348 ISLAND OF KIS3A. 



beating to the eastward against a strong breeze and 

 heavy swell from the south-east till the 25th, when 

 we reached the small island of Kissa, off which we 

 anchored, in 30 fathoms, a quarter of a mile from 

 the shore, to the great delight of Mr. Earl's servant, 

 who was a native of this place. His countrymen, 

 on coming on board, received him with the most 

 extravagant expressions of joy ; and kept him up all 

 nio-ht, relating the wonders he had seen since he left 

 them ; in doing which he talked to such a degree 

 that when he came on board in the morning he 

 could hardly speak from hoarseness. We found the 

 natives had been suffering most severely fi'om famine, 

 occasioned by a long continued drought that had 

 dried up every thing on the island, to such an 

 extent, that the rice crops, upon which they 

 chiefly depend for food, had entirely failed ; but of 

 live stock we found no difficulty in obtaining an 

 abundant supply, and at a very moderate price. 

 A couple of fowls were purchased for two feet of 

 thin brass wire, highly prized by the natives for 

 making fish hooks (which they prefer to our steel 

 ones) and bracelets. A large pig was obtained 

 for two fathoms of white calico, and every thing 

 else in proportion. 



On landing, we were met by a chief who had 

 seen Mr. Earl on a previous visit. He promised 

 to procure chairs to carry us up to Wauriti, the 

 principal village on the island ; and, while waiting 

 for them, came on board and dined with us, 



