The Polynesian., 1841-08-28

shaggy coat of the Greenland bear, are sat-
urated with water. The young tree is here
to be seen in all its vigor, maintaining an UNI
equal contest with legion of parasitica
vines, and numerous families of ferns, which
like leeches are exhausting its life blood;
though yielding inch by inch to its foes, it
still sends out fresh shoots, which seek an
unguarded opening through the drapery of
vines, to reach the outer air These trees
may be compared to a profigatc roue, whose
graceful and athletic figure, is fast being de-
stroytd by the vices which it has nourshed
while the old and decayed trunks which ev-
cry where lay about them, strang!ed by huge
vines, and rottlng in the dumpness, pourtray
IN bold rcliefthe fate which awaits those that
struggle on to an old age. So much for my
tho'ts; my body was equally alive to surround
ing objects, for the path had now become so
intricate and narrow, that the vision could
reach but few feet distant on any side, and
those in the rear got many a thump by fol-
lowing too close to the heels of those in adj
vance. The moss which encircled the
branches, proved Il trcacherous guide to their
size, and many foot or fist hold was lost
by the seemingly stout limb, as the mass
was grasped, degenerating into little twig
which broke upon touching, and precipitated
the careless climber backwards into beds of
their Shiny and chilly covering, which dis
charged their oozy contents upon US at eve-
ry step. After cropping our way in this fash
ion for an hour or more, we reached the
summit. 1t consisted Of a small plot of
earth about a rod square, bare in the centre,
but overgrown with stout trees upon its sides
Upon it were several large timbers, of a foot
in diameter, standing perpendicular, and
about twelve high, with notches for foot hold
cut in them. These, as runs the legend,
have stood from time immemorial, that is to
say, some half century or more, and are the
remains of ratification which a chief erec-
ted, who lived on bad terms with his less ell
evated neighbors. AS the approaches to its
site are a succession of narrow ridges, few
warriors were aDle 10 set most OF enemies
at defiance, and make the place impregna-
BILE. During the night his followers would
sally down and levy black mail, in the shape
of pigs, fowls, kalo, and potatoes, for their
lords table What was his end the legend
says not; but if his enemies did not eventu-
ally take him off, an influenza must, for no
mortal could have lived there long, not even
if possessed of hide such as NebuchadneZ-
Ear boosted, when he chewcd the cud of
sweet and bitter reflection, and of clover in
the fields with the brutes whose understand
ings were just double his. Grecian my
thology would have turned the whole posse
Of Them into moss clad trees, while the whis-
Ting winds would be but echoes of their
groans, and the never ending showers, the
tears OF their victims, in which they were
doomed to lay soaked until some greater
scoundrels could be found to take their place
However, as ! am neither poet or Greek
they must await some more illustr!ons Wis
tier to immortalize their names. If their
wan spirits still wander about the scenes of
their ieshly iniquiIes, my best wish is that
they are beautifully supplied with water
proof garments, for it is damp place for the
living