232 Notice of Hawaii, {Owyhee,) and its Volcanic Regions, S^c. 



home, and just at the edge of a fine forest running from the sea to 

 the interior — belongs to Kinai, the head man of the thinly inhabited 

 district of Ora. The master and his family were absent, at the dis- 

 tance of thirty or forty miles, superintending the cutting of sandal 

 wood, and the charge of the houses was left to a few domestics, who, 

 however, received us very kindly ; and, at once, surrendered to us 

 the principal habitation. 



Here we were quickly made sensible, that the improvements and 

 advancement of the people are not limited to the sea ports or to the 

 coast. The house was divided into separate rooms by screens of 

 native cloth and mats, furnishing distinct sleeping places for the in- 

 mates, besides one large and airy apai'tment, evidently kept as a better 

 and principal room. Into this last we were shown, and its neatness 

 and comfort were a great luxury to us. 



The finer mats for the floor, were, in the absence of the chief, eco- 

 nomically rolled up against one side of the house, and other derange- 

 ments, from the same cause, of the ordinary articles of use, were ob- 

 servable — so that we did not see the establishment in its best state. 

 Still, every thing testified, in my eyes, to a vast improvement in the 

 style of living, (since my former visit,) even among the inferior chiefs. 

 Among other evidences of advancement were the books printed in 

 the native tongue, (as yet few in number,) well bound and wrapped 

 in covers of native cloth ; and a large slate, suspended against one 

 of the partitions. 



But that which our party hailed with peculiar pleasure, was a 

 fine lounge or divan, eight or ten feet in width, and extending the 

 whole length of the apartment. It was composed of a great num- 

 ber of thicknesses of mats, on a platform of wood, elevated about 

 two feet from tlie floor ; and, surrounded by curtains of neat furni- 

 ture chintz, it aflbrded a couch for the whole of our number, which we 

 might have coveted under circumstances of much less fatigue. 



Indeed the comfort of the accommodations — a refreshing cup of 

 tea and a substantial supper — the novelty of every thing around — 

 freedom from the confinement of the vessel, and with it, from the 

 tedium of the night-watch, and other inconveniences of nautical life, 

 gave such a flow to the lively spirits of some of our younger compan- 

 ions, as to make it a late hour, before we were composed to quiet- 

 ude and to sleep. 



Nothing of particular interest occurred the next day, till we had 

 arrived in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. The smoke as- 



