The Sun.
London, England, 1809-10-03 00:00:00

OTAHLITL.

ESITRA.CT OF & LETTER, DATED SYDNEY, NEW
SOUTH WALES, JULY 17, -1808.
Arrived the Mercury colonial schooner, Thomas
Reiby, master, from Otaheite, with a cargo of
pork, the whole in high preservation. She sailed
from thence the totli of amember last, in company.
with the King George ; went together to the Bay
of Islands, for refreshments and separated the 3d
of January, in latitude 33. 20. ; the King George
bound for the Fejees ; on the 24th of It'ebeuary
she came to anchor in the Bay of M itavia ; and,
having completed her cargo among the islands, in two
months, on the 25th of April took her dermrturL:
. from Ulitea ; on her return to Port Jacks,,n, made
Norfolk Island the Ist of June, and left the 6,h.
She found the American ship Amethyst, Captain
Smith, at the Islands ; from whom she fortunately
received a supply of salt, that which she bad taken
from hence having sunk a full third part from its
original quantity; which, but for the circumstance
of her obtaining an accidental supply, must have
been produaive of serious disappointment to the
owners.

We are sorry to learn that Captain Smith had
lost several of his people among the Islands,
who deserted his ship from an inclination of living
among the natives ; to whose friendly disposition
toward the English -Mr. Reins,' was particularly
indebted for the accomplishment of his object in
so short a period.
• Mr. R. did not at first see King Pormirree,
for whom he took from hence a gold time-keeper,
sent hither to be repaired; and which he was of ne-
cessity, obliged to deliver to his mother.
The Mercury was hove down-at Ulitea 5 and upon
this occasion, was moored, as the chiefs affirmed, to
the very tree, which had, upon the like occasion,
been made choice of by Captain Cook, for heaving
down the Resolution; and to bring to recolleEtion
the more strongly that great circumnavigator's
visit to these bleeds, a chief, named Malice, pro-
duced a medallion of his Majesty, whicti his father
had received as a present from Captain Cook ;
which, after some solicitation, he at length gave to
Mr. Rciby ; the reversed side, represeutini two
ships, encircled by the words—Resolution and
Adventure MDCCLXXII. This medal is considerably
larger than a crown piece, and was originally gilt ;
but which, from the length of time, being 36 years,
is now nearly worn off.
By the order of Labbor, the head chief at
Ulitea, a stoic house, 100 feet ie length, and 50 in
breadth, was built for the reception of the Mer-
cury's stores, the building of which was complet-
ed in a day and a half; so numerous were the
workmen.
Upon leaving the island, the vessel stood towards
Manjeea, an island to the south-west of Ultra, the
people of which seem perfeCt strangers to every race
of people but their own. In their dress and colour
they differ little from UR:Friendly Islanders, but
owing, perhaps, to the total want of intercourse,
with civtlized visitors, their manners are ferocious,
as their aspe6ts are forbidding. These people are
said to be much above the ordinary size, robust, and
very muscular. On the Mercury's approach, 50 or
60 canoes went out to meet her, each canoe having
only one man in it, armed with a long spear
anti several short ones. As soon ai they came
to, which was about two miles from the snore, they
went along-side, and entreated the hands to get
nearer, which, together with their repeated ciforts
to decoy them into their canoes, produced a suspi-
cion of their views, and, in consequence, the
schooner's people's got ready to defend themselves in
case of an attack.
Their numbers prodigiously increasing, every pre;::
caution was used to prevent any from getting on
board; they appeared to have no kind of know-
ledge of fire arms, which they saw without emo-
tion. They demanded every moveable they saw
on deck, and were understood, as their language
differed little, if at all, from that of the Otaheitans.
The pigs on board they insisted upon having, fre-
quently praised the size of the Mercury, and re-
quested to know whose canoe she was But at
length becoming impatient, a number grappled
with the bowsprit rigging, and endeavoured to pull
her in towards the shore, while others were endea-
vouring, by main strength, to pull the bole,: from
the sides, for the sake of the. iron, with the value of
which metal they were doubtless made acquainted
by Capt.. Cook.
As they had not any articles for barter, and ,the;
Mercury had not expended the whole of her trade,'
Mr. Reiby offered to purchase some of their spears,-
as they were ingeniously carved ; but none of their-
would they upon any account part with; at length.
they began vehemently to threaten the people cn
board, if they continued to, obje& to going on
shore; many had spears in their hands; and_ one,
who had taken a long spear up, with much seem-
ing composure, while speaking to a seaman in the
main chains, of the name of David Clarke, 'in-
stead of offering it for barter, as was expealed
to be his intention, made a sudden plunge at the
belly of Clarke; who received the spear through his
right hand, and in the left groin, about an inch.—
The unfortunate man fell, upon receiving the wound,
and was with difficulty got in.
A general disposition of attack was now manifest-
ed, and self-defence became a duty : two mus-
ketoons were immediately discharged among. the
foremost ; and we were not sorry to observe, that the
whole contents of one were lodged in the body of
Cla ke's unprovoked assailant.
Their consternation at the noise they heard may
ea•ily be conjectured : they staid not to examine
the cause of the explosion ; but, taking to their ped-
dles, in a few minutes reached the shore, where an
immense number were assembled"; and the Mercury
took leave of this little inhospitable island which is
in about 21. 38. S. and 158. 20. E. long.
It is much to be laMented, that even the Friendly
Islanders should still retain their cruel custom of
sacrificing human beinSs to their supersititions. On
this subject we copy the folio ing extract from a
journal on board the Mercury :--7" toll of March,
at two P. M. saw the natives at liunaine murder
a man, as a sacrifice, and hang hie; up in a basket,
in a range with four others, .who_ had suffered the
same fate.—reth of March, saw a canoe take in abe
murdered bodies at Hubaine to be couveyedeto