210 SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



Another two hours' walk brought us to a pool of rain water ; 

 here we filled up our water bags and calabashes. There are 

 but few springs in this part of Hawaii, and no rivers — so that 

 the inhabitants are obliged to have recourse to the method of 

 catching rain-water in calabashes, which they keep suspended 

 in great numbers around the roofs of their habitations at all 

 times. Nature is boundless in her resources, and the more 

 we inquire and examine, the more we are lost in wonder and 

 admiration at the great scheme for carrying on the designs of 

 the Creator. Though some parts of these islands are left for 

 six months together without rain, yet an ample provision has 

 been made to counteract the ill-effects of so long a drought. 

 Vegetation, which, with us, would speedily perish without an 

 abundant supply of rain, is there sufficiently nourished by that 

 moisture, which plants, as they bud and blossom and produce 

 their fruit, have the power of hoarding up and retaining from 

 one rainy season to another, and by the heavy dews that 

 nightly fall upon their large expanded leaves. 



About sunset, we arrived at Waiiha, where I determined to 

 spend the night. This is a pleasant village, situated within a 

 few miles of the sea-shore. The inhabitants appeared to be 

 in very comfortable circumstances ; their houses were large 

 and well furnished, after the native manner. The dwelling in 

 which I took lodgings, was the property of the principal 

 magistrate of the place. He himself was absent, but his wife 

 gave me a cordial welcome ; she received me with many ex- 

 pressions of kindness, led me into the house, and immediately 

 set about to prepare a repast. We had two dishes, which 

 deserve notice, as I believe they are peculiar to the natives of 

 these islands 1 ; the names under which they are best known, 

 are Poi and Poi-dog — the former is made of boiled taro, 

 pounded up and mixed with water into a paste ; it is served up 



