the plastering within was furred off from the walls.  These stones came from Rancocus Island, where they were found in inexhaustible quantities, partaking of the character of tufa.  The largest of them were landed at the Reef, the loading and unloading being principally done by the Kannakas, while the smallest were delivered at different points along the channel, according to the wishes of the owners of the land.  More than a hundred dwellings were erected in the course of the few months immediately succeeding the arrival of the immigrants.  About half were on the Peak, and the remainder were in the group.  It is true, no one of all these dwellings was large; but each was comfortable, and fully answered the purpose of protection against the rain.  A roof of cedar shingles was tight, as a matter of course, and what was more, it was lasting.  Some of the buildings were sided with these shingles; though clap-boards were commonly used for that purpose.  The adobe answered very well when securely roofed, though it was thought the unburnt brick absorbed more moisture than the brick which had been burned.

The largest of all the private dwellings thus erected, was thirty feet square, and the smallest was fifteen.  The last had its cooking apartment under a shed, however, detached from the house.  Most of the ovens were thus placed; and in many instances the chimneys stood entirely without the buildings, even when they were attached to them.  There was but one house of two stories, and that was John Pennock’s, who had sufficient means to construct such a building.  As for the governor, he did not commence building at all, until nearly every one else was through, when he laid the corner-stones of two habitations; one on the Peak, which was his private property, standing on his estate; and the other on the Reef, which was strictly intended to be a Government, or Colony House.  The first was of brick, and the last of stone, and of great solidity, being intended as a sort of fortress.  The private dwelling was only a story and a half high, but large on the ground for that region, measuring sixty feet square.  The. government building was much larger, measuring two hundred feet in length, by sixty feet in depth.  This spacious edifice, however, was not altogether intended for a dwelling for the governor, but was so arranged as to contain great quantities of public property in its basement, and to accommodate the courts, and all the public offices on the first floor.  It had an upper story, but that was left unfinished and untenanted for years, though fitted with arrangements for defence.  Fortunately, cellars were little wanted in that climate, for it was not easy to have one in the group.  It is true, that Pennock caused one to be blown out with gun-powder, under his dwelling, though every one prophesied that it would soon be full of water.  It proved to be dry, notwithstanding; and a very good cellar it was, being exceedingly useful against the heats, though of cold there was none to guard against.