The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-03-10

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A Tonga man had made it his constant
practice 10 beat his wife, and TO use his
own words, he had 'knocked almost all
the teeth out of her head for her disobe-
dience." The woman, alter one of these
beatings, was taken Ill, and her Feejee
friends wished to express their love by
taking her to her own town to bury her.
They took her to the grove and put her
into it, but she now refused to be buried
alive, and effected her escape. Her hus-
band, knowing where she was gone,& hav-
ing some affection for her.notwithstanding
his ill-treatment, went to see her. On
his way he met person from the town,
who told him that she was dead & buried;
But on his arrival at the place, he found
that she had extricated herself from her
murderous relatives, and both husband
and wife were much relieved and reloiced
a: the meeting. In order to free them
selves from such customs they both at
once embraced Christianity, which is
considered as absolving them from this
horrid obligation.
HUNTING DewN DEsERTERs.-Three of
our crew having become enamored of
these islands, deserted while the Vim
cenne lay at Ermco. They left the ship
about ten o'clock at night, soon after
which their absence was discovered, and
parties sent out in every direction TO in
tersect the roads and drive them to the
hills. This was effected in the follow
ing manner, and large party of natives
were myloyed to hunt them up. This
task they speedily performed, and at last
drove the deserters to one Of the highest
ridges, in full view Of the ship. Here
the runaways appeared at first disposed
TO make fight with stones; but when they
saw the odds against them, and witnessed
the alterness of the natives in leaping
from cliff to cliff, they thought it best to
give themselves up; which they did to
three natives, naked except the marc, and
armed respectfully with rusty sword,
an old cutlass, and a piece of iron hoop.
These bound their hands and led them
down ITO the shore. whence they were
brought on board, where the three natives
received the reward offered for their ap-
prehension. The chase and capture was
an amusing sight to those who wat,hed
the proceedings from the ship.
CHIEFS OF TAHITI.-Cn arriving at
Tahiti, or, indeed, at any Of the Islands,
respect is naturally due to the Chiefs
This, am assured, was felt by MS all;
but long before sailing; we became dis
gusted with seeing these large and noble
men passing from ship to ship, even in
cluding Paofai himself, soliciting foul
linen to was, and performing other servi-
ces that where not in keeping with their
rank. There is one, however, whom |
must do justice to, Hitoti. He maintain
ed the character given by captein Beechy.
/ was much pleased with his whole de-
pertinent on his visit to me, and also
when saw him at his own house. He
paid but two visits TO the ship, and those
within day or two of our departure
That he did not visit the vessel before,
was in order, as was supposed, TO avoid
the suspicion of trespassing on our liber-
ty; he refused to accept any presents,
would only drink wine when requested.
performing all the little courtesies of the
table with grace and politeness. On his
visits to the Peacock, Lieut.. Emmons
and Mr.. Hale being the only gentlemen
on board, received him with the attention
due his rank" When taking leave, he
requested to know their names, which
were given to him in English orthogra-
ply. He at once took out his pencil,
and, with great readiness, wrote them in
the Tahitian dialect, as ''Emaani" and
"Helavi."
PRIMITIVE IDEAS AND HABITs.-The
Samoans are usually very inquisitive, and
it was amusing to excite their curiosity.
Among other things mentioned for the
purpose was, that white men often wore
false teeth and wigs. The latter practice
in particular, seemed strange to them, and
they called it ''thatching the head A
terrestrial globe was also shown to them
whereon the position of their islands and
their small relative importance was point
ed out. This excIted great surprise, for,
until few years, they had no idea that
there was any country except their own.
If the chiefs are liberal in their tender
presents to their visitors. they, on the
other hand, do not hesitate to ask for
whatever they see. I hey may, i'll fact,
be styled sturdy beggars. One of the
most persevering in his mendicancy was
no less person than Nivasa, the proud
and overbearing chief of Manohu. They
usually began with begging from the hum
blest individual, and ended with the high
est; and when they had obtained all they
could, would go over the side of The ship
ridiculing our folly for giving so much.
Old Pco, by way of excusing himself,
when charged with being great beggar,
said he did not keep any thing he got for
himself: thatit was the Samoan fashion