128 SAMOAN GROUP. 



and Mr. Couthouy, to proceed to the east end of the island, where 

 they were said to grow. They, however, saw nothing of the kind, 

 except a few small patches of that plant. 



There are no traces among these islands of any native quadruped, 

 nor any other of the mammalia, except a species of bat (Pteropus 

 ruficollis), which is very destructive to the bread-fruit. Swine have 

 now become abundant, and the missionaries have introduced cattle, 

 which are rapidly increasing, and will in a few years be in sufficient 

 numbers for the supply of vessels.* Horses have also been brought 

 to the islands. 



The first large quadruped ever seen by these islanders was a mule. 

 With it they were much astonished, and it was considered so great a 

 curiosity, that it was carried around the island of Upolu for the 

 purpose of gratifying the natives with a sight of it. They gave it a 

 name signifying — the hog that travels over the ground. 



Poultry of all descriptions is plentiful, and pigeons abound, which, 

 however, are considered sacred, and not used as an article of food. 

 Of the latter bird (Columba oceanica), between sixty and seventy 

 specimens of different varieties were obtained, but it is remarkable 

 that of all these, none were the same as those found in the Society 

 Islands. To the Zoological Report I would refer for further informa- 

 tion on this subject. There are but few birds of game, and none of 

 the hawk genus. A philomel was pointed out by the missionaries as 

 the principal singing bird, and the woods of Tutuila were filled with 

 warblers. The note of the philomel, although much praised, did not 

 appear agreeable to me. 



The pigeon is commonly kept as a plaything, and particularly by 

 the chiefs ; for this purpose they are fastened to a stick by a thread 

 about twelve feet in length. They are taught to fly from and return 

 to the stick, and when well tutored to this feat, the possessor of the 

 bird exhibits it with much pride and satisfaction. One of our officers 

 unfortunately on one occasion shot a pigeon, which caused great com- 

 motion, for the bird was a king-pigeon, and to kill it was thought as 

 great a crime as taking the life of a man. The people were not to be 

 pacified until the interpreter told them that the officer belonged to 

 " man-of-war," w T hich intelligence, together with a small present 

 satisfied them, and the matter was settled. 



To justify their regard for them, we were told that when the 



* On Upolu there are now twenty head of cattle, and seven horses. 



