POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
77 
seen peeping from amongst the rich foliage, which every¬ 
where clothes the lowland in these islands. Upon 
various little elevations, beyond these, were others, 
which gave extent and animation to the whole. The 
point on the left in going in, is low, and covered with 
wood, with several cottages along the shore. * On the 
right, the high land of the interior slopes down with 
gentle gradual descent, and terminates in an elevated 
point, which juts out into the harbour, forming two 
little bays. The principal and largest is to the left, 
viewing them from seaward; in this, and extending 
up the valley, the village is situated. The other, which 
is small, has only a few houses—but so quiet, so re¬ 
tired, that it seems the abode of peace and perfect 
content. Industry flourishes here. The chiefs take 
a pride in building their own houses, which are now all 
after the European manner ; and think ^meanly of them¬ 
selves, if they do not excel the lower classes in the arts 
necessary for the construction. Their wives also sur¬ 
pass their inferiors in making cloth. The queen and 
her daughter-in-law, dressed in the English fashion, 
received us in their neat little cottage, f The furniture 
of her house was all made on the island, and by the 
natives, with a little instruction originally from the 
Missionaries. It consisted of sofas with backs and 
arms, with (cinet) bottoms, really very well constructed 5 
tables and bedsteads by the same artificers. There were 
curtains to the windows, made of their white cloth, 
with dark leaves stained upon it for a border, which 
gave a cheerful and comfortable air to the rooms. The 
This part of Fare Harbour is represented in the plate, vol. i. p. 144, 
See No. 2. in the plate of “ Eastern part of Fare Harbour,” page T9, 
