foon croffed the fine rivulet, at which our people watered,
and followed the path on the north fide, feeing that the
greateft number of inhabitants had come down from
thence. The afcent was at firft not very fatiguing ; feve-
ral gentle hills formed the fore-ground, which were almoft
level on the fummits, and contained feveral fpacious plantations
of bananas, in excellent order. Thefe fpots always
opened upon us unexpectedly, as the reft of our way lay
through a clofe tufted wood of fruit trees, mixed with
other forts, extremely pleafant to us, on account of the
thick and cooling {hade. Here and there we met with a
folitary coco-nut palm, which, far from lifting its royal
head with becoming pride, was out-topped and hid by
meaner trees. In general thefe trees do not thrive well
upon mountains, preferring a low fituation ; infomuch that
they abound upon the coral-ledges, where they have fcarcely
foil fufficient to take root. A few natives accompanied us,
and fome others met us with fruit, which they carried to
our trading place. In proportion as we afeended, we palled
a number of their houfes, which were all built upon an
elevated bafe of {tones, and exaCtly upon the plan of that
which I have defcribed, page 2 1. Some of them feemed
to be very lately built, and looked very clean within ; but we
could not diftinguifh the number of beds in them, of which
the Spaniards make mention, and fufpeCted that they only
meant different mats fpread on the floor. The ground became
came much fteeper and rugged as we advanced. The ri-
vulet frequently ran in a deep glen, on the brink of which
the path was rather dangerous. We were likewife obliged
to crofs the water feveral times in our w a y ; but always
found the habitations more numerous towards the top.
We refted in feveral places, and were prefented with fruit
and a little water by the natives, who refembled the Ta-
heitians too much in other refpe&s, to be unlike them in
hofpitality. - We never faw a fingle deformed, nor even ill-
proportioned man among them; all were ftrong, tall, well-
limbed, and aCtive in the greateft degree. The nature of
their country contributes towards their adivity ; and the ex-
ercife which they are obliged to take, probably preferves
their elegance of form. Having advanced near three miles
from the fea fide, we faw a young woman, who came out
of a houfe before us, and haftened up the hills as faft as we
advanced. She was drefied in a piece of cloth, made of the
mulberry-tree s bark, and reaching to the knees. Her features
were like thofe of the Taheitee women, as far as we
could difcern at the diftance of thirty yards, which {he took
care to preferve between herfelf and us, and her flature was
■ middle fized. The natives made many figns to us to return,
and feemed to be very uneafy and much difpleafed at our
progrefs. Dr. Sparrman and myfelf, defirous of preferving
the plants which we had collected, turned back, wbilft Mr.
Patton and the reft went on about two miles farther, with-
Vox. II. jjj
out