Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-08-08

the survivors. who with dreadfol anguish uehe'u
their companions thus destroyed. saw the NUN.
Der of assailants apparently increasing. as eacn
BODY was carried away until only two or three
remained. The raft thus lightened rose to the
surface Of the water, and placed them oeyono
the reach of the voracicus jaws OF their relentless
enemies. Their voyage being only from one Of
the Society islands to another, they soon CON-
pleted it in safety. The author says:
81 was once in boat on voyage 10 Dora
bora. when ravenous shark, approaching US,
seized the blade of one Of the oars; and on being
shaken from it, darted at the keel of the boat
which he attempted to bite. While he was thus
employed. the native whose oar he had seized,
leaning over the side Of the boat, grasped him by
the tail succeeded in lifting him out OF the water,
and with the help of his companions, dragged him
alive into the boat, where he began to tlounder,
and strike bis tail with rage and violence
Mr.. Tyerman and myself, for we were sailing to.
eether, were climbing upon the seats out OF his
way, but the natives giving him two or three blows
ON the nose with q small wooden inallet quoted
him and then cut off his head. We landed the
same evening, when believe they baked and ate
him.
The species Of this animal called the blue shark
was formerly regarded with superstitlous awe
The natives believed they would never attack
priest, and that they could always distinguish
one in ever so large company OF common sail
ors. Whether this theory was tested by expert.
ence does not appear.
The Polynesian Islanders generally are said
TO differ somewhat from the Malays Of the islands
near Asia, but to resemble them in SO many re-
spects as to make it highly probable that there
was an ancient connection between them. Our
author says
cit is singular fact in the physiology OF the
inhabitants Of this part OF the world, that the
chiefs, and persons Of hereditary rank and iufiu-
ence in the islands, are almost without exception,
as much superior to the peasantry or common
people in stateliness. digni6ed department, and
oh steal strength, as they are in rank, and al.
though they are not elected to their station on &C.
count of their personal endowments, but derive
their rank and elevation from their Ancestry
This is the case with most Of the groups OF the
Pacific, bat peculiarly SO in Tahiti. and the ada.
cent isles. The father Of the late king was six
feet four inches high; Pomare was ak feet two
The present king Of Raiatea is equally tall"
The prevailing color 10 bronze or reddish
brown, equally removed from the African black,
the Malay yellow, aud the Indian copper com.
plexion. The children are nearly as white as
Europeans at their birth. Previous to the mis-.
siouaries living among them, they were PreJudi
ced in favor Of their own color much more than
they are now
{" When they searched the field Of battle for
the bones of the slain, to use them in the.manu.
facture Of chisels, gimbets. or fish hooks, they
ALWAYS selected those whose skins were dark, as
ave ssen the NATIVES looking at Very dark
man, l have sometimes heard them say, Iaata
ra e. tee s,eere! ivi n,aifai tona:-' the man. how
dark, good bones are his A fair complexion
was NOT an object Of admiration or desire
They never considered the fairest European
countenance seen among them handsomer than
their own; and sometimes, when a fine, tall,
well formed and personable man has landed from
a ship, they have remarked, as he passed along,
8 A fine man that, if he were but native
Speaking Of the natural ingenuity OF this bar
barous people, MIR Ellis says:
{" In the fabrication Of glazed cloth, the ma
tiyes Of the Austral Islands, especially those Of
Ruruta, excel all with whom am acquainted.
Some Of their pieces of cloth are thirty or forty
yards square, exceedingly thick, and glazed on
both sides, resembling the upper side of the Eng
lish oil cloth table covers. 1t must have requir-
ed immense labor to prepare it, yet it was abun'
dant when they were first discovered. tits usual.
Iy red on one side, and black on the other, the
"In the manufacture Of cloth the females of
all ranks were employed; and the queen, and
wives Of the chiefs Of the highest rank, strove
to excel in some Departmental the elegance Of
the pattern, or the briliancy Of the color. They
are fond Of society, and worked in large parties,
in open andtemporary houses erected for tbepur-
pose. Visiting one of these houses at Elimeo,
saw sixteen or twenty females all employed
The queen sat in the midst surrounded by seve.
raj chief women, each with ma,let in her hand
beating the bark that was spread before her. Tie
queen worked as diligently and cheerfully as any
present."
The amusements, too, Of the people, like their
labors, were shared 10 by the women. This
was true Of wrestling even, for, says Mr.. E.,
the women contended, sometimes with each
other, and occasionally with men, who we're not
perhaps reputed wrestlers. Personsin the high.
est rank sometimes engaged in the sport, and the
sister Of the queen has been seen wearing near
Iy the same clothing as the wrestlers wore, cover
ed all over with sand, and wrestling with young
chief, in the midst of ring, around which thous.