THE ISLAND OF BORNABI-Pacific Ocean. (Continued from page 582.) THE Island of Bornabi is mountainous in the centre, and more or less hilly from the mountains to the shore throughout. The whole island is thickly wooded, and produces many varieties of good timber, fit for house, ship-building, and other purposes. The shores are fronted with mangrove trees, growing in the salt water, which form an impenetrable barrier to boats landing, except in the rivers, and other small canals or channels, formed amongst them by nature. Many of these are so narrow as scarcely to admit of oars being used; they answer every purpose, however, as all the houses situated near the shore, have generally one of these channels leading to them. The soil is composed of a rich red and black loam, and would, if properly cultivated, produce every variety of tropical fruits and esculent roots; together with coffee, arrow-root, and sugar-cane. The trees do not branch out until near the top; the trunks of many of them are covered with climbing plants and vines, and the lower part of the trunks enveloped with ferns, of which there are many varieties; these give the ground a matted or woven appearance. The woods throughout the island are very thick, and often composed of large and fine trees; among them are tree ferns, banyan, pandanus, and several species of palms. The sassafras tree is also found here. Many beautiful sweet scented white and yellow flowers are to be found. These are much esteemed by the natives, and are strung into wreaths, which both sexes wear round their hair at feasts, and on other occasions. These wreaths are exceedingly handsome. The bread-fruit tree is very abundant, and grows here to a large size. The cocoa-nut and wild orange are also found in great numbers. A small species of cane or bamboo is very common, and is used for making floors and side wicker work for the houses. Wild ginger and arrow-root also abounds. The cultivated plants and trees are, bread-fruit, of which they have many varieties; cocoa-nut, ti-root, tarro, bananas, tacca, from which arrow-root is made; sugar-cane, which is used only for chewing; yams, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, tobacco, in small quantities; and kava, (piper mythisticum). The latter is cultivated to a large extent throughout the island, and daily used at their feasts. They pay very little attention to the cultivation of arrow-root; yet, what I have seen made from the root, appeared to be of a very superior quality. Yams are plentiful all over the island, but whalers get their supplies chiefly from the north side, where they are cultivated to a much greater extent than at any other place; they are, however, of rather a small size, and of an indifferent quality, through not being properly cultivated. The cultivated ground does not extend far from the coasts, near which all the villages are situated. There are no inhabitants inland, and few of the natives have ever visited the centre of the island. There are no traces of any native quadruped, except rats. The flying fox, or vampire bat, is very plentiful, and very destructive to the bread-fruit. Wild pigeons abound all over the island. They appear to be in best condition, and most plentiful, from December till April. A vessel recruiting here, may obtain a daily supply of them, for all hands, by giving a couple of native boys fowling-pieces, with ammunition. These youths are excellent shots, and, in half a day, will procure a sufficiency for a whole ship's crew. No fear need be entertained of their stealing the fowling-pieces; as I have never heard an instance of it during my many visits to this island. A fig of tobacco each, will sufficiently remunerate them for their labour; and numbers will be found daily volunteering their services. Poultry is plentiful all over the island. The usual price of one dozen fowls is twenty-four figs negro-head tobacco, or two fathoms of cheap calico. Yams can be purchased from the natives for ten figs of tobacco per hundred; bread-fruit, ten figs per hundred; cocoa-nuts, the same; bananas, two figs per bunch; and all other productions of the island, at an equally low rate. Fish are taken on the reefs in great abundance and variety. Mullets are very numerous, and are frequently seen leaping from the water in immense shoals. The small fish are chiefly caught in hand-nets, and the others in various other modes. These islands furnish abundant supplies for the refreshment of whalers; but, as yet, there are few articles which can be made available in commerce. The islands produce about 500lbs. of tortoise-shell annually; the whole of which is purchased from the natives, at a very low rate, by the Europeans living on the island, and sold by them to whale ships, at an advance of 500 per cent.! They take their payment chiefly in spirits, tobacco, muskets, and gunpowder. The introduction of these articles, and their abuse by the vagabonds on shore, have tended much to demoralize the natives. This is the only article of merchandize which can be, at present, procured (except biche de mer), beyond the immediate wants of the visitors. Ginger, arrow-root, sassafras, coffee, sugar, and many species of excellent timber, might, however, be easily added to the list of exports. Whalers procure annually about fifty tons of yams, and abundance of bananas, bread-fruit, and poultry. Pigs are only to be obtained from the Europeans. The natives reared them formerly, but, through being too lazy to fence in their plantations, they ultimately killed them all, and substituted dogs as an article of diet instead. The description of goods most sought after by the natives, as returns for what these islands furnish, are red serge or camlets, of which they are passionately fond, muskets, gunpowder, lead, flints, cartouch boxes, cutlasses, broad axes, tomahawks, fish-hooks, butchers' knives, adzes, chisels, plane irons, hand saws, gouges, gimblets, bullet moulds, calico, drill, gaudy cotton handkerchiefs, negro-head and Cavendish tobacco, tobaccopipes, files, serge and cotton shirts, trousers, beads of all sorts, Jews'harps, straw hats, blankets, small boxes or chests, with locks and hinges, iron cooking pots, fowling-pieces and small shot, needles and thread, &c. Near Matalanien harbour, are some interesting ruins, which are, however, involved in obscurity; the oldest inhabitants being ignorant of their origin, and have no tradition bearing any reference to their history. That a fortified town once stood upon this spot, and not built by savages, cannot be doubted; the style of the ruins giving strong proofs of civilization. Some of the stones measure eight to ten feet in length, are squared on six sides, and have, evidently, been brought thither from some civilized country, there being no stones on the island similar to them. Streets are formed in several places, and the whole town appears to have been a succession of fortified houses. Several artificial caves were also discovered within the fortifications. This town was, doubtless, at one time, the stronghold of pirates, and as the natives can give no account of it, it seems probable that it was built by Spanish buccaneers, some two or three centuries ago. This supposition is confirmed by the fact, that about three or four years ago, a small brass cannon was found on one of the mountains, and taken away by H.M.S. Larne. Several clear places are also to be seen a little inland, at different parts of the island; some of which are many acres in extent, clear of timber, and perfectly level. Upon one of these plains, called K-par, near Roan Kiddi harbour, (and which I have frequently visited,) is a large mound, about twenty feet wide, eight feet high, and a quarter of a mile in length. This must, evidently, have been thrown up for defence: or, as a burial place for the dead, after some great battle. Similiar ruins are to be found at Strong Island, of which the natives can give no account. Vocabulary of the Bornabi Language. Kachalel'. Handsome. Mary'ry. Long. Muttamut. Short. Ma-dig'idig. Small. Ma-lout. Large. Ma-toto. Plenty. Kam'chia. All, or every one. Aramas'. Men. U'lyn. A man. Tontol. Black. Mung'ah. Food. Nam'minam. To eat. Kowa gola wata You go bring a little Bit a bit. Quick. katchyn piel.ƒ Kiang'. To give. fresh water. Kowa kiang. You give. Wawy. Take it. Tui, or tuka. Jou mon. Timber. Sick. Mejila'ar. Dead. Loach. A sleeping mat. Ari. Enough; that'll do. Paba. Father. Jher'ryk. A mat sail. Cha'ap. Land. Kiam. A baskat. Me'lell. It is true, no lie. Ny eye'riraniki. I know. Nannikan. A prime minister Kap'pen. Captain. Wia'ta. To make, or build. Lyp'pirap. To steal Kalang'. To look. Kowa kalang. You look. Pug. A pig. Pig. Sand. Wan tuka. Beads. Katchyn mata. Fish hooks. Pey. To fight with the fists. Lum e Jack. Fifty. Oau e Jack. Sixty. E'ech e Jack. Seventy. E'wal e Jack. Eighty. Atun e Jack. Ninety. One hundred. Two hundred. A buki. Ri a buki. Atun a ket. Nun. Ten thousand. Ri a ket, lum a buki, elum. 2,505. Throughout this vocabulary a is to be sounded as in hat; e as in ever; i as in equity; and u as in supple. The complexion of these natives is of a light copper colour. The average height of the men is about 5 feet 8 inches, and the majority of them would be called small. The women are much smaller in proportion than the men, with delicate features, and slight figures. Many of of the chiefs' sons are exceedingly well formed; they are also of a much lighter colour than the generality of the natives, owing to their not being so much exposed to the sun; and would be considered fine looking men, in any part of the world. Their features are, in general, well forined. The nose is slightly aquiline, but a little broad at the base; the mouth rather large, with full lips, and beautiful white teeth. The lobes of the ears are perforated, in both sexes, but are seldom distended to any size. Both sexes (especially the females), wear handsome ornaments, composed of small beads, &c., attached to the ears. They have also handsome necklaces made of the same materials. Both men and women have beautiful long strait hair, very black, and which they take no little pains |