tobacco is cut so fine that it exactly resembles the
“ fine cut” of civilized lands; and long threads of
the fibrous, oakum-like substance are always seen
hanging out of the mouths of the natives, and
completing their disgusting appearance. This revolting
habit prevails not only among the men,
but also among the women, and whenever a number
come together to gossip, as in other countries, a
box containing the necessary articles is always seen
near by, and a tall, um-shaped spit-box of brass is
either in the midst of the circle or passing from one
to another, that each may free her mouth from surplus
saliva. Whenever one native calls on another,
or a stranger is received from abroad, invariably the
first article that is offered him is the siri-box.
From Tulahu we crossed a strait about half
a mile broad, and came under the lee of the
north side of Haruku, an oblong island, with a
long point on the east and southwest. Its extreme
length is about two and a quarter geographical
miles, its greatest width one and a quarter, and
its entire area eight square geographical miles.
The surface abounds in hills, but the highest is
not a thousand feet above the sea. Its population
is upward of seven thousand, and is distributed
in eleven villages, and about evenly divided between
Christianity and Mohammedanism. Its geological
structure is probably like the neighboring
parts of Laitimur. It is quite surrounded by a platform
of coral, which must be bare in some places at
low water. "\V© kept near the shore, so that I could
look down deep into the clear water, and distinctly