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men into their cave, the officers into their tent.
Previously to doing so, however, we took
precaution to stuff our ears with paper, in order
to exclude the "snapping beetle," one of the
Elateridæ, credited by the natives with a
predilection for that organ, and myriads of which
had been assailing us.
Our bed was composed of the
moku - native grass - over which we placed our rubber
sheets. At 2 o'clock in the morning we were
awakened by a heavy rain storm, against which our
flimsy patchwork tent proved but poor protection,
the water either pouring through or running under
our bed of litter.
On Wednesday, December 22,
after a hearty breakfast, finding that we were
none the worse for the previous night's
experience, we struck camp, the pack animals were
loaded, and at an early hour we were
underway again.
Our course this day continued along the coastline to the
northward and around North Cape, skirting the base
of Rana Hana Kana. The shore all along this part
of the island is bold, rocky, precipitous, the
black frowning basalt cliffs rising in many places
to the height of hundreds of feet, truly an
"iron-bound" coast, upon which the seas break with
terrific fury, dashing the spray high in the air.
The powerful solvent action of sea water upon even
the hardest volcanic rock may here be seen
exemplified in the fantastic shapes wrought by the
waves on every side, the arches cut through, the
innumerable caves excavated in the face of the
cliffs, the pinnacles, towers, basins, etc.,
visible at every step. Many of the caverns were
explored, and human and other bones found in some
of them. The character of the surface land was
about the same as on the preceding day, and the
tramp over rocks and stones was a weary and trying
one.
During the afternoon a detail of men was
again sent ahead to locate the camp for the night,
near a fresh-water spring known to the natives,
and which the remainder of the party reached
toward sunset. This, which we named, "Camp Day"
in honor of our commanding officer, was
situated in the district of Vai-maitai (good
water), near Motukau Point, about 3 miles
distant from our camp of the night before, but
fully three times as many by the route we had
taken. One of the natives was sent back to the
ship, with a note, for additional supply of
stores. Two caves were occupied at this camp, one
by the officers, the other being allotted to the
men.
Despite the promising name of the district,
the water again proved bad, being brackish.
A couple of sheep had been captured and dressed, and from
these and canned food, garnished with taro, sweet
potatoes and bananas, baked by the natives in
their inimitable way, and washed down with copious
drafts of tea, an excellent meal was made. Our
cave proved a damp, ill-smelling place, and
visions of pneumonia, rheumatism, and other
resultant affections dominated our dreams,
rendering sleep fickle and unrefreshing.
At 7.30 on the morning of Thursday, December 23,
we were again
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