UPO LU — M ANONO— S A VAIL 117 



their purpose, and they continued to work at their turnpike, lopping 

 off large branches, beating down ferns, &c. After some time, they 

 reached a rising ground, which they found to be on one side of a 

 crater, about a thousand feet above the sea, and seven miles inland. 



Dr. Pickering now concluded that it was a hopeless task to attempt 

 to penetrate into the interior with such guides, and determined to 

 return, which he accordingly did. He found the rest of his party a 

 mile in advance of their previous encampment, where they had built 

 for themselves a fine house, and each man had collected two large 

 baskets of yams for provisions. This was their stopping-place for the 

 night, and among other cares for the Doctor's comfort, they con- 

 structed for him a native pillow, formed of a piece of bamboo, with 

 legs lashed to it about three inches high. 



The natives were in high spirits during the evening, talking and 

 laughing immoderately. They succeeded in getting off by nine 

 o'clock the next day, and reached the coast about noon. 



During the stay of Dr. Pickering and Lieutenant Maury on this 

 island, they were objects of great curiosity ; and whenever they 

 walked out they were followed, not only by boys, but grown men, 

 who did not, however, offer to molest them in any way. When they 

 passed through the villages, all the inhabitants, not excepting the 

 scholars from the schools, came out to look at them. The latter, 

 however, did not abandon their books, but retained them in their 

 hands ; for all, whether young, middle-aged, or old, are anxious to 

 learn, and their perseverance, as in other parts of the group, is 

 astonishing. 



Dr. Pickering here witnessed the taking of fish in a different mode 

 from that practised on the other islands. Application was made to 

 the chief, and through his influence a meeting of the head men of the 

 town was called, and a fishing expedition agreed upon. The net, if it 

 could be so called, was prepared, and in the course of two days every 

 thing was ready. The net was a kind of cheval-de-frise, made of the 

 leaves of the cocoa-nut tree, split and wound round a line, and was 

 little less than half a mile in length. It was more formidable in 

 appearance than in reality. This net was taken out at high water to 

 the coral reef, in three pieces, then fastened together, and thus made 

 to enclose a large extent of water. This space was gradually con- 

 tracted by doubling up the net, which answered the same purpose 

 as the drawing of a seine. The fish did not attempt to pass it, and 

 were thus driven towards a certain point, where a sort of sack of 



vol. 11. 30 



