REIKEVIG BAY. 
15 
the town, were scattered miserable huts, but 
little raised above the level of the ground, al¬ 
though none of them are really formed under 
ground, nor, indeed, are any in the island so, as 
has been generally supposed. About three in 
the afternoon, we came to an anchor at a short 
distance from the town, close by the Orion, and, 
at four, we went on shore, landing upon a beach 
wholly formed of decomposed lava, of a black 
color, and, in some places, almost as fine as sand : 
here, a sort of moveable jetty, made of fir planks, 
was pushed a little way into the sea, that we 
might not get wet, and, at least, a hundred na^ 
tives, principally women, welcomed us to their 
island, and shouted on our landing. These good 
folks did not gaze on us with more pleasure, than 
we did upon them. It was now the season for 
drying fish, and they were employed in this 
operation at the time of our arrival. Some were 
turning those that were laid out to dry upon the 
beach; another groupe was carrying in hand- 
barrows the fish from the drying place to a spot 
higher up the beach, where other persons were 
employed in packing them in great stacks, and 
pressing them down with stones, to make them 
flat. Most of this business was performed by 
women, some of whom were very stout and lusty, 
but excessively filthy, and, as we passed the 
crowd, a strong and very rancid smell assailed 
