The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-07-10 00:00:00

OPOL'N, NAVIGATOR'S ISLANDS.

SUNDAY. FEZ. '2, 1823—1 left the ship, with two boats, ore
scored, and polled away for a village about a mile and a half oft: ,
On approaching the shore, I saw it weld be dangerous and im-
prudent to take the boats through the opening in the reef, on ec-
connd of the surf. I accordingly got into a canoe, number* of I
which were round the boats. As soon as we were inside the reef, I
the natives lifted the canoe, with me in her, upon their shoulders,
and set off for the chief 'e house, accompanied by about 3 or 400
men, who had been collected on the beach to see the ship, sing-
ing as they wont along. After proceeding about 2 or 300 yards,
I heard a noise in the direction of the boats, and, looking round,
saw the boat I had just landed from capsized in the turf. As
soon as I was set down, and had seen the Chief and his wife, I
hurried towards the beac♦ . to learn the fate of the boat, crew, tte.
It appeared, that the 'boat's, crew were so intent on what was going
forward on shore. duo they let the boat get into the surf, which
was running very nigh, where she was instantly capsized, and im.
medlately the natives plundered her of every thing they could lay
their hands on : they even took the knives front the seamen's per-
sons. each seeming to consider the man he had possession of as his
property. The other boat now made a signal fur moistener to the
ship, but without being observed : she then pulled for the ship, and
returned in about an hour. with two mare boats, armed. As some
of the people were evidently much alarmed, from eireunetances
which, considering the want of a knowledge of the language, could
not but be equivocal, and finding that the natives expected something
in the shape of' ransom. I requested the Chief, by signs, to send the
men on board, and I would remain on shore. After some time, I suc-
ceeded in getting two of them sent off in a canoe to the boats in the
falling Some time after, I got a third sent off; by him I directed gene
articles which I had brought in the boat to be sent to me, consist.
ing of two cotton teblechthe., four or live knives, some empty hot.
ries, and hoop-iron. As soon as these articles were brought, a
warm dimension took place, and I could perceive, by their gestures,
that the claimants were by Ito means satisfied. As the sun was
new set4natig, became anxious to get off, and urged the chief to
send m d the remaining man to the boats, which he seemed
disported to ennply with. By this time, the whole of the canoes
were hauled up. and a long discussion, or dispute, took pine be-
tween the chief and some of the people. On his part, he ap-
peared to urge them to hunch a ranee, which they objected to, ow,
as far as I could gather from their manner, the score of not having
received enough. He stood by himself, and spoke a long time,
Ins very loud and animated voice. He was answered by a man
who got up for that purpose the rest being seated. After two or
three replies and rejoinders:he appeared to get vexed, tucked up his
'cloth round him, took me by the hand, and set off to wade or swim
to the reef, and front thence to the bouts, taking it for granted, no
doubt, that I could swim, as all, whether male or female, can at
these islands. After getting some distance in the water, we were
followed by fifteen or twenty of the party who had spoken, and
who, in a manlier half respectful. half forctble' detained him. As
the sun was now set, I dettrmindsl to push for the boats, there
being no time to lowa, as well as feeling much asifoyed at this
bolt detention I I was prevented, however, by be or stg at the..
natives lifting me on their shoulders,is which position t repeatedly
shouted out. as loud as I could. for tits WWI W the: bins 01/102
the surf roaring very loud between me me them, they did not hear
distinctly. In this way I was carried on dome, and returned with
the chief to his house. On seeing us walk away, the boats pulled
for the ship, which was tit: n three or four miles to leeward.
On our arrival at the chief's house, it was nearly dark. After
sitting a short time, and eating some yams, &q., extra mats were
brought and spread for the chief and his wife, myself, and the
seaman to sleep upon : the attendants also furnished each of us
with a pillow, consisting of a round stick, three or four feet long,
and five or six feet in circumference, raised five or six inches by
four legs, two at eee:t end, as well as with a quantity of cloth to
cover us. After having lain down sometime, lights were brought;
a company of 40 or 60 persons, of both men. then made their ap-
pearance, and shortly after commenced dancing. After dancing,
singing, and beating • upon some instrument for two or three
hours, the assembly was dismissed by order of the chief, the
lights were taken away, end we were again left to our repose.
About two o'clock in the morning, I was awoke by the chief, who
slept near me, and who motioned tome that 1 should get up end ER
with him but a hear y squall of wind and rain happening at the
time, he pointed to me to go to sleep again. About an hour after,
I had another call, when I gut up and went with him. After a
short walk, we came to a house nearly the same sire as his own,
where we found eight or ten people assembled outside, to eat fresh
fish and yams, with cocoa nut milk to drink. The weather
being beautiful, and the moon directly over our heads, making it
nearly as light as da7, the scene was altogether romantic; psalm.
lady as we were waited on by two or three of the prettiest girls 1
had seen. After this we walked the whole extent of the village,
which the old maw scented to pride himself in showing, and then
returned to his house and agent laid down to sleep.
About aix o'clock we all got up, and on going out I was not a
little monitied to find the ship had gone considerably to leeward
during the night. I now proposed to the Chief to accompany
either myself or the seaman to the ship, promieirg him an exe and
some cloth; to which he consented, but preferred going with the
latter, considering himself, I suppose, safer by my being left as an
hostage. By the seaman I sent a verbal mileage, having neither
pen or pencil, to return in the host, along with the Chief, an
axe, a table-cloth, and a small looking-nine but not to let the
natives take them out of the boat until I was brought off.
About eleven o'clock the boats came with the Chief, who was
landed front a canoe. He was in a great passion because lie was
not allowed to bring the things with him front the boat. It was
not long, hoverer, before I got hint pacified; and we went to.
gether in a canoe to the boats, when I delivered the things
agreeably to promise, with which he was highly delighted.
I Though this island is small it is extremely fertile, and en.
tirely covered with most luxuriant verdure; even the cliffs that
were nearly perpendicular, were entirely covered ; and the ell-
' lage far exceeded any thing I had seen at O:aheite both in ex.
tent, uniformity, and beauty.
The village at which I landed was built on one of' those low
spots, which, though it had a gentle ascent from the beach, ap.
peered flat, compared with the moudtains behind, and was
thickly interspersed with cecos-nut trees, bread-fruit trees, fee.
and extended, probably, half or three-quarters of a mile along the
' sea shore. The houses were built alony the whole of this extent,
and were of the neatest workmanship and the cleanest kept I have
seen in these sets. They all stood on platforms raised on the side I
next the sea by a breast-wink of stones four or five feet high, which I
made it level. The houses are nearly oval, and the roofs, which
51%, very high in the centre, run very low at the sides, like the Bun-
galows of India, which makes it necessary to stoop to get in. The
centre is supported by a row of tall pillars. ornamented, and the
sides by low pillars about lour or five feet apart, with something re-
sembling Venetian blinds between each, which could be pulled tip or
' let down to keep out the sun or the rain, as occasion required. The
floors are entirely covered by very clean mats, spread upon small
blue or black pebbles. These pebbles also extend seven or eight
fret outside the roof without being cov:red, and form a walk nomad
the house like our finest gravel walks in England, where nut the
least grass or dirt is to be seen.
The.r manner of cooking appears to be the same as at Otaheita,
but, both in their houses and canoes, they show much more ins
genuity. As regents the cleanliness of their houses, there is no
comparison ; the floors of them at ()taheite being covered with dry
grass, which harbours fleas and other vermin ; whtreas nothing can
be more accurately dens than those of these people.
Their dances co-eludedwith Captain Cook's, or, rather Dr. An
-
kderson's description of the 'bite at the Friendly Islands; but I
observed that the women uniformly wore, when dancing, a cloth
moue of flax, which appears to be peculiar to these islands, reach-
ing to the kneco, and resembling a tine enteral mat, theambod with
twine—some of them white, others dyed yellow, anal sore of a
brownish admit. These females who had come with a diliennt
dress, always borrowed one of these before they stood up to dance;
anal it was amusing to an how quickly, and with how little erre-
, mony, they changed their dress before the spectators. Whatever
personal beauties they had, they did not seem at all anxious to
hide. At this Heirs (Em by that name they also called it) both
men and women exhibited, never together, but alternately six or
eight men, then six or eight women.
Having three Otahcitans on board, I hoped, by their means, to
be able to convene with these people ; but was disappointed. as
they did not appear to understand them much better than ourselves.
I have no doubt, however, that their language is nearly the Wile
as that of the Friendly Islanders.
I also ran tele:ably close alorg 31aoten. °yellers. and rela, and