352 PAUMOTU GROUP. 
shelf was found to be five hundred feet in width, extending on the 
north side of the island, and gradually diminishing in width until it 
loses itself at the western end. This island has all the features that 
one would naturally be led to expect from a low island uplifted. 
The north, east, and west sides present a perpendicular cliff or wall, 
but this character does not prevail on the south side, although it has 
some high knolls. The north ridge is nearly level, and there is a 
break through it (by which we ascended to its top) very much like 
the opening of a lagoon. The north side is concave, and there is 
found within the indentations between its two points, an extensive 
inclined plain, composed of large masses of limestone and vegetable 
mould, on which the village is situated, in a luxuriant grove of bread- 
fruit, cocoa-nut, pandanus, and other trees, similar to those already 
spoken of, as seen on the other islands. There were several copious 
springs, but the natives informed me that there were no running 
streams on the island. 
The natives all seemed delighted to see us, crowded around my 
boat, and assisted to haul it up ; men, women, and children flocked 
around us; all the population were gathered, to the number of about 
three hundred and fifty. We were at once invited to the chief's and 
native missionary's house, situated in the centre of the village. The 
house was constructed of the bread-fruit wood, for a frame, and reeds 
of the wild sugar-cane for the uprights, with interstices for the 
passage of the air, and was lined with mats to exclude it when 
required. It was well thatched, and the whole had a cool and 
comfortable appearance. Cocoa-nuts were soon brought us, and all 
our questions were answered with an alacrity and pleasure that 
showed their strong desire to oblige and assist us. 
The natives had gathered in crowds around the door to look at us. 
They were a fine-looking race, though forming rather a motley group. 
The manner of carrying their children particularly attracted our 
notice ; it had a pleasing effect. We found it afterwards practised 
throughout Polynesia. Many questions were put to me, and now 
and then I could hear a voice saying, " Me ship, captain, me go 
Tahiti." All were more or less clothed in the cast-off garments of 
whites, and not very particular whether they possessed one, two, or 
parts of garments, as long as it appeared different from their own 
tapa, and of foreign fashion. This appeared more ridiculous, for on 
our first landing few were to be seen except in their native dresses, 
but shortly afterwards one might have believed the contents of all 
