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natives built many of these huts, the cairns for the dead, and other buildings, of these lava blocks, loosely piled up, and Messrs. Salmon and Brander apply them to good use in constructing their extensive corrals and fences, with the added advantage of thus clearing the soil for planting, wherever desirable.
   A coarse hummock grass and a variety of finer quality grow profusely over nearly the entire island, sprouting vigorously among the lava fragments, and affording abundant pasturage for the herds of cattle, horses, and sheep, the former numbering 600 and the latter 18,000 at the time of our visit, and both multiplying rapidly.
   On the northeastern end of the island, and on the slopes of Mount Pua-ko-taki, the surface is covered with fine, red, volcanic sand and dust, which is kept in constant motion by the winds, and is barren of vegetation of any kind.
   At the time of our visit, December, which is during their dry or summer season, extending from October to April, the periods of the southeast trades, there were no running streams on the island, nor, with the exception of the valley at the base of Rana Kao, were there any evidences of the former existence of such visible. Fresh water away from the habitations was exceedingly scarce and difficult to obtain, although showers of rain at night were not infrequent.
   The alleged springs or wells, including Puna Pua, the "Unfailing Spring," so highly spoken of by former visitors, were at long distances apart, were merely shallow excavations among the bowlders into which the surface water percolated, and were covered to protect them from the animals. The water contained in them was rarely of more than a few bucketsful in quantity, and with a single exception, at Camp Whitney, of bad quality. That contained in the lakes inside the two craters, the accumulations of the rainy seasons, and surface drainage also, was fully as bad, and impregnated both with vegetable and animal matter, the former from the dense growth on the surface, the latter from the herds of cattle which came to the lakes to drink.
   It may be mentioned in this place that the natives, from long habit, no doubt, have become accustomed to drink but sparingly. We were surprised, during our expedition around the island, to notice how rarely they resorted to the canteen, with which all were provided, and they, no doubt, were equally amazed at our constant demand for water, made necessary to replace the loss from perspiration, induced by violent exercise and the sun's heat. They were always careful to locate our camp near, and anxious to keep us well supplied with, as good water as was to be had, and when we broke camp in the morning the "springs" in the vicinity were usually drained dry.
   It was at first a mystery to us whence the animals obtained their supplies, but as to the cattle, they never wandered far away from the craters, in whose lakes they could, at all seasons, quench their thirst. In so far as the sheep were concerned, whose needs in this respect are

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