PUALAA-KAPOXiO. 
297 
To this we replied at some length, after which 
the old men ceased to object, but withheld their 
assent. Numbers sat around, and seemed inte¬ 
rested in the discussion. We continued talking 
to them on the subject of their traditions, one of 
which we wrote down as they repeated it. 
About half-past eleven we took leave of them* 
and directed our way across the eastern point. 
A most beautiful and romantic landscape presented 
itself on our left, as we travelled out of Pualaa. 
As we reached Kapoho, a cluster, apparently of 
hills three or four miles round, and as many hun¬ 
dred feet high, with deep indented sides, overhung 
with trees, and clothed with herbage, standing in 
the midst of the barren plain of lava, attracted our 
attention. We walked through the gardens that 
encircled its base, till we reached the south-east 
side, where it was much lower than on the northern 
parts. Here we ascended what appeared to us to 
be one of the hills, and, on reaching the summit, 
were agreeably surprised to behold a charming 
valley opening before us. It was circular, and 
open towards the sea. The outer boundary of this 
natural amphitheatre was formed by an uneven 
ridge of rocks, covered with soil and vegetation. 
Within these there was a smaller circle of hills, 
equally verdant, and adorned with trees. The 
sides of the valley, which gradually sloped from 
the foot of the hills, were almost entirely laid out 
in plantations, and enlivened by the cottages of 
their proprietors. In the centre was an oval 
hollow, about half a mile across, and probably 
two hundred feet deep, at the bottom of which 
was a beautiful lake of brackish water, whose 
margin was in a high state of cultivation, planted 
with taro, bananas, and sugar-cane. The steep 
