HAWAII AND OAHU. 99 



fertile district, with luxuriant sugar-cane, taro, &c, and good houses. 

 The taro here is cultivated without water ; but in order to retain the 

 moisture and protect the plant from the sun, it was observed that they 

 used fern-leaves to secure and shield the roots. The taro, thus culti- 

 vated, attains a much larger size and is superior to that which is grown 

 in water, being more dry and mealy. The houses of this district are 

 much better also, although the natives, for the most part, reside at the 

 sea-shore, to enjoy fishing and bathing. 



In their day's jaunt they passed some wooded land, the trees of 

 which consisted of koa (Acacia), Edwardsia chrysophylla (which is 

 used for fuel), Dodonsea, &c. Plants of wild raspberry and strawberry 

 were seen, — the fruits of both now out of season ; the former, however, 

 yet showed some of its blossoms, like small roses. The most remark- 

 able plant was a species of dock, with large clusters of crimson flowers, 

 which runs up the branches of dead trees to the height of twenty or 

 thirty feet. These woods abounded with birds, several of which Mr. 

 Peale shot ; among them a crow, called by the natives Alala, and a 

 muscicapa called Elepaio, — formerly worshipped as the god of canoe- 

 makers. Before reaching their camping-place, they stopped to fill their 

 calabashes with water, as they did not expect to find any of that 

 necessary article for the next few days. On the edge of the last timber, 

 at the elevation of two thousand feet, they encamped. Here they found 

 excellent pasture for their horses among the ferns, a great abundance 

 of which had been met with on both sides of the path, and were from 

 four to five feet in height. 



At night, the temperature fell to 48°, which was thirty degrees less 

 than they had left it on the coast ; and it was cold enough to sleep 

 under two blankets. 



The next day they arose at sunrise, when Mr. Hall and the natives, 

 as they did regularly every morning during the journey, prayed and 

 sang a hymn, before setting out. They soon passed beyond the woods, 

 and entered a country of barren appearance, composed of hard solid 

 lavas, in the crevices of which were found several shrubby Geraniums, 

 Vacciniums, Daphnes, numerous Composite of a stiff rigid character, 

 and some small ohea bushes, — a kind of sweet whortleberry. 



On their route, many deep caverns were observed under the lava. 

 The signs of wild cattle and dogs were frequent : the latter seek shelter 

 in these caves. The cattle are now rapidly on the increase, there being 

 a prohibition against killing them until a certain number of years have 

 passed. 



After a day's travel, they reached the site of the ancient temple of 

 Kaili. These ruins lie about equally distant from three mountains, Mauna 



