Star.
London, England, 1809-09-30 00:00:00

OTAIIEITE:.

EXTRACT 07 A 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
hence the 10th of December last, in company with
the King George ; went together to the Bay of
Islands, for refreshments, and separated the 3d ofJa-
nuary, in latitude 33. 20. ; the King George bound
for the Fejees ; on the 24th of February she came to
anchor in the bay of Matavai ; and, having com-
pleted her cargo among the islands, in two months,
on the 25th of April took her departure from Ulitea ;
on her return to Port Jackson, made Norfolk Island
the Ist of June, and left the 6th. She found the Ame-
rican ship Amethyst, Captain Smith, at the islands ;
from which she fortunately received a supply of salt
—that which she had taken from hence having sunk
a full third part from its original quantity ; which,
but for the circumstance of her obtaining an acciden-
tal supply, must have been productive of serious dis-
appointment to the owners. We are sorry to learn,
that Capt. 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 dis-
position towards the English Mr. Reiby was particu-
larly indebted for the accomplishment of his object in
so short a period. 'Mr. R. did not at first see King
Pomarree, for whom he took from hence 2 gold time-
keeper, sent.hither to be revoked ; and which he was,
of necessity, obliged to deliver to his mother.
The 'Mercury was hove down at Ulitea ; and, upon
this occasion, Was mottled, as the chiefs affirmed, to
the very tree, which had, upon the like occasion, been
made choice of by Capt. Cook, for heaving down the
Resolution ; and to bring to recollection the more
strongly that great circumnavigator's visit to those
islands, a chief, named Malec, produced a medal-
lion of his Majesty, which his father had received as
a present from Capt. Cook ; which, after some soli-
citation, he at length gave to Mr. Reiby; the re-
versed side representing two ships, encircled by the
words—" Resolution and Adventure, stncrLxxit."—
This medal is considerably larger than a crown piece,
and Was originally gilt ; but which, from the length
of time, being 86 years; is now nearly worn off.
By the order of Laboort the head chief at Ulitea, a
st re-house, 100 feet in length, and 50 in breadth, was
built far the reception of the Mercury's stores, the
building of which was completed in a day and a half;
so numerous were the workmen.
Upon leaving the island, the vessel stood towards
Manjeei, an island to the south-west of Ulitea, the
people of which seem perfect strangers toevery race
of people but their own. In their dress and colour
they differ little from the Friendly Islanders, but
owing, pet haps, to tie: total want of intercourse with
civilized visit,rs, their manners are ferocious, as their
aspects are fin bidding. These people are said to be
much above the ordinary size, robust, and very mus-
cular. On the Mercury's approach, fifty or sixty ca.
noes went out to meet her, each canoe having only
-one man in it, armed. with a long spear and several
short ones: As soolltiOe came to, which was about
two miles from the shore, they went along-side, and
entreated the hands to get nearer, which, together
with ,their repeated efforts to decoy them into their
canoes, produced a suspicion of their views, and, in
consequence. the schooner's people got ready to de-
fend themselves in case of attack.
Their numbers prodigiously increasing, every pre-
caution was used to prevent any from getting on
board; they appeared to have no kind of knowledge
of fire arms, which they saw without emotion. They
demanded every moveable they saw on deck, and
were understood, as their language differed,little, if
at all, fr m that of the Otatans. The pigs on
board they insisted upon having, frequently praised
the size of the Mercury, and requested. 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 shi xi., while
others were endeavouring, by main strength, to pull
the bolts from the sides, for the sake of the iron, with
the value of which metal they were doubtless made
acquainted by Captain 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 spear:,
as they were ingeniously carved; bat none of them
would they upon any account part-with.; at length
they began • vehemently to threaten the people on
board, if the, continued to object to going on shore ;
many had spears in their hands; and one, who had
taken a 1 ng spear up; with much seeming composure,
while spe king. to a seaman in the main chains, of the
name of David Clarke, instead of offering it for bar-
ter, as was expected to be his intention, made a sud-
den ;binge at the belly of Clarke, who received the
spear through his right band,' and into the 'elk groin,
about an inch. The unfortunate mao fell upon re-
ceiving the wound, and was with difficulty got In.—,
A general disposidon of flack was now manifested,
and sclf-delence became a "duty : two musketoons
were immediately discharged among the foremost ;
• and we are not sorry to observe, that the whole con-
tents of one r ere lodged in the body of Clarke's un-
proel ,Iced ilant. Their consternation at the noise
they beard may easily be conjectured t they staid not
to examine the cause of the explosion, but, taking to
their paddles, in a fez 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 he lamented, that even the Friendly
Islanders should still retain their cruel custom of sa-
crificing human beings to their superstitions. On
this subject we copy the follooing extract from a
journal on board the Mercury :•••-.6 10th of March, at
two, p. m. saw the natives at Hubaine murder a man,
as a sacrifice, and hang him up in a basket, in a range
with four others, who had suffered the same fate.-
12th of March, saw a canoe take in the murdered bo-
dies at Hubaine, to be conveyed to Ulitea,, a distance
of eight or ten leagues, there to be buried in their
grand morai, or place of worship?'
On the 14th of March, 40 or 50 mss, with 20
to menii. each,
arrived from other parts of Hu-
baine, to the lay, at which the Chief Omai commands,
to hold a cot.ultation on the subject of the Bolabo
lams refusing pay their yearly tribute, which was
gamily paid in swine; and which refusal, it was sup-
posed, would be productive of an immediate war. -

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