The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-27
New Zealand,
correspondence of the Herald.l


% "e isans-Morals ofthe People-Iheir Doci
ty-PeaH Of the Pacific Wallace hLanas-E
Jed o. C'caisation upon the Sara C,o;o,
Con'par1son-Eforts of the Missionaries
Whenll wrote last, we were off the Sou,b oo.s,
this island, since which time we bsvs o,,,.,
thousand miles, and visited MANY islands a., '
nel' anu customs OF whose inhabitants you ca
na.. -, IAN. idea OF, and even such as you hay
distorted, to suit the views of those who have a.
scrioed the same. | will give Won an acno,,n, ~
Suga as we Visited, In rotation beginning with m;
ane n[st land we made after leaving this coas
bab;tedO Cuftis ,, Rocks which are barren and unr
next day passed the beautiful island caad M ~
Au I ; also unlnhabted, but Astounding in GOA,
gnu wv nogs-thence continued our course 10 SIM
day island, lat ~ deg S. This island is inbab;,a
potatoes as sI n Inglshmen, who subsist upon sue
po,a;oes r as tney can grew-fish, and peculi =
species OF FOWL, called mutton birds-also mon ,h
occasional supply of meat obtained from sIrb yas
have 'vp mere Tor potatoes to recruit their crews
which ibe i interesting tale respecting this island
rela.e' RAISING TO the leeward of this island W,
Goh'ihued our course to the islands Eosa Tono,a,a
| 200, ana Owykee-anded twice on the first Of ibes.
mis- 40 anu procured supply of bread fruit, cocos
MUS &C, winch proved very fine and great Inv
ury, peng the first fruit of any description we har
seen or tasted since we left Delegoa Bav. al,nos,
bo s s,nre vi one Of the natives of fongataboo
CLUB, very highly polished and some few shs Mar-
all .ninSs by way of curiosity Hence we moved
On 70 the Island Nuavo-o, so called by the natives
or errooy. as LAID down on the chart Here let M,
FAINT d ~ my journal while attempt TO give some
rant description OF this pearl of the Pacific.
IL IS an isolated spot, some thirty or forty m,es -
IiIcu''' distant three or four degrees from otber
iahu, containing from 1000 TO 1900 inhabitants. end
exception, the most beautiful of any
nave eyer seen Every variety of scenery: hin dsla
anu valley delightfully."- interspersed, covered with
gerdant rees and Astounding in all kinds of tron;ca
lrulls, having salubrlous climate, which il 90
ma,n .aa, ciolhng can be easily dispensed with;
consequently no more is worn than proper resoec,
lor decency requires The natives. themseyes
seem 10 De tlnctured with its mldness. and every
ming moving III It's atmosphere possess unusual do,
and peace. VI i"iioeehce
II Is governed by King and Governor. who
mas compete control over all the affairs of the in
haotants, enacts laws puts them in force sees them
,vh ou,, purchases and sells for each individual
Wneh trading with strangers in the public mari
tnough those who wish can dispose Of their ou,
at thelr option. Their laws are very simnle and
are cnlehy confined to the usual duties of naIents
~ Un,aren, me suppression of vice, and the incuca
uon OF every virtue, of which honesty. hosn,taI;,u
ana chastity, are the most CARDINAL and woe bet3e
tne oeinquent-his punishment is speedy and 90.
and want of respect of children
40 parents rs most severely punished by castgaton
anu iaceratng the back of the offender in soma
conspicuous place, as an lndelibIe mark of DISGRACE
lnough, TO speak the truth, seldom or ever an occs
SION for the exercise OF this law occurs They ar.
an as one FAMILY, the younger paying implicit ODE
iience to the more mature in wears. Iewdness or
speech or action is everywhere discountenanc.d
nsJnucn tnat native holds it degrading 10 he
guilty OF either What picture is here nresen,od
,g,ore the civlllzedworld and well may we blush
"nen we compare our own manners and cus,n.
With that OF these unuored children of atnrs. ,
nay look on and admire; we NAV initiate in some
measure; but never, with our host of vices can
y;, arrive ,h SO near perfection 1t might compare
,o1d scarcely excel this seat of purity. iearnna
sirous Of extending iheir knowIedge; avery racnty
will, no doubt, soon be in their possession, then
idieu to their native simplicity and innocence, for
WIN Inc vance OF no ea new desires would
,ratity. Happy they are, and any innovation can
,nly tend to render them miserable. The old adage
IF the Roman Catholic priest never more appll-
liable than in the present instance. VIZ knowledge
8 Death" Death 1t will prove to their admirable |
code of laws, to their innocent pastlmes, their ma
i've simylicty of thought and manners, their |
natural mode Of living; crimes which are now |
considered heinous, and beheld with abhor. |
vensl uansgressions pastlmes so innocent, and |
to insure health and strength,
would have substituted IN their places those OF
civilized life, which are sure to enervate both
mind and body-their frank, open, and friendly |
bearing, would soon be compromised for the un.
compliment. and deceitful smile-luxu-
RES would soon be introduced, and In short time
vtiate their tastes, and place them on level with
the besoed natives of New Zealand. Let the curse
of Cain forever rest upon the man, who, by intro
ducing the customs and Injuries OF civilized life,
robs them Of their purity and innocence Clvillza:
ton what is it View 1t in all Its nakedness and
cast your eyes on this lone isle OF
the Pacific and draw the comparison.
The next land made was the Wallace Islands,
There are about 100 in this group. How different
What a contrast is here presented to Nuavo-o =
Here again civilization ESQ called) Protrudes
her unseemly countenance, exaciing from the toll
worn and tempest-tossed mariner, his dollars for
The privilege of anchorng In their truly delightful
bay-his dollars for shaking his thirst, his dollars for
the privilege of sat styling the craving OF his appe-
tte independent OF the pay received tor the articles
themselves 1t was not thus some hive or SIX years
since every thing was then somewhat similar TO
Nuavo-o. At the present day. Missionaries, with
their attendant companions, Sehshness and Avarlce,
had not left their abodes in the lar west to dlssemi-
nate their civilized vices among this then happy,
honest, and temperate race no language but their
own was then spoken or understood-no desires
were formed in their simplicity, but the means were
at hand for their qualification. How changed In
stead of receiving the stranger as was their wont,
with cordially and expressions OF pleasure and
welcome, the look Of dstrus is cast upon, and de-
mand OF money is made OF hlnl-and Tor what
purpose l.merely TO satisfy the insallate avarice
of the civilized savages, who have domesIicaied
among them under the plausible pretence. OF
improving their condition, and intoxicating love
tor honesty, temperance, ana the virtues eh Hosse
We will see with what effect. When they came
among them, these virtues were found almost in
their pristine purity-and now, when one makes his
appearance on shipboard, he has to be watched with
a lynx's eye to prevent his stealing His frst re-
quest is for rum and tobacco, and the first article he
has to effer is his wife, sister or daughter, though
such acts are said to be dsapproved OF, and strictly
inhibited by the pious Saints on shore yet nave
never heard of a solitary instance where thew re-
fused 10 accept the trbuie-it all goes TO help fill
their Golfers The money is OF no use to the natives
any thing they may want is purchased by the pro-
duce of the islands, and their wants are few.
These islands are not the only instance OF the evil
effects produced by these would be philanthropsts
Wherever you turn your eyes among the islands OF
the wide Pacific, the same changes,t the same scenes
occur. There are few cases where some good
has been effected by the Missionaries, In causing
some of the natives to abolish the custom OF eating
human flesh and making human sacrifices. Better
spend your time and money in helping the poor and
friendess at home, and civilizng our own savages,
of whom there are thousands of our own color and
- l.~zr Avx,s..