NEW CALEDONIA. 345 



tops, and sometimes with carved door-posts. This descrip- 

 tion reminds us of tlie pretty httle sketch of a native 

 chief's house, in Captain Erskine's work,^ corresponding ex- 

 ternally with the account above given. This chief. Basset, is 

 described as being an intelho-ent man, who with his brother 

 had visited Sydney, and spoke Enghsh well enough to keep 

 up a conversation. He was a man of about thirty, of quiet 

 and rather dignified manners, very anxious to introduce a 

 higher civilization. In a little excursion, during his two 

 days' stay, to visit another house of this chiefs about five 

 miles inland. Captain Erskine met with ' trimly kept houses 

 beautifully situate on the river banks, with good landing- 

 places, and a few trees placed in regular order on what 

 appeared to be mown lawns.' The country struck him, as 

 it had Cook, as deficient in natural fertility, but lie found a 

 degree of care in its cultivation he ' had never expected to 

 see among savages.' By a system of irrigation which ap- 

 peared to be most scientifically conducted, the slopes of the 

 hiUs were covered with rectangular fields, surrounded by 

 channels of water tliat flowed at intervals into tlie river. 

 Like Cook he found the natives about Basset's village good- 

 luunoured, though poor and ill supplied with provisions. 

 On his way were observed some poles with skulls upon 

 them, and when the meaning was asked. Basset, it is said, 

 looked confused, and said ' tliey were heads of friends kept 

 as mementoes. ' But Mr. Hood ^ supplies another explanation ; 



' Cruise of the ' Havannali,' p. 353. 

 2 Cruise of the ' Fawu,' p. 218. 



