220 HAWAII. 



ohea and koa, of the Ilex, Aralia, Myoporum (false sandalwood), 

 several Compositse, a Silene, and four or five species of Lobelias, with 

 handsome flowers, mostly blue. Lower down, near a deserted hut, 

 they unexpectedly found a mamanee tree, which they were told had 

 been planted for the purpose of enticing the birds. 



Fi'om scrambling over roots and through mire, they were much 

 fatigued before they reached Puahai. This village contains a few 

 straggling houses on the table-land : it is distant about two miles 

 from the sea, and twenty-five miles to the northwest of Hilo. The 

 natives here appeared to be much more primitive than they were in 

 other places, and had had but little intercourse with strangers. It was 

 with some difficulty that provisions could be procured : a dollar was 

 demanded for a turkey, and four needles for a chicken. No more than 

 three of the latter could be found in the village. Their guide met with 

 considerable delay in getting the necessary quantity to supply the 

 party. At Puahai they were permitted to occupy the school-house, 

 and remained over Sunday. 



The coast to the north of Hilo is somewhat peculiar : it is a steep 

 bluflf, rising about two hundred feet; this is cut into small breaks, 

 called here "gulches," within which the villages are generally situ- 

 ated, and the natives grow bananas and taro. In some places they 

 cultivate small patches of sugar-cane, which succeed well. 



These gulches are ravines, from eight hundred to one thousand 

 feet deep, which have apparently been worn by water-courses : they 

 extend back to the woods, and have made the country impassable for 

 either vehicles or riders on horseback, for no sooner is one passed 

 than another occurs. There is no landing for boats, for all along the 

 shore the surf beats on the rocks with violence. 



Mr. Castle's residence was reached the next day : it is about seven 

 miles from Hilo. He has been turning his attention to the cultivation 

 of coffee, and has now a plantation of several thousand trees in and 

 among the coast-craters, which is in a fine condition. 



Mr. Castle is a carpenter, and has erected and owns some of the 

 mills on the island. 



They walked the next day to Hilo. On approaching it they saw 

 many bread-fruit trees, with the fruit lying under them rotting ; for 

 the natives never think of eating it so long as they can get taro, or 

 the sweet-potato ; and, seemingly, it has lost its value in their eyes. 



On my return to Hilo, finding the survey of the bay had not been 

 begun, we commenced it immediately. Lieutenant Alden, whilst 



