Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-02-15
THE POLYNESIAN.

NAvAL.-The U. S. S. Falmouth, hence
2Ist Nov. arrived at Nukahiva, Marquesas
Islands, on the 9th Dec, all well. She had
a long passage, of IS days, occasioned by
continued head winds.
The Falmouth found in port at Nukahiva,
a French war schooner, and the Hawaiian
bark Don Quixote the latter loading with
hogs and provisions for San Francisco.
After remaining three days at the Marque-
sas, the Falmouth sailed on the 30th Dec for
Tahiti, whence we hear from her under date
of Jan. 9th, all WELL We have received
from an officer on board sketch of her Wis
it to the Marquesas, which we give below.
U. S. S. FALMOUTH,
Tahiti, Jan. 6, 1851.
Editor of the Polynesian:
We sailed from Honolulu on the 2lst
Nov. and after contending with head winds
thirty-five days, arrived at Nukahiva on the
9th Dec, all well.
The only vessels in port were French
war schooner, and Hawaiian bark, the
Don Quixote, then loading with hogs and
provisions for San Francisco. The harbor
is fine sheet of water, scooped, as it were,
out of the rocks by the hand Of man. 1t is
eight or nine miles in circumference, without
any shoals or DISTINCTIONS; good deep anch-
orage throughout, and securely sheltered on
three sides by rocky hills from five to fifteen
hundred feet high, partially covered with
stunted herbage, and in many places shooting
up into naked rocks and cliffs.
At the head of the harbor on an elevated
rock, projecting into the water, the French
have fort and barracks; defended in front
by glacis and substantial granite breast
work, in rear by slight wall perforated with
embrasures for musketry; the strength, |
understand, does not exceed fiftv men. The
officers are quartered in large stone man
sion. two stories high with an elevated base
ment, and neat balcony around the upper
story. The house of the Governor is a hand
some modern stone building embosomed in
trees and surrounded by beautiful garden.
The valley of Nukahiva is quite small, with
a population, was told, Of about eight hun
dred, which l think high estimate.
Two French Catholic priests are station
cd here pursuing their Missionary labors;
they have from thirty to fifty converts and a
school of forty pupils, many of whom can
read. their plain frame dwelling is in the
middle of a charming garden in which many
of the fruits and flowers of the tropics are
cultivated, and number of flower and vege-
table exotics; they have recently erected a
neat little chapel in which they officiate reg
ularly; their teachings, example and piety,
must have good effect in reclaimIng the
savages around them.
The Island which is three thousand eight
hundred feet high in the centre, has no aP-
pearance of volcanic origin or coral forma-
ton, while its upright basaltic rocks lead to
the opinion, that it must have been upheaved
from the bottom of the great deep by some
great convulsion of nature: its sides present
a great number of valleys separated in many
places by only narrow, rocky mural ridge
and are generally independent Of each other.
War is frequent among them, in the words
of my informant, ''It is hard to tell when the
war begins or ends as it 10 always going on
between some Of the valleys"
The warriors Of the valley next to leeward,
of Nukahiva about two miles distant, went to
make war on a neighboring valley The day
we left port. On hearing which the King,
or Chief of Nukahiva Immediately collected
about fifty warriors and fastened to make
war on, or plumber the defenceless valley,
women and children, in the absence of its
defenders. Such acts of treachery, and the
desire of plunder occasioned by their indo-
lence and necessities, make war perpetual
among them.
Notwithstanding these savage wars, the
priests 90 all over the island, depending
alone on their sacred character for protection
One of them at the time of our arrival was
absent on a mission to the valleys "Typee
and 'Happar" mentioned by Melville in his
book '' Typee " distant only two or three
miles, and returned before we left port.
INQUIRED OF him for Melvile's chiefs ".neheri'
and ss.NoV .Mo,c," but he did not know eth
er by that name. the two chiefs of Typee
| Valley whom he has known for seven years
! are named "Howkaal' and "Oaamana.
s.Fayaway is not, be said, a common name
for females in the Island, he had never met
with any of that name. So could not gam
any information respecting the heroes or he
roine of Mr. MeIvilIe's ''rypee."
! Capt. Petigru, commanding this ship, hear
inc that a Captain Fisher of the whale ship
.J.von'' of New Bedford or Fa'rhaven hat