274 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
in one of their houses. A greater number would pro¬ 
bably have attended, but for the rain which fell during 
most of the afternoon. Mr. Bishop numbered the 
houses in the village, and found them, including Ma- 
kena, to be 145. 
Kaimu is pleasantly situated near the sea shore, on 
the s. e. side of the island, standing on a bed of lava 
considerably decomposed, and covered over with a 
light and fertile soil. It is adorned with plantations, 
groves of cocoa-nuts, and clumps of kou-trees. It 
has a fine sandy beach, where canoes may land with 
safety; and, according to the houses numbered to-day, 
contains about 725 inhabitants. Including the villages 
in its immediate vicinity, along the coast, the popula¬ 
tion would probably amount,to 2000; and, if water 
could be procured near at hand, it would form an 
eligible missionary station. There are several wells 
in the village, containing brackish water, which has 
passed from the sea, through the cells of the lava, un¬ 
dergoing a kind of filtration, and is collected in hollows 
scooped out to receive it. The natives told us, that, 
at the distance of about a mile there was plenty of 
fresh water. The extent of cultivation in the neigh¬ 
bourhood, together with the decent and orderly appear¬ 
ance of the people, induced us to think they are more 
sober and industrious than those of many villages 
through which we have passed. 
The rain continuing through the afternoon, prevented 
our preaching to the people, but many, influenced pro¬ 
bably by motives of curiosity, collected in the house 
where we lodged, in conversation with whom we passed 
the evening. 
Their ignorance and superstition awakened lively 
