Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-12-11
1,rsREsrISG ACCOUNT

"a
months residence in New Zealand,
by Capt. Cruise. has just issued from
the press.
The Oromedary. after carrying
ont cargo Of convicts to Botany
Bay, sailed to New Zealand. 10 the
hope of obtaining lading OF spars OF
the kaikaterre, or of the preferable
cowry OF cowdy tree; represented as
being admirably adapted TO supply
the wants ofour nayy, and to grow
in abundance in these parts. Mr..
Marsden. the worthy missionary. q
several chieftains of New Zealand,
fwho had been at Sydney.) we're pas
scngers iu the vessel. which made a
safe passage, and reached, in about
10 days, the Bay of Islands. Here
says Capt. Cruise.
Before the ship was brought to.
abe was surrounded with canoes, full
of the friends AMI relations of the
chiefs we had on board. TO salute
them, as we'll a. to exhibit the riches
they had acquired by their visit 10
Port Jackson. our New Zealanders
began firing their muskets without
intermission !; and. indeed, SO prodI-
cal were they of their powder, that
Que might presume iiItle Of 1t would
remain after their landing for the
destructive purposes for which they
had gone SO far to procure il. when
their fathers, brothers, &c. were ad-
mitted into the ship. The scene ex-
ceeded description the nuskets were
thrown aside, aud every appearance
of ioy vanished. 1t is customary
with these extraordinary people to 80
through the same ceremony upon
meeting, as upon taking leave Of their
friends. They Join their noses to-
gpther, and remain in this position
for at least half All hour; during
which time they sob and howl in the
most doleful manner. II there be
many friends gathered around the
prrson whn has returned, the nearest
relation take posses-ion Of his nose,
while the others bang upon his arms,
shoulders, aud legs, and keep perfect
time with the chief mourner, Git he
NAV be 50 called, in the various ex-
pre.sions of his lamentations, This
ended, thew resume their wonted
cbeerfulness. and enter into detail
Of all that has happened during their
separation.
One OF these chiefs was named Je-
toro. whose wife. whom he had not
before seen. arrived. and presented
him with a boy that had been born
during his absence. The infant had
light hair, and was singularly fair,
but tho sobs and lamentations that
Immediately followed the meeting of
the parties, deprived US Of all further
communications with the chief. and
were prolonged during the greater
part of the night.
wevere (,he chief and this Jeto-
ro's bro,her) ordered nearly the
whole tribe to perform dance in no.
nor ofhis visitors and il is thus de-
scribed:
Preparatory to the dance, the up.
Der mar or garment is laid aside by
both men and women; after which.
the performers, having ranged them
selves in a line, one, or sometimes
two deep. begin beating their breasts.
aud frequentl, joining in chorus with
all individual who repeats song
The action Of the arms, the gestures
of the body, and the contortpns Of
tue countsnance, are very violent. Il
often trightful: in dancing. the par
ties stamp ychsmently with the feet,
but seldom move to any considerable
distance from the place where they
originally ranged themselves. 1t is
singular how stimuli aneous even the
slightest motion Of the fingers is, with
ali the individuals in the group. be
their number what it may no irregu-
larlty is perceptible in the time and
manner of their movements.
'At later period Of our residence
in this country, when the natives had
frequent opportunities of seeing our
people dance. they observed, and with
a degrees ofridicuie, that ne two white
men ever moved their arms or legs
in the same manner
Soon after the arrival of our coun-
trymen, a warlike expedition of the
natives returned from an incursion
upon distant tribe, and much of