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

az
Gale, July 20, 1872.
South Sea Islands Geographical Facts Products
Of the Isands-Morais ofthe People-Ih Their Docili-
ty-Pean Of the Pacife-Valace Blands-Ef
feet Of Cirihsation upon the Sarages- Curious
Conparison-Eforts of the Missionaries.
Whenll wrote last, we were of the South coast of
this island, since which time we have cruised many
thousand miles, and visited many islands, the man
ners and customs of whose inhabitants you can
have but faint idea of, and even such as you have
distorted, to suit the views of those who have de-
scrlbed the same. will give you an account of
such as we visited, in rotation, beginning with this.
The first land we made after leaving this coast,
was the Curtis Rocks, which are barren and unin-
habited-lat. 81 deg 5. long. l78 deg. E., and the
next day passed the beautiful island called Me-
Auley's, also uninhabited, but Astounding in goats
and wild hogs-thence continued our course to Sun.
day Island, lat. % deg S. This island is inhabited
by hve or SIX Engllshmen, who subsist upon such
potatoes as they can grew-fsh, and a peculiar
species OF fowl, called mutton birds-aso upon the
occasional supply of meat obtained from such ves-
sells as stop here Tor potatoes recruit their crews
have very interesting tale respecting this island
which the limits OF my letter will permit me to
relate. Passing TO the leeward OF this island, we
continued our course to the islands Eosa, Tonga,a-
boo, and Owykee-landed twice on the first of these
islands, and procured supply Of bread fruit, cocoa
nuts, &c. which proved very fine, and a great lux
ury, being the first fruit of any description we had
seen or tasted since we left Deegoa Bay, almost a
year since OF one of the natives of Toneataboo,
who came alongside, purchased splendid war
club very highly polished, and some few shells
all things by way OF curiosity. Hence we moved
on TO the Island Nuavo-o, SO called by the natives,
or PROXY, as laid down on the chart. Here let me
refer 10 my journal, while attempt 10 give some
faint description of this pearl of the Pacific.
II is an isolated spot, some thirty or forty miles in
circuit, distant three or four degrees from other
land, containing from 1000 to 1900 inhabitants, end
is, without exception the most beautiful of any
have ever seen. Every variety of scenery; HILL dale
and valley delightfully."- interspersed covered with
verdant trees and Astounding in all kinds of tropical
fruits, having salubrious climate, which is so
warm that clothing can be easily dispensed with;
consequently no more is worn than proper respect
for decency requires. The natives, themselves,
seem TO be tinctured with its mildness, and every
thing moving III It's atmosphere, possess unusual do
cillty. Emphatcally, 1t ls the home OF innocence
and peace.
1t is governed by King and Governor, who
has complete control over all the affairs of the in
habitants, enaCts laws puts them in force, them
carried GU, purchases and sells for each individual,
when trading with strangers In the public mart,
though those who wish can dispose of their own
at their option. Their laws are very simple, and
are chiefly confined to the usual duties of parents
to children, the suppression OF vice, and the incuca
ton OF every virtue, OF which honesty, hospitality,
and chastity are the most cardinal, and woe betde
| the delnquent-hls punishment is speedy and
observation-disclosures and want of respect OF children
to parents is most severely punished by casgatlon,
and decorating the back OF the offender, in some
conspicuous place, lndelible mark OF disgrace
though, speak the truth, seldom or ever an occa-
sion for the exercise OF this law occurs. They are
all as one family, the younger paying implicit ODE
dence to the more mature In years. Lewdness of
speech or action is everywhere dlscountenanCed,
lnsomuch that native holds it degrading to be
guilty of either What picture is here presented
| before the civilized world and well may we blush
with that OF these untutored children of nature; we
may lock and admire; we may initiate in some
measure; but never, with our host of vices, can
| we arrive so near perfection. 1t might compare
| with the Garden of Eden before the fall and tina
could scarcely excel this seat of purity. Learning
and even the symbols thereof, held in great We
neration and respect, and everything they holt
most valuable will be parted WITH for paper pens
srous Of extending their knowledge; every facility
| will, no doubt, soon be in their possession, theI
adleu to their native, simplicity and innocence, 70
with the advance of knowledge, new desires woult
be formed, which nothing bus the attainment coulc
crafty. Happy they are, and any innovation car
only tend to render them miserable. The old adage
| of the Roman Catholic priest more appli-
cable than in the present instance viz. knowledge
is Death" Death it will prove to their admirable
code of laws to their innocent pastimes, their
tive simplicity of thought and manners, their
| natural mode OF living; crimes which are now
| considered heinous, and behed with abhor-
| renee and disgust, would then become merely
| venal uansgresslons; pastmes so innocent, and
calculated to insure health and strength,
| civilized life, which sure to enervate both
mind and body-ther frank, open, and friendly
| bearing, would soon be compromised for the un.
| meaning compliment, and deceitful sme-luxu
| RES would soon be introduced, and a short time
vitate their tastes, and place them on level with
the besotted 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. Civiliza.
ton what is it View 1t IN all It's nakedness and
deformity-then 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 caed) protrudes
her unseemly countenance, exaciing from the toll
| worn and tempest-tossed mariner, his dollars TO
The privilege Of anchoring their truly delightful
bay-his dollars for shaking his thirst, his dollars fo
the privilege of sat styling the craving OF his appe
tte, independent OF the pay received tor the articles
| themselves. II was not thus some hye or SIX year.
since every thing then somewhat similar tC
Nuavo-o AT the present day. Missionaries, with
their attendant companions, Sehshness and Avarlce
had not left their abodes In the lar west to dissent
l nate their civilized vices among this then happy
| honest, and temperate race no language but thei
| own was then spoken or understood-no desire:
were formed in their simplicity, but the means were
| at hand for their gratitcauon. How changed In
| stead of receiving the stranger as was their wont
l with cordially and expressions OF pleasure ano
welcome, the look Of dstrust is cast upon, end de
mand OF money is made of hlnl-and for wha
| purpose t--mereY 10 satlsIy u1c lusdudtc dNhT'Ce
| Of the civilized savages, who have domestcateo
among them under the plausible pretence o
improving their condition. and intoxicating love
tor honesty, temperance, and the virtues en- nosse
We will see with what effect. When they came
among them, these virtues were found almost II
their pristine purity-and now, when one makes hi
appearance shipboard, he has to be watched witt
ynx's eye to prevent his stealing. His first re-
quest i. for rum and tobacco and the first article h,
has to effcr is his wife, sister daughter, though
such acts are said to be dsapproved Of and strictly
inhibited by the pious Saints on shore yet have
never heard of solitary instance where they re-
fused TO accept the tribute-it all goes TO help I'll
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 ev
effects produced by these would be philanthropsts
| Wherever you turn your eyes among the islands oil
the wide Pacific the same changes,the same scenes,
| occur There are a few cases where some good
has been effected by the Missionaries, IN causing
some of the natives to abolish the custom OF eating