DISTRICT OF FA-RE. 
249 
nut trees, adds much to the beauty of the shore, 
and the security of the harbour. A ridge of in¬ 
ferior hills divides the district in the centre, and 
greatly increases the picturesque appearance of its 
scenery. A small river rises on the northern side 
of this ridge, and, flowing along the boundary 
between the two districts, meets the sea exactly 
opposite the northern entrance. Another stream, 
more broad and rapid, rises at the head of the 
principal valley, and flows in a circuitous course to 
the southern part of the bay. The district is well 
watered and wooded. The lower hills, at the time 
of our arrival, were clothed with verdure, and the 
mountains in the centre of the island, whose sum¬ 
mits appeared to penetrate the clouds, were often 
entirely covered with trees. All was rich and luxu¬ 
riant in vegetation, but it was the richness and 
the luxuriance of a wilderness; scarcely a trace of 
human culture could be seen, yet I could but think 
the scene 
“ How fair, 
Were it but from sin refined : 
Man how free, how happy here, 
Were he pure as God is kind.” 
A few native houses were visible : there were not 
probably more than ten or twelve in the district, 
and the inhabitants might be occasionally seen 
guiding the light canoe across the bay, or leisurely 
walking beneath the shade of the spreading trees. 
They were the rude untutored tenants of the 
place; their appearance and their actions were 
in perfect keeping with the scenes of wildness by 
which they were surrounded. The only clothing 
most of them wore was a girdle of cloth bound loosely 
round the waist, and a shade of cocoa-nut leaves 
over their foreheads. Notwithstanding this, it was 
