218 



HAWAII. 



occupies a belt eleven thousand feet high, while none of this plant is 

 to be found on Mauna Loa. 



On their return, they determined to proceed to the lower cave, 

 where the natives had taken refuge. 



On the 15th, they concluded to descend, after making a tour on 

 this same level, where they found the ground as barren as on the 

 route by which they had ascended. Small herds of cattle were seen, 

 but at a great distance apart : these have now become shy, from 

 having been hunted by Spaniards with horses from California, which 

 were imported for the express purpose of carrying on systematically 

 the business of killing the cattle for their hides. These hunters would 

 soon have exterminated them. 



The golden plover is very abundant on the plain, as every where 

 else ; but is said to quit the islands in the breeding season. No geese 

 were seen on this mountain ; but many small birds appeared as high 

 up as the mamanee trees. They also saw hawks, which, by a per- 

 version of language, are called "crows." 



They then went towards " Ned's House," (now deserted,) and took 

 the path leading in a southeast direction, along the margin of the 

 woods. This was the route that Douglass followed, when he left 

 Ned's House, on the morning of his death. In about three quarters 

 of an hour, they arrived at the pits ; in one of which, he was found 

 dead. They are situated in an open clearing, in the centre of which 

 is a low marshy spot, sometimes containing water, which the cattle 

 come in search of. The annexed diagram will give an idea of the 

 locality. These pits are covered with raspberry and other fragile 

 bushes; which are covered again with soil, and the hoofs of cattle 

 imprinted on them, to deceive. 



SKETCH OF CATTLE-PITS. 



1. Path leading from Ned's House. 2. Place where Mr. Douglass left liis bundle Track 



towards the pit in which he was found with the bull, gored to death. 3. The pool of water. 4. The 

 three pits. 5. The fence which surrounds the pool and compels the cattle to pass over the pits. 



The locality of these pits is in a dell, with banks sloping on both 

 sides : the one to the north vpest is about twenty feet high, while that 



