HAWAII. 219 



to the southeast is about thirty feet. On each side, both above and 

 below, thickets close the dell. 



These pits are about seven or eight feet long, and four feet wide, 

 and are walled up : they are placed broadside to the water. 



There were many circumstances attendant upon the death of 

 Douglass, leading to the suspicion that he had been murdered by 

 Ned, at whose house he had breakfasted. The general character of 

 Ned gave rise to a feeling that such was the fact, he having been 

 a runaway convict from New South Wales. It seems somewhat 

 singular that Mr. Douglass should have laid down his bundle and 

 returned, after passing the pits; and it is remarkable too that his 

 servant, who had parted from him the same morning, should also 

 have perished. 



Ned's conduct afterwards was not a little suspicious, for he men- 

 tioned he had warned Mr. Douglass against the dangers of these 

 pits, and had accompanied him to within a short distance of them. 

 So strong were the suspicions against him, that a post-mortem 

 examination took place by Drs. Judd and Rooke ; but nothing could 

 be elicited, for all the wounds were such as Mr. Douglass might have 

 received from the animal. Few deaths could be more awful than 

 that which he is supposed to have suffered. 



Bullock-hunting seems to partake somewhat of the dangers of the 

 chase of wild beasts, and has much of its attraction. Many stories are 

 related of natives having been tossed, gored, and carried on the 

 animal's horns for hours, and from these reports the natives are 

 easily alarmed with the appearance even of a half-tamed animal, as 

 we had abundant reason to observe on our way up Mauna Loa. 



A story was related of a native, who, having prepared a pit, 

 succeeded in entrapping a large bull, but became so excited at his 

 success, that he slipped and fell in himself; however, being armed 

 with a knife, he succeeded in killing the animal : when discovered, 

 both were dead. 



Mr. Castle had three ribs broken, and Ragsdale, our old guide, a leg 

 fractured, while hunting ; and many other rencontres, partaking too 

 much of the marvellous to be repeated here, were told me. 



They encamped for the night in an old bark hut, in the line of 

 woods. The 16th was rainy, but they continued their way down the 

 mountain in a north-northeast direction, passing through the woods. 

 The path was wretched, and full of mud and mire. The last part of 

 the way the trees became more numerous, and consisted, besides the 



