322 MALOLO. 



excursions, to the mountains, in search of the sandalwood, to procure 

 specimens. 



They landed at Myandone, the town situated on the stream from 

 which we obtained our water. This stream is small, and water was 

 procured with difficulty, on account of the flow of the tide to a long 

 distance up the creek. The natives, however, obviated this difficulty, 

 in a great measure, by building a dam of mud, which rose above 

 high-water mark, and formed a kind of pool. The water in this, if 

 disturbed, would have been too muddy to take, they, therefore, in- 

 serted in the dam several bamboo stems, on closing which the water 

 rose quietly to some height, and upon opening them again was drawn 

 off quite clear. 



A house was built here, where any of the officers or naturalists who 

 might be detained after sunset might sleep in safety. 



The chief of Myandone furnished our gentlemen with guides for 

 the mountains, and they set out on their excursion. For the first five 

 miles they passed through barren hills, after which they proceeded 

 up a valley, through which a small stream meandered, passing by 

 plantations of bananas, yams, and taro. As they approached the 

 base of the mountain, they met with groves of trees, among which 

 were some species of Ficus, Bread-fruit, Inocarpus, Erythrina, and 

 several new plants. 



At the base of the mountain, they visited a town scattered over 

 several hills on both sides of the stream. At an mbure-house their 

 guides entered into a discussion with an old man, seemingly to 

 obtain permission to proceed. The old man received them with 

 hospitality, and cooked some yams for them. 



Crowds of natives, men, women, and children, gathered around 

 to see the Papalangis, whom they had never laid eyes on before. 

 The distribution of a few beads and a little tobacco, greatly delighted 

 them. 



After the yam breakfast, the old man accompanied them, and was 

 of great service in leading them in the right path, for it appeared 

 that neither of the men whom they had brought as guides was at all 

 acquainted with the route. At the end of two hours, they reached the 

 top of the mountain range, which has an elevation of about two 

 thousand feet; but they were unfortunate in being overtaken with 

 rain, so that their view was confined to a short distance. Near the 

 top of the mountain they found two species of cinnamon, very aro- 



