86 



KAUAI AND OAHU. 



between it and Honolulu is extensive. The natives derive great 

 advantage from this reef in the way of food. 



Between Waikiki and Honolulu there is a vast collection of salt- 

 ponds, and I was greatly surprised to find the manufacture of it so 

 extensive. It is piled up in large heaps, in which there was, when I 

 saw them, from one to two hundred tons. The salt is now exported 

 to California, China, Oregon, Kamtschatka, and the Russian settlements 

 at Sitka. The natives use it for salting fish and pork, an art which it 

 is said they have long practised. 



The women are also frequently seen collecting, in the salt-ponds, 

 Confervas and Fuci (sea-weed) for food. 



The repairs of the squadron were, by the 10th of November, rapidly 

 drawing to a close. In examining the bottoms of the vessels we had 

 made use of a diving-dress of India-rubber with which we were pro- 

 vided. This apparatus excited a great deal of curiosity among the 

 natives and inhabitants of Honolulu. With it we succeeded in repair- 

 ing a few places in the copper that had been injured on those occasions 

 when we had struck. 



On the 16th of November, the Porpoise being ready, sailed for 

 the Low Archipelago or Paumotu Group. The orders given on 

 this occasion to Lieutenant-Commandant Ringgold, will be found in 

 Appendix VII. 



l'OE EATING. 



