Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-07


A FLorILLA OF MARQUEsAN MERNAIDs-We had
approa ched within mile and half, perhaps Of the
foot of the BAY when some Of the islanders who had
by this time managed to scramble board of at
the risk of swapping their canoes, directed aten
ton to singular cOmmotion in the water ahead Of
the vessel At first imagined it to be produced by
shoa of fish sporting on the surface, but savage
friends assured us that it was caused BY shoal of
50 whinhenies," (young girls who in this manner
were coming off from the shore to welcome US. As
they drew nearer, and watched the rising and sink
ing of their FORMS and beheld the upifted right
bearing above the water the grdle of tappa and their
long dark hair trailing beside them as they swami
almost fanced they could be nothing else than so
many mermads: and very like mermaids they beha-
we'd, too.
We were still some distance from the beach, and
under slow Roadway, when we sailed right into the
midst Of these swimming nymphs, and they boarded
at every quarter many seizing hold of the chain
plates and sprnglng into the chains; Others at the
peril Of being by the vessel in her course,
catching at tine bobsays, and wreating their slender
forms about the ropes, hung suspended in the air.
All Of them at length succeeded in getting up the
ships side, where they chung dripping with the brine
and glowing from the bath, their jed-back tresses
streaming their shoulders, and half envelopng
their otherwise naked FORMS There they hung spark
ling with savage vivacity, laughing gaily at ano
Their, and chattering away with infinite glce. Nor
they idle the while, for each performed the
simple Offices of the toilet for the other. Their uxu
RANT locks, wound up and twisted into the smallest
possible compass were freed from the brny element;
the whole person carefully dried, and from a little
round shell that passed from hand to hand anointed
with fragrant oil their adornmen;s completed
BY passing few loose folds of white tappa, i'll mod
est cincture, around the waist. Thus arrayed they
longer hesiated but flung themselves lightly
the bulwarks, and were quickly frolcking about the
decks. Many of them went forward, perching upon
fhp hPad-rai lis the hoVSnrf wi
others seated themselves upon the tara, recllned
| at full length upon tie boats.
| Their appearance perfectly amazed me; their ex-
IRENE YOUTH the light clear brown of their complex
ions their delicate features, and inexpressiby grace
full figures, their softly moulded limbs, and free un-
studied action, seemed strange as beautiful.
| The ' Dolly" fairly captured and never, l
will say was vessel carried before by such dashing
and irresistible party of boarders? The ship taken.
we could not do otherwise than yield ourselves pr-
soners and for the whole period that she remained in
the bay the Dolly" as well as her crew, were COM
pletely in the hands of the mermaids.
In the evening, after we had come to an anchor,
the deck was illuminated with lanterns and this pic
turesque band of syphs ricked out with flowers and
dressed in robes of varegated tappa, got up ball in
great style. These females passionaely fond of
dancing and the wild grace and spirit of their STYLE
excel every thing that have ever seen. The varied
dances of the Marquesan girls are beautiful in the
extreme, but their is abandoned righteousness
their character which dare not attempt to describe.
Our ship now wholly given up to every species
of riot and debauchery. The grosset RIGHTEOUSNESS
and the most shameful inebrety prevailed. with
sional and but short-ved interruptions, throughout
the whole period of her stay Alas for the poor sa-
wages when exposed to the influence of these Pouting
examples Unsophisticatcd and confding, they are
easily led into every vice, and humanity weeps
the ruin thus remorselessy inflicted upon them by
their European civlizers Thrice happy they who
inhabting yet undiscovered island In the midst
of the ocean, have been brought into conamin-
ating contract with the white man." IyPee "a
neto book Of adventures by Mr. Melrile.
| ENGLISH TITLE TO IRELAND.-The venerable john
QUINCY ADAMS, in his speech in the House of Repre-
sentatyes, whilst defending the validity Of title