164 



WALK ACROSS ISLAND. 



to the object of the building. Whether this was 

 their temple, their place for depositing the dead, or 

 a chief's house, we could not make out. We, how- 

 ever, saw no appearance of any chief, or of one man 

 exercising authority among them, neither could we 

 discover any traces of religious belief or observ- 

 ance.* 



We now struck off for a walk across the island, 

 one of the natives coming with us as a guide. 

 Many narrow paths crossed in all directions, among 

 shrubs and bushes, some of which resembled laurels 

 and myrtles, in their leaves and modes of growth. 

 Groves of lofty forest trees occurred here and there, 

 with matted creepers and thick jungle. Several 

 trailing briars, with thorns like the European 

 bramble, were observed ; and, in short, the whole 

 vegetation had a totally different aspect from that 

 of Australia, and a much greater resemblance to 

 that of Europe or Asia. Our native conducted 

 us to some water- holes, which he seemed to think 

 were the object of our search, frequently repeating 

 " water, water," which he pronounced very well. 

 These water-holes were large irregular excavations 

 in the sand, fully ten feet deep, and near the middle 

 of the island. At the bottom of each excavation 



* This house resembled the smaller houses we afterwards saw 

 in New Guinea, and it may have been erected merely in imitation 

 of those the islanders have seen in that country. We afterwards 

 saw, on Masseed, a solitary house like those of Darnley and 

 Murray Islands. 



