UPOLU — MANONO — SAVAII. m 



the last stopping-place, where the natives concluded to halt for the 

 night. The occupants, who consisted of two elderly women and a 

 young man, were dispossessed, and the shed was enclosed by hanging 

 up leaves of the Heliconia, which resemble those of the banana. They 

 then prepared some excellent cocoa-nut pudding, and heated some 

 cocoa-nut milk in the shells. This beverage is usually taken by them 

 every morning and evening ; the natives all saying grace before their 

 meal, and prayers before they went to rest. It was late the next morn- 

 ing before Dr. Pickering could get the party in motion, and pursuing 

 their route, they soon overtook the Lord of the Forest, who had pre- 

 ceded them, and was employed in cutting a path through the woods, 

 although that already made might have been easily passed through. 

 No inducement could make them change their purpose, and they con- 

 tinued to work at their turnpike, lopping off large branches, beating 

 down ferns, &c. After some time, they reached a rising ground, which 

 they found to be on one side of a crater, about a thousand feet above 

 the sea, and seven miles inland. 



Dr. Pickering now concluded that it was a hopeless task to attempt 

 to penetrate into the interior with such guides, and determined to 

 return, which he accordingly did. He found the rest of his party a 

 mile in advance of their previous encampment, where they had built 

 for themselves a fine house, and each man had collected two large 

 baskets of yams for provisions. This was their stopping-place for the 

 night, and among other cares for the Doctor's comfort, they con- 

 structed for him a native pillow, formed of a piece of bamboo, with 

 legs lashed to it about three inches high. 



The natives were in high spirits during the evening, talking and 

 laughing immoderately. They succeeded in getting off by nine 

 o'clock the next day, and reached the coast about noon. 



During the stay of Dr. Pickering and Lieutenant Maury on this 

 island, they were objects of great curiosity ; and whenever they walked 

 out they were followed, not only by boys, but grown men, who did 

 not, however, offer to molest them in any way. When they passed 

 through the villages, all the inhabitants, not excepting the scholars 

 from the schools, came out to look at them. The latter, however, did 

 not abandon their books, but retained them in their hands ; for all, 

 whether young, middle-aged, or old, are anxious to learn, and their 

 perseverance, as in other parts of the group, is astonishing. 



Dr. Pickering here witnessed the taking of fish in a different mode 

 from that practised on the other islands. Application was made to 

 the chief, and through his influence a meeting of the head men of the 

 town was called, and a fishing expedition agreed upon. The net, if it 



