182 TEAVEIii IK THE EAST INDIAN ABCmiPELAGO. 



tobacco is cut so fine that it exactly resembles the 

 "fine cut" of civilized laada; and long threads of 

 the fibrous, oakum like substance are always seen 

 hanging out of the mouths of the natives, and 

 completing their dLsgusting appearance. This re- 

 volting habit prevails not only among the men, 

 but also among the women, and whenever a number 

 come together to gossip, as in other countries, a 

 box containing the necessary articles is always seen 

 near by, and a tall, um-shaped spit-box of brass is 

 either in the midst of the circle or passing from one 

 to another, that each may free her mouth from sur- 

 plus saliva. Whenever one native calls on another, 

 or a stranger is received from abroad, invariably the 

 first aiticle that is oftered him is the siri-box. 



From Tulahu we crossed a strait about half 

 a mile broad, and came under the lee of the 

 north side of Hai-uku, an oblong island, with a 

 long point on the east and southwest. Its extreme 

 length is about two and a quaii;er geographical 

 miles, its greatest width one and a quarter, and 

 its entire area eight square geographical miles. 

 The surface aboimda in hills, but the highest is 

 not a thousand feet above the sea. Its population 

 is upward of seven thousand, and is distjibuted 

 in eleven villages, and about evenly divided be- 

 tween Christianity and Mohammedanism. Its geo- 

 logical stnicture is probably like the neighboring 

 parts of Laitimur, It is quite smTounded by a plat- 

 form of coral, which must be bare in some places at 

 low water. We kept near the shore, so that I could 

 look down deep into the clear water, and distinctly 



