Soutlifni 

 Cross' weiglicd, the 'Curayo;i' left the pretty Httle bay 

 (Eecherciie Bay) and steered a north-east eourse. As we 

 were on tlie point of leaving, we w(jre surrounded by a 

 great number of eanoes, and tliere was a request for more 

 barter, whieli the ComniodoiL- did not think proper to 

 gratify. We came out of the bay, leaxing on the left, 

 towiirds the point, a reef and a roek. As soon as we had 

 got from imder the land we were aided by a fresli breeze 

 from the soutli-east, and it was not long before we sighted 

 on our larboard bow the highlands of Guadalcanar, which, 

 on a clear da}', can be easily seen from Stui Christoval. We 

 saw several small islus at the entrance of Marau Sound, 

 wliich presented to us a fine sheet of water as calm as a 

 lake. Though the atmosphere was hazy, we could never- 

 theless get a glimpse of the mountains of Guadalcanar, the 

 highest of which, IMoiint Lannnas, has, according to the 

 Adnni-alty charts, an absohile altitude of 8,000 feet. 



