96 H A W A 1 1 A N D O A H U. 



are deemed at the island a most necessary appendage for travelling, 

 and are admirably adapted for the purpose, being exceedingly light 

 and having great capacity. When in the care of a native, althoiigh 

 extremely fragile, they are quite secure ; they are surrounded by a 

 net made of fine twine or sennit of the cocoa-nut. 



To the forethought of Dr. Judd, and his judicious preparations, I 

 feel that much of our success is owing in overcoming many of the 

 difficulties that w^e met with. 



Findino- that both the new launches could not be finished in the 

 prescribed time, arrangements were made to complete the one in- 

 tended for the Peacock, and to defer the finishing of that belonging 

 to the Vincennes until our contemplated return in April ; for I deemed 

 that the old one, although ill adapted to our wants, would answer all 

 that we absolutely reqxiired of her previous to that time. 



On the 24th, all were ordered to join the ships. The tender, 

 agreeably to her orders, returned on the 28th, and the launch of the 

 Peacock being ready, was taken on board on the 29th of November. 



Before taking up the cruises of the ships, however, I shall give an 

 account of the tender's trip to Hawaii. 



The naturalists were accompanied by Mr. Hall, a gentleman 

 attached to the mission, who kindly volunteered to attend them, and 

 to whom they were much indebted for his great usefulness, both as in- 

 tei'preter, and from the knowledge he possessed of the country. They 

 had, besides, two or three natives who spoke English tolerably well. 



They were detained by calms and light winds, so that they did not 

 reach the bay of Kealakeakua until ten o'clock at night, when, having 

 obtained the guidance of some fishermen, they anchored in the dark. 



This ba}^ derives its name (path of the gods) from a slide in the 

 hill, which is still visible, which the gods are said to have used in 

 order to cross the bay quickly. It is of no great extent, and opens be- 

 tween two low and barren hills, on each of which a town is situated. 



Between them a high perpendicular bluflf rises directly from the 

 water, in which are seen numerous caves : in these the natives for- 

 merly buried their dead, and still use occasionally for the same pur- 

 pose. These caves appear inaccessible, and are the resort of vast 

 numbers of birds. 



On the 14th (Saturday), they landed at Napolo, and were kindly 

 received by Mr. Forbes, the resident missionary for the district of 

 Kealakeakua. They were greatly disappointed when they found it 

 would be impossible to proceed on their tour that day, and that their 



