SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
121 
strength, well built, and mounting about forty guns of va¬ 
rious nations, and of calibres from thirty-two pounders to 
fours. The centre fort has eight 32’s. On all days of 
ceremony the Sandwich flag is hoisted on these forts : it 
lias seven white and red stripes, with a union jack in the 
corner. There is a small pier for facilitating the unloading 
of vessels; and such as are of small burden may lie almost 
close to the shore. Several American whalers were lying 
here; and at the sight of them, the gardens of exotic fruits, 
and the stone houses, we could not but be struck with the 
astonishing strides towards civilization that these Islanders 
have made in the very short period that has elapsed since 
their discovery. 
During our ride over the little plain between the moun¬ 
tain and the sea, we could not help thinking that there are 
indications of its having been, at no very remote period, a 
coral reef covered by the sea. In one place we saw the 
rubbish thrown out in digging a well; it consisted of shells, 
coral, and masses of porous lava; and, in short, of all that we 
observe on the present beach. 
The surveyor’s operations, which were going on, led a 
party, in a boat, up the little river which forms the harbour 
of ITonoruru. It winds very prettily between banks, whose 
beauty is rendered more striking to us by the unusual 
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