14 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
beneath. The beauty of the scenery around in¬ 
creases, until at length, after walking some time 
on a rising ground rather more steep than usual, 
and through a thicket of hibiscus and other trees, 
the traveller suddenly emerges into an open space, 
and, turning round a small pile of volcanic rocks, 
the Pari all at once bursts upon him with an almost 
overwhelming effect. Immense masses of black 
and ferruginous volcanic rock, many hundred feet in 
nearly perpendicular height, present themselves on 
both sides to his astonished view; while immediately 
before him, he looks down the fearful steep several 
hundred feet, and beholds hills and valleys, trees 
and cottages, meandering streams and winding 
paths, cultivated plantations and untrodden thick¬ 
ets, and a varied landscape many miles in extent, 
bounded by lofty mountains on the one side, and 
the white-crested waves of the ocean on the other 
—spread out before him as if by the hand of en¬ 
chantment. I have several times visited this ro¬ 
mantic spot, and once climbed the rocky precipice 
from the district of Kolau, on the northern side : 
the ascent is at first gradual and easy, but in two 
places, towards the highest edge, the volcanic 
rocks appear to rise perpendicularly, presenting an 
even, and apparently projecting front, which it 
seems impossible to ascend; but though the pas¬ 
sage is thus difficult, and the elevation of the 
upper ridge, over which the path leads, is from 
four to five hundred feet above the level land 
below, yet the natives not only pass and repass 
without much difficulty, but often carry heavy 
burdens from one side to the other. It is re¬ 
ported that a native female, on one occasion, car¬ 
ried her husband, who was in a state of intoxica¬ 
tion, down the precipice in safety; this appears 
