Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-19
SOCIETY ISLANDS.
From The Nanixcka Enquirer,

Hlg 80 OcO gals. sperm, OIL ron Tue doh
&c Ocean, We have obtained some very va
liable information concerning that inter
esting cluster Of ISLANDS in The s. Pacific
known since the days of Cook as the 80
ciety Lslonds. We are not aware That we
can aid much TO the general details which
have hitherto been given by Cook, Bou-
Granville, Wallis, Banks, the Missionaries,
and others from time to time, But with
The verbal descriptions, and written dOcu-
ments oil our informant, we have become
so fascinated, that the temptation to lay
| them before our readers is irresistible II
here are blessed spots on this dark planet.
which may be said 10 approximate low ards
the felicity OF those abodes erewhile in
aabiled by primeval innocence. they are
TO be found IN this remote archipelago. II
forms without the aid OF philosophy and
uelaphysIc such a paradise as eniighfen
cd man, eagrossed 10 puerile luxury. "a
bounding IN invention, and ostentatious vt
artificial skill, has never yet constructed
ar even tahcied Under a sky always pro-
pitious. breathing all untainted atmosphere,
aud dwelling on a soil exuberant beyond
imagination The happy nativesol thIsregion
| are a. We, rxeup' rom the vices and iOl'
uss oi their IA re c,uiiized contemporaries.
These siuiesS islanders, IL is true. were
| once contaminated by European naviga
tors, who hrsi visited them about ball
century STAGE, aud deposited the SEEDS OF
baua moral and physical disorders-lbe
serpent u, sensual'y brought disease and
leah mo their little 0rld-and ihous.
ards were swept III by naiadies, OF which
hey knew ni TIE nature, nor could they
ievISe remedy. Justice however re-
Quues tue a,uwa, that Tor these base en-
.ruacna en,s, a partial alonement has suc-
r-tae t-s tr'ough the exertons If hose
missionaries vino have introduced the SIM
..- trls OF domestic lite. without superad.
;'ug The m>ciutable perple1Ities OF reli.
e,ous seclsriSu. the Inhabitants OF thu So>
Getty Islands now present model which
40 civilized community need blush TO im-
ltate.
Hosp,sbe and liberal 10 excess-a dis.
position which is inspired perhaps by The
overwhelming bounlies Of nature; crimes
II rare occurrence. Any deviation from
the line o: reCtitude is Immediately pc.
nished by cOndemning The males to labour
IN The pubic roads Of which they are con-
strucling several and by making the te-
males work at beatag-a preparatory pro-
,ess in ne manufacture OF their cloth,
which Is made from the bark ct trees Al
though stIgnailsed by Cook as thieves. we
are assured that the propensity Tor pri,er.
ing, 10 common among most ssvages, IS
scarcely kpovu here. To show the de-
'estalion in which this vice is held we
rave The following anecdo.e. While the
Alexander lay at the island Of Huaheine. a
canoe arrived from neighbofing island,
bringing MAJ bound hand aud foot who
1t appears emigraled several years pre-
viously from The former place, and had re-
Gently been detected in stealing. They
Threw bin on shore with The utmost con
empb crying oul 10 the gathering crowd,
here take your man-we want no thieves
among us!' The mortified Huahinesns re-
toriing upon their visitors as they pad
died of: He never learned 10 steal among
us-it was with you tina, be acquired this
prac,icen
Within few years The progress which
these unsophislica,ed beings have made
in all The useful arts. is really admirable.
They have no, only become proficient in
husbandry, their gardens beng inclosed,
anc cultivated with practical regularity
they are not only enabled 10 rear comfort.
able dwellings, having framed houses,
plaslered inside with lime burnt from the
coral ruck but they have attained to a
considerable degree OF perfection in the
arts OF reading and wrting-scboos for
which are established, and universally pa /
l.Onised
Money is wholly without u-e among
them; there is therefore no Indictment 10
avarice and cupIdily-no imprisonment
for debi u! lntercouse with civilized man,
il is TO be feared. will in due couIse Of
time bring corruption With ii-as j, a)rea.
iy has done al Sandwich Islands and the
harquesas. In the former, We are in
iorme 4, every species OF dissipation and
iicentiouspsss is now prevalent--while al
the latter. the natives have relapsed into
the most brutal and lerocious bsrbarity -
Whether The establishment Of missionaries
10 the Sandwich islands, has or has not
contributed 10 produce this result, we will
not pretend TO determine; but il is we'll
known that the murderoUs conduct OF
certain American commodore al The Mar
quesas, has so exaspersted the natives,
that all attempts 10 cIvilize, or even to aP-
proach them, will Tor many aud many
years be utterly useless.
Ships bound to the East Indies may as
well take these islands, as the Sandwich
Of Msrquesss in their route-suppiIes
may be vastly easier obtained Here are
abundance oil hogs, which run al large,
feeding on bread lruit--this fruit is, very
plentiful, nine months in the year. There
are also great numbers Of goats, some cat
tie, and pro!usion of tame Iowls. A.
mong their vegetable productions. are i'm
mense quantities Of cocoa.nuts, pine.ap.
Piles. LINES, citrons, plaintains, bananas,
pumpkins melons. yams, tarro' sweet po-