The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-07-13

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Engineerssacross the Rocky Mountains, with ~ !
structions to examine the country between tAe
mouth of the Kansas and the head waters OF the
great river Platte. including!the navlgable parts
of both these rivers and what's calledthe Souths1
ern Pass of the Rocky Mountains, and the inter
mediate country, with a view to the establish
ment Of line OF military posts from the frontiers
of Missouri to the mouth of the Columbia River,
had given the subject a new interest. 1t was
known, too, that the Philogist of the Exploring.
Expedition had been left at Columbia River to:
return home by land, and that he had arrived,
and it.was expected that some important lntor-5
nation might be received by him. This ntorma-
ton is nodoubt in the possession OF the depart
ment, but for wise considerations it has probably
been deemed advisable to keep the fruits OF these
labors for the present secret
Capt Wilkes, however, gave his hearers
succnct account ofhis arrival on the coast, OF
his ascending the Columbia River, of the Chief
tributaries of this noble stream, Lewis and Clark
and the Wallanmut rivers, OF the productions.
the soil, climate flowers, scenery, &c, adding
something to the information oil Lewis and CLARK,
and promising much in the information derived
from the surveys, charts Of which were spread
OUT before MS hearers.
All this to an American, remembering that it
was from the Boston ship Columbia which visit
ed the river in 1871, fourteen years before Lewis
and Clark descended the river, was full OF inter-
est. Aglowing account was gwen OF the Islands,
of the woods which skirt the river, and the fine
meadow lands scattered all around. At sea-
son earlier than our own, these officers were
supplied with early fruits and vegetables. These,
however, were but the green spots OF the voyage,
and the loss of the Pcacoclawas tale OF excl
ting interest. Captain Wilkes bestowed the
highest praise uponthe crew and officers, and in
all his sketches it may be well enough to add,
he has borne the highest tribute OF praise TO their
uniform courage, devotion and manlness OF ac-
ton.
1t may be interesting 10 those Of the readers
OF the Express who are interested IN the MIS-
sonary enterprise, and particularly since the re-
cent publications from DR.. Emerson, of the Sand
wch Islands, that since the death OF kInau, a
number of chiefs, and some OF them OF the high
est rank had returned to their idolatry and their
ihiquity; that Capt. Wilkes visited the several
! Missionary Stations, and rendered what service
he could, as well to those missionaries of the
Cross" who shave their lives in their hand
for the welfare OF the most uncivlized people of
was his object to promote. The highest tribute
of praise was padsto the Missionaries, and no
language was adequate to express the admiration
felt for those heroic and sell-sacrlfcing men and
women, who seem literally to have forsaken
"houses, brethren, sisters father, mother, wife,
and children" for the sake Of him, whose reward
is promised to be an hundred fold, and the in
hcritancc of everlasting lie. The suffcrings OF
a. tn bn
and one or two. instances were related to show
the brutal power and .ferocity of the younger
Chiefs Of the Islands, who still adhere to the
barbarous practice OF eating human flesh, and
one of whom uDon 4 recent occasion, threatened
ii'e own iii., g0rri
closed his eyes, 1nl ears, and house upon feast
ing OF human flesh. The Missionary and his
wife had shut out tho horrid spectacle, as well
from disgust at the sight as from the offensive
smell of such a sacrifice. His offence was SO
great his li,c was not only threatened if he did
the like again, but to the act of sacrifice was to
be added tie more horrid one Of eating the man
when murdered.
There are eleven of these islands, nine of them
inhabited and probably by about 100000 or 200,-
000 people. They are named for the Earl of
Sandwich, and were discovered by Capt. Cook
in 1898. Hawaii is the largest. They have a
fruits of the earth. The taboo system observed
there from time immemorial is hardly yet abol-
islled. The will of the King is the law of the
land. Women have been so degraded by the
men, as not only to be prohibited from eating the
same kind of food, but even from having their
food cooked by the same fire. Death was the
punishment of an invasion of the law. Some
twenty-three years since upon the accession of
new King idoiatry was abolished, and the ex-
ample OF the inhabitants of the Society Island,
two thousand miles distant, was followed. This
was 1889. The next year, like good news
from a far country, came the Missionaries from
Massachusetts, since when changes have been
wrought in the manners and customs of the peo-
pie almost miraculous. Nevertheless, the INTEL
ligence now is, that the inhabitants are once
more returning to their abominations.
The closing remarks OF the lecture of Capt.
Wilkes had reference to the importance of the
deep, deeep sea, subject much too deep for me,
particularly since he thinks lie has discovered
sort of submarine ocean OF distinct and pecu-
liar temperature, force, &c. -
BEWARE OF .AsRASCAL. s5S
The public are hereby cautioned to beware
of man calling himself William II. Taylor,