ISLAND OF TAHITI. 75 



September 13th. This morning the sick were sent on 

 shore, where they will have more comforts than it is possible 

 for them to receive on board the ship. The climate here is 

 said to be uncommonly salubrious, and invalids coming from 

 other parts rapidly recover their health. 



After quarters we gave the natives permission to come on 

 board with their merchandise. Some supposed this would 

 have a tendency to make them reduce somewhat their exorbi- 

 tant prices, as it would give rise to competition ; it however 

 produced no such effect. Among other articles they brought 

 on board were several kinds of shells, which we had not seen 

 before. Some of them had also pearls for sale. They pro- 

 cure these when they are employed by European vessels that 

 are engaged in that trade. 



In the afternoon I took a walk on the road leading to Pa- 

 peite, the capital of the island, situated about seven miles to 

 the westward of Matavai. I found the traveling exceedingly 

 bad, until I reached what is called " Oae-tree Hill." The 

 road, or rather path, difficult thus far from its steepness and 

 ruggedness, was rendered infinitely more so by the recent rains. 

 In some places it was so slippery that I was forced to make 

 use of my hands as well as feet. With the remainder of the 

 walk I was highly delighted. I sauntered along over a broad, 

 level road, lined on either side with groves of the orange and 

 bread-fruit trees, sprinkled with the habitations of the natives, 

 and intersected by numerous streamlets. Indeed, the scene 

 was one of the most beautiful I ever beheld. 



The houses were all constructed in the primitive style, 

 which consists of an oval-shaped roof, supported by round 

 sticks, from two to three inches in diameter, placed some dis- 

 tance apart, so as to allow a free admission of air. Neat 

 grass paths, fringed with flowers, from the pure white to the 



