126 M A U N A L O A. 



is the favourite mode of the natives, and which I had not curiosity 

 sufficient to induce me to attempt. 



In and around these ponds is a very fine species of duck, of which 

 we obtained many. The natives have a mode of catching them which 

 is ingenious : a string is tied to a small stick two or three inches in 

 length, and the other end to a stone of two or three pounds weight, 

 which lies on the bottom of the pond. The stick, which floats on the 

 surface, is baited with a small fish, which the duck pounces upon, 

 and swallows ; in attempting to fly away, the stick is crossed in the 

 throat, so that the duck, who is unable to carry oflF the stone, is 

 secured. 



In two hours, we had travelled about five miles, and had ascended 

 five hundred feet. The road proved tolerably good, although it 

 scarcely admitted two persons to walk abreast. 



We passed the hill, described by Lord Byron's party, which it 

 would have been difiicult to recognise had it not been pointed out, on 

 account of its gradual rise. This hill afforded a magnificent view of 

 Hilo Bay, and of the surrounding country below us. 



Six miles from Hilo we entered the first wood, and at 6 p. M. we 

 passed, at eight miles distance, the chasm that divides the Hilo from 

 the Puna district. As the darkness set in, we began to experience 

 the difficulties we had anticipated from our late start ; the bustle and 

 noise became every moment more audible along the whole line as the 

 night advanced : what added not a little to our discomfort, was the 

 bad road we now had to encounter, rendered worse as each native 

 passed on in the tracks of those preceding him, until at last it 

 became in places quite miry. 



We continued on, however, until we found most of the natives had 

 come to a stand, and were lying about among the grass by the 

 roadside near a few grass-houses. One of these was hired for our 

 accommodation and to protect us from the heavy dew, to which the 

 natives seemed accustomed ; here we proposed to stay until the moon 

 arose, and in the interim to get what little rest we could. 



After it became sufficiently light, we again set out with a part of 

 our host. The' cloud of the volcano of Kilauea lay before us, like a 

 pillar of fire, to guide us on our way. We reached Olaa, the habita- 

 tion of Pea, about half-past four. 



Here we found Messrs. Waldron and Drayton, who had preceded 

 us, taking their breakfast on a large round of hoiuf a la mode and 

 coffee, in which we all cheerfully joined. We concluded to stop here 



