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2!ho cable company has woriced steadily to improve conditions on 
what originally was a desolate spot of glaring sand and scattered bushes. 
■fhe main buildings,four in number,are of steel and concrete arranged at 
the corners of a little plaza, iarth, brought in sadcs from Honolulu 
oovers the barren sand near the buildings and nourishes pleasant lawns 
with clumps of ornamental shrubs and flowers, ‘fhe whole is surrounded 
e 
by a heavy protective wind break; of iron wood^or casuarina^rees^etween 
whose trunks one raay oat oh glimpses of the olear green waters of the 
lagoon. Tree lined walks lead to the wharf and to a vegetable garden 
where corn* peas* potatoes* beans* lettuce* tomatoes* and similar vegetables 
thrive with abundant weeds imported with the garden earth. A few sheep and 
a cow or two* with hi$i windmills in the baakground^give a suggestion of 
some Argentine estanoia . an illusion that is dispelled by a few minutes 
walk; that takes one to the bleak wind-swept sands outside this artificial 
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human paradise. 
Sastern Islani is uninhabited except by myriad birds and 18 or 20 
donJteys, projeny of a pair imported 20 years ago from Honolulu and released 
here when they were no longer required for work: animals. 3?hej( find abundant 
forage-and for water paw shallow pits a few feet from the water’s edge from 
whioh they obtain a bracscish soep that iB not top salt for their neods. 
Saai Island has the unique distinction of a thriving oolony of 
domestio canaries which live at freedom in the shrubbery and in the mild 
and pleasant climate have increased from a few pairs to several hundred 
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individuals. 
