The Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu (Oahu), Hawaii) 1840-1841, 1841-12-04

Will SlIulldT ttlc, COHtdlIllS ShClCllCS OI
most of the places mentioned in the VOL
ume under consideration, and his descrp-
tons were very graphic, and we were as
sured marvclousIy faithful, but DIR. r. fell
far short of the style in which the same
objects are set forth by Mr. Taylor. The
first conlcntcd himself with placing before
us i'll plain English, rigidly drawn pic
ture of the scenery, or putting us at once
among Il crowd of natives, and with max
ING them exhibit every custom or trait
which would inform us of their character.
bat this was all. Mr. Taylor, leaving this
dull routine, has at once struck out a
course brilliant as it is original. Wrapt
III his pages, the reader is for time spir-
iiuallzed. "Above him spans the empc-
ryal vault" around him " the angry surge
raises its rancorous voice." or " Nature
spreads her ever-verdant carpet" and he
brcathes nothing but g the baImy ether :"
or " the mildcst zephyr that ever soothcd
summers cve." The work opens with
detail of the feelings at leaving home of
the author and one of his messmates,
"with whom he was walking with some
rapldity at the edge of The erening," and
Judging from their pcrusal, they must have
been very severe. Our imagination is
defective which prevents us from doing
justice to a beautiful specimen of Delta
Cruscanism addressed to Mrs II. which
the author, unwilling to trust to the pen
ny papers in which it has appeared, has
very properly placed it here for prcserva-
ton. We give the first verse
Lady, calmly rides our bark
On the green waves Of the bay,
But like a charger soon will take
Her fleet and lonely way
Proudly waves her pennant now
From moin-top to the breeze;
And soon IN graceful cure sheW bom,
And course for Indian seas
We admire the ingenuity of converting
a river into bay in the second line, and
the fancy of waving pcnnant from the
main top. The figure too of ship like a
charger, bowling in graceful curve, strikes
us forcibly, but our taste is at fault, and
we cannot see " the beauty of the witch
ing calm" nor can our ear discover the
rhyme between melody" and "tear-
fully" in another verse.
Not satisfied with giving what things
of note the countries visited afford, our
author has freely drawn upon "the COM
modorc, the first lieutenant and myself"
and indeed all his messmates bear their
part in our instructions. Hear the fol-
lowing, which, standing wholly uncon-
nected as it does, quote in full 81 tell
you what" says Lieut.. w. Ohe subject
of shooting the aborigincs of our land be-
ing under discussion) "if you would kill
an Indian, you must proceed somewhat
after the manner of cooking dolphin"
How is that" "Why, catch him first"
How original and profound, and how COM
prehensive he shows the chaplain's re-.
searches to have been, when killing In
dams interested him so much. In these
details, see how truly his messmates are
clothed in their proper character and lam
guage. " How is it with you, Doctor ?"
| asked as the fleet surgeon Joined our
promenade, "Do you find that the briny
mist washes away your soft musings of
home and wife, and little ones :" "Ah,
sir, returned the surgeon, 81 find it like