karmon's journal. 



249 



the whole year, in which water does not con- 

 geal ; though the air in the day time, in the 

 summer, is warm, and we even have a few days 

 of sultry weather. — The soil, in many places in 

 New Caledonia, is tolerably good. 



Tuesday, May 30. I have just returned from 

 a visit to Mr. Stuart, who passes the summer 

 at Stuart's Lake. On the mountain, which I 

 crossed in going there, I found snow, two feet, 

 at least, in depth. 



Friday, June 16. Soon after the Natives left 

 their village, last February, to go to the small 

 lakes, for the purpose of taking fish, four of 

 their number deceased. Their corpses were 

 kept, by their relations, to the present time, 

 when they are bringing them to the village in 

 order to burn them. Little else but the skele* 

 tons, now remain. — In the winter season, the Car- 

 riers often keep their dead in their huts during 

 five or? six months, before they will allow them 

 to be burned. At this season, the coldness of 

 the weather enables them to keep the bodies, 

 without their becoming offensive ; and they are 

 unwilling that the lifeless remains of the objects 

 of their affection, should be removed forever 

 from their sight, until it becomes a matter of 

 necessity. 



Sunday, 18. This afternoon eight of the Nate- 

 32 



