72 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
shape, much resembled whortleberries; though 
insipid, they were juicy, and supplied the place of 
fresh water, a comfort they had been destitute of 
since the preceding evening. 
They continued ascending till three p. m. when, 
having suffered much from thirst, and finding they 
should not be able to reach the highest peak before 
dark, the sky also being overcast, and the rain 
beginning to fall, they judged it best to return to 
Kairua, without having reached the summit of 
Mouna Huararai; particularly as they were some¬ 
what scattered, and found a difficulty in pursuing 
the most direct way, on account of the thick fog 
which surrounded the mountain. 
On their return, they found the aid of their 
pocket compass necessary to enable them to regain 
the path by which they had ascended in the morn¬ 
ing. After travelling some time, they beheld with 
gladness the sun breaking through the fog in 
which they had been so long enveloped, and, look¬ 
ing over the clouds that rolled at their feet, saw it 
gradually sink behind the western wave of the 
extended ocean. The appearance of the sky at 
the setting of the sun, in a tropical climate, is 
usually beautiful and splendid—it was so this 
evening—and from their great elevation, the party 
viewed with delight the magnificent yet transient 
glories of the closing day. They travelled about 
three miles further, when, being wet with the fog, 
and weary with travelling, they erected a hut on 
the lava, and encamped for the night. They suc¬ 
ceeded in making a good fire, dried their clothes, 
and then partook of their refreshment. It con¬ 
sisted of a small quantity of hard taro paste, 
called by the natives ai paa . A little water would 
have been agreeable, but of this they were des- 
