404 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[July, 
flesh, fowls, fruits, and vegetables in abundance, and not dear by any 
means. The vegetables comprise almost every species ; and the 
fruits are generally of the tropical kind. 
From the moment of the frigate's arrival, the hospitality of the 
foreign residents was kindly extended to the commodore and offi- 
cers of the Potomac, and continued with the most untiring con- 
stancy. Every house was open to the strangers, and several of 
our officers resided on shore, at the hospitable mansions of their 
kind entertainers. Among other entertainments, they were in- 
vited by the foreign residents to attend a luau, at the valley so 
highly spoken of by Mr. Stewart. This excursion is very far 
from equalling the idea which former descriptions would lead 
one to expect. The road in many places is covered with brush, 
and the valley is little more than • a collection of small trees, 
rocks, and mud. This was owing, however, in a great measure, 
to the heavy rains which had fallen shortly before the arrival of 
the Potomac. The idea of turnpikes, or roads, is really most 
ridiculous, and is calculated to mislead very much as to the 
extent and true nature of the advancement of this island in such 
improvements. And the splendid descriptions which have been 
given of the numerous handsome vehicles and carriages, are mbre 
in the poetical workings of the imagination than a drawing from 
reality. Few of these articles are on the islands ; and if there 
were, they could not be used : — for, excepting the ride of which 
we have already spoken, of about two miles or more, there 
is no part of the island, at least as far as our observation ex- 
tended, where they could be used : and as for roads, we again 
repeat, that there are no such things. The island, in this par- 
ticular, is as much in a state of nature, with the exceptions just 
mentioned, as when first discovered by Captain Cooke. 
A /wau, the festival alluded to above, is somewhat analogous to 
what is called a barbecue, or a pic-nic. The word luau, of itself, 
is nothing more than the name of the taro-tops boiled ; and any 
thing is said to be luaued when it is cooked with these greens. 
At these luaus, every thing is cooked in the native style. A large 
hole is dug in the ground, fire is placed at the bottom, and 
covered with small pieces of wood ; and, when well ignited, 
stones are heaped upon it. When the whole becomes heated, the 
green leaf of the taro is placed upon them, and then the articles 
