The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-03-10
Extract from tfe Narrative OF
the United States Exploring
Expedition.

LARGE PENGUIN.-Mr. Eds boat sue
ceeded in taking king penguin Of enor-
nous size, namely, from tip of tail to the
bill, forty-five inches; across the fippers,
thirty-seven inches; and the circumference
Of the body, thirty-three inches. He was
taken after truly sailor-like fashion, by
knocking him down. The bird remain
ed quite unmoved on their opproach, or
rather, showed disposition to come for
ward to greet them. A blow with the
boat-hook, however, stunned him, and,
before his recovery, he was well secured.
He showed, On coming TO himself, much
resentm ent at the treatment he had re-
ceived, not only by fighting, but by an
inordinate noise. He was, in due time,
preserved as a specimen, and now graces
the collection at Washington. In his
craw were found thirty-two pebbles, from
the size of pea to that Of hazel nut.
WOMEN OF TAHITr.-I hesitate to speak
Of the females of this Island, for differ
from all who have gone before me in rela-
ton to the If vaunted beauty. | did not
see among them single woman whom |
could call handsome. They have indeed
soft sleepiness about the eyes which
may be fascinating to some; but should
farther ascribe TO celebrity their charms
have obtained among navigators to their
cheerfulness and gaiety. Their figures
are bad, and the greater part Of them are
parrot-toed. They are exceedingly prone
to prattling, or may rather be said to have
tattling disposition, for they cannot
keep even their own secrets. This want
of reserve is not confined to the women.
The men are also incapable Of keeping a
secret. A crime is divulged almost as
soon as committed, and, for small re-
ward, they will become informers against
their nearest relatives and friends.
SELF-IMMoLArIoN OF THE FEEJEEANs.
-Self-immolation is by no means rare,
and they believe, that, as they leave this
life, so will they remain ever after. This
forms a powerful motive to escape from
decrepitude, or from crippled condition,
by voluntary death. Wives are often
strangled, or buried alive, at the funeral
of their husbands, and generally at their
own instance. Cases Of this sort have
frequently been witnessed by the white
residents. On one occasion Whippy
drove away the murderers, rescued the
woman and carried her to hic own house,
where she was resuscitated. So far,
however, from feeling grateful for her
preservation, she loaded him with abuse,
and ever afterwards manifested the most
deadly hatred towards him. That wo-
men should desire to accompany their
husbands in death is by no means strange
when it is considered that it is cne of the
articles of their belief, that in this way
alone can they reach the realms of bliss;
and she who meets her death with the
greatest devotedness will become the
favorito wife in the abode of spirits.
SAMOAN NoTIoNs OF THEIR ORIGIN
Tapgaloa, their great god, whe lives in
the sky, sent down the bird Tuli, "a kind
of Snipe,) his daughter, to look what was
below. She reported TO her father that
she saw nothing but sea. Tangaloa then
rolled stone from Heaven, which be-
came the island of Savan, and another
which produced Upolu, and the same for
the others. This did not suit Tuli, who
returned to ask for inhabitants. He gave
her orders to plant the wild vines,
(fuefue,) which after growing, were or
dered by him to be pulled up and thrown
into heaps, from which worms were pro-
duced. Then it was desirable that they
should become human. Splits were ac-
cordlngty sent to them by Tuli, and the
worms became men and women.