112 Letter IV.~ 
no anchorage can be found anywhere except quite close to the 
shores, and the only good spot is at the head of the bay, where 
a cable’s length off from the beach there is fifteen or sixteen 
fathoms of water. 
As this harbour is not more than twenty miles from Pango 
Bay, the anchor did not hang long after being lifted in the 
latter before it was down in the former. 
As we entered the harbour there was quite a fleet of canoes 
under sail, crossing from Protection Island to the main island ; 
they looked very pretty, and caused some astonishment to the 
passengers in the “ Dayspring,” as no such sight had been seen 
during any part of the voyage previously. Here, as on Fili 
ahd Melé, many of the natives live on the islets, in preference 
to'the main land, considering them to be more healthy: but as 
they have their plantations on the latter, constant communica- 
tion is kept up between the two sides of the harbour; and 
further, as these natives appreciate anything which will save 
them labour, they have got calico from the traders and made it 
into sails. Hence the fleet which greeted our eyes. 
There are several traders’ establishments at this place; the 
principal one is just opposite the anchorage, and is under the 
management of Mr. S. Hebblewhite. On going ashore, Mr. H. 
kindly took me over the premises, which are extensive and bear 
an appearance of prosperity. The principal buildings are the 
store, dwelling-house, ginning and engine-house, store for 
cobra, &c., overseers’ and natives’ quarters; while a large 
building is in the course of erection, which is to be used as a 
machine-house for the manufacture of coir matting, brushes, &c. 
from the cocoanut fibre. 
Then there is a plantation of twenty acres of Sea Island 
cotton, which seems thriving well, and a large piece of ground 
