looked like a large basket. Rude pictures and carved
wood-work figures were hanging on the walls, together with
some inscriptions in Chinese characters.
On returning to the lower harbour of all, we went to the
large village before spoken of, which is by far the most
finished of any that we have seen on this island. The streets
are regular and clean swept; each house has a neat cane
wall, as well as a screen before the door; plantain and other
trees are growing so thickly in the inside of the fence, that
they completely shade the house. Near the beach were
several large houses, in which a number of people were seated
writing : on going up to them they gave us tea and cakes,
and afterwards allowed us to go over the village without
restraint; they were curious to know whether the brig was
coming into the harbour or not, and if so, how many days
we meant to s ta y ; they expressed neither pleasure nor
regret when we said that we were not coming in. In front
of the village, and parallel with the beach, there is a splendid
avenue thirty feet wide, formed by two rows of large trees,
whose branches join overhead, and effectually screen the
walk from the sun ; here and there are placed wooden
benches, and a t some places stone seats are fixed near the
trees: this space, which is about a quarter of a mile long,
is probably used as a public walk.
A range of hills of a semicircular form embraces the
village, and limits its ex ten t: at most places it is steep, but
at the point where the north end joins the harbour, there is
an overhanging cliff about eighty feet high, the upper part
of which extends considerably beyond the base; a t eight
or ten yards from the ground on this inclined face, a long
horizontal gallery has been hewn out of the solid rock:
it communicates with a number of small square excavations
still deeper in the rock, for the reception of the vases containing
the bones of the dead.
The trees and creepers on the edge of the precipice hung
down so as to meet the tops of those which grew below, and
thus a screen was formed which threw the gallery into deep
shade: every thing here being perfectly still, the scene was
very solemn and imposing. I t took us somewhat by surprise,
for nothing in its external appearance indicated the
purpose to which the place was appropriated : happening to
discover an opening amongst the trees and brushwood, and
resolving to see what it led to, we entered by a narrow path
winding through the grove. The liveliness of the scenery
without, and the various amusements of the day, had put us
all into high spirits, but the unexpected and sacred gloom of
the scene in which we suddenly found ourselves had an instantaneous
effect in repressing the mirth of the whole party.