62 



porter's journal. 



in search of other lands. None have ever been heard of 

 except in one instance. Four canoes sailed from Nooa- 

 heeva, or Madison's Island, in search of land to leeward; 

 they fell in with Roberts' Islands to the N.W. where the 

 natives go annually to collect the tail feathers of the Tro- 

 pic bird, which there resort. Here one of the canoes re- 

 mained, the others proceeded on their voyage, running be- 

 fore the wind. After remaining some time on the island, 

 which produces only cocoa-nut and some few other trees, 

 they determined to return to Nooaheeva. One man and 

 one w^oman remained on the island, and built a hut. The 

 canoe was never after heard of. The man died, and the 

 woman was found, and taken back by a canoe, which ar- 

 rived there in search of feathers. Three or four days after 

 the departure of the canoes, on these voyages of discovery, 

 the priests come lurking to the houses of the inhabitants 

 of the valley, whence they sailed, and in a squeaking 

 affected voice inform them that they have found a land 

 abounding in bread-fruit, hogs, cocoa-nuts, every thing that 

 can be desired, and invite others to follow them, pointing 

 out the direction to sail, in order to fall in with this desi- 

 rable spot. New canoes are constructed, and new ad- 

 venturers commit themselves to the ocean never to re- 

 turn. 



Ask them how they obtained their knowledge of those 

 islands, and they tell you from their gods. They name 

 six Islands, two have already been mentioned, to wit, 

 Vavao and Ootoopoo. The others are Hitahee, to the 

 south of St. Christiana, which is said to be a small island. 

 Nookuaheeand Kappenooa, to leeward of Madison's Island, 

 four days' sail distant ; and Pooheka, a fine island, said to 

 lie to the westward of Roberts' Islands, the existence of 

 which is not doubted by them. 



Of bananas they count upwards of twenty diiferent 

 kinds, some approaching very near the plantain in their 

 appearance, but it is certain that they have none of the 

 latter on the island. The manner of ripening the banana 

 is as convenient and simple as it is expeditious. They dig 

 in the ground a round or square hole, of about three feet 

 in depth, made perfectly level at the bottom, and of the 

 size suited to the quantity of bananas intended to be put 

 into it. They then collect an oily nut much resembhng 



