260 MAUI. 



cretions, resembling large tunnels or broken pipes, which were quite 

 hard, and resembled solid rock interspersed with amorphous sand- 

 stone. Mr. Greene, who was with us, could give me no information 

 respecting their formation. Dr. Pickering met with these also, and 

 considers them as mineral concretions, although they appeared to him 

 to resemble those formed by annelidse, or like beds of sabellse. 



On the isthmus, the sand was drifting like snow, and afforded a 

 good illustration of the rapidity with which it changes its place by 

 the effects of the winds. 



In the centre of the Sand-hills, we stopped on a mound of human 

 bones, — a perfect Golgotha. There appears to be no tradition respect- 

 ing this accumulation of mortal relics. By some it is supposed to 

 have been a burying-place after a battle, for the place where they 

 were found was known to be a battle-ground. Bloody contests, 

 indeed, must have taken place here, if we are to judge from the 

 number of skeletons which are exposed. Some of these are in a state 

 of perfect preservation, and I regretted not being able to transport one 

 to the ship. 



Near this place we saw several boys anxiously watching some 

 object, and on getting near them, found they were employed in catch- 

 ing birds. This was done by baiting small sticks, to which a string 

 v/as tied, and the other end of the string fastened to a small stone : 

 the bird swallows the stick along with the bait, and in attempting 

 to fly off, it pierces his throat, and he is thus secured. 



After riding around these plains, we returned to Wailuku, where 

 we partook of a sumptuous lunch, and parted under a feeling of obli- 

 gation for the kind attentions we had received, and the tokens of 

 remembrance from the scholars. We reached Lahaina before dark, 

 after a fatiguing ride. 



On our way I heard a rumour that one of the boats had been lost, 

 which made me anxious to get on board as soon as possible. I had 

 been flattering myself that from dangers of this kind we were, at least 

 for the present, exempt; but the report proved too true. Previous to 

 leaving Lahaina, I had despatched Lieutenant Budd, with Passed 

 Midshipman May, in charge of two boats, and it was to one of these 

 that the accident occurred. Lieutenant Budd gave the following 

 account of it. 



At ten o'clock, on the 9th of March, they left the ship, when it 

 was blowing a moderate breeze, and steered for the south point of 

 Kahoolawe. After they had proceeded some distance on their way, 

 it fell calm for a short time, and then the trade-wind set in strong 



