The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-07-12
THE UNION.

with every that the usual custom would DC de-
parted from In this instance, and the vile and children
OF the prisoner would mol be strsngled as usual
Lingileyu accompanied by one OF The prisoner
sons, naked lad about eight years OF age, and
the meeting between him and his condemned father was
very affecting The liule fellow showed sensibiy be
You'd his years in a civilized boy he cried unceas
ingy and The stern savage warrior, who seemed 10 oes
pse life and had no wish 10 live longer was melted
at once at the sight OF his weeping offspring, who hung
upon his neck ClaspDg the child with manaced hands
IN the silent stiffness OF gnet that supasset snow,
The unbldden Tears Moved IN abundance, gss g ~ ~
the strength of natural affection even in The breasts oil the
greatest sayages.
Al u o'clock on the 18th March the sergeant OF ma
rnes, who acted provost marshall conducted The prs
oner into the boat accompanied by the master al as
execulioner The Rev MIR Calvert as chaplain ana the
marine guard under command OF Lieutenant Devln also
passed into the boat with the prisoner. Another boat
from the ships with some OF the officers followed the
captain and consul in the gig came third IN the line OF
procession few minutes brought them TO the Island
and three with the prisoners wife and sister ana
large number of native acquaintance arrived soon aller
The wife and sister were entirely naked except me e
or grdle and piece OF fine striped apa Called mdS
around the body OF the wife They came screaming from
the beach TO where the prisoner sitting under the
shade of tree and east themselves literally upon hlm
STILL thought he did not show great tenderness as he
did on meeting his in the morning Mr.. Calvert
kneeled down and made prayer in the native language,
which being finished. the prisoner was conducted TO Inc
galows few yards distant lie assembled the platform
with buoyant spring, and stood erect facing the persons
assembled, if he were going 10 address them The
guard was broken into plaloons, and one drawn up on
each side of the gallows. The master at arms ned his
ANGLES together and his behind his back the rope
was adjusted around his neck, and cap drawn over s
face during which he showed signs OF fear or disnay
At twelve minutes before one the drop fell and az one
his eless remains down and given to his friends
The piece OF striped tapa around the body Of the wife,
before mentioned, was brought by her, as Mr. Calvert
informed me, for the purpose OF stTanging her m
CURED if he had given her the pleasing information that
she and her children to be spared He said he had
told her SO but instead Of being pleasing to her, she
fl,,I nia1 al cha nnic
with the CUSTOM and accompany her husband TO the land
OF spirits
Koro moku-vata was about thirty years Of age, five
feet eleven inches high, straight and rater slender man
oherwse his face was oval forehead high and retreat
ing, high cheek bones, and full black eye According
to all accounts ne was man whom his friends loved
After the execution the chief Linglevu conducted 10
the captain from OF the canoes large square shoul
dered, and stout built native with his arms securely pm.
toned, who he said Val ton-dree, that killed the
half caste boy, Burrows, on the beach he deserved
death, and NgaaniDgiou had sent him 10 him to be exc
Gated with the other" The captain, through Mr. Cal
ver interpreter informed the chiefs and natives tha
by The laws OF America, no person can be pu, 70 DEAN
until tried and found guilty OF crime deserving of such
punishment As he had no time to Try the charge OF
Walton dree he ordered him TO be taken back TO the
chief, to be dealt with he might deem proper lie was
accordingly taken to the in bonds when crew OF
twenty or thirty naked savages pushed quickly along
the whe-sand beach until it tioated, and was borne
away and lost in the distance.
The Fejeeans, unlike most OF the other Islanders are
not attooed The dark color of their skin, which such
marks would not appear to advantage may be the cause
of preventing them from this savage and painful custom
Vermon is used TO ornament, rather disgue, their
faces They take great pride in the good appearance OF
their hair and beard, which they dress and cultivate with
unceasng attention Some OF the boards are short, thick
and curly while others eight or ten inches long ter
minating in goa,ish point Their extraordinary heads
OF hair surpass all imag nation these are dressed IN
many strange grotesque toms but the common appear
is that OF the gobuar head OF negro swelled out
to an immense size. | measured one OF nineteen inches
amafa md ha
The natural color of the hair black, but by the use OF
lime, carbon, and other pigments they make a good
grayish white, and all the various shades between black
and red many OF which colors in numerous instances
adorn the same head-some black before and gray
behind. and OF the many singular heads
saw will endeavor 10 describe The color OF the
hair was je, black, and it separated into distinct
regular square pyramids of about two inches square al
the base and inches perpendicular fastened 10 The
head at the verexthe bases (o course outwards The
sides and angles OF these hairy pyramids appeared as reg
uary and sharply defined they had been formed OF
wood Around the head they appeared IN great regu,
projecting horizontally from the crown, left broad flat
space the top OF the head.
On one occasion the high wind tossed the pyramids
about like many bobbns yet they retained their form
unmpaired, if they had received il in hydraulic press
Wigs also made and worn by these people scarcely
distnguIshable from the genuine natural growth.
In of extreme grief for the loss OF some relation
the death affection Of great chief, the hair OF
beard is cut off, seldom both at the same time The little
fingers also often cut of close to the hand as sym
fifth OF all the Fejeeans saw, while at the islands,
wanted one both OF their little fingers also saw
many without of their toes, which | understood
cut of native remedy Tor pains and sores IN the
legs-pehaps for eprosy, elephan,iass, cntaneous
diseases that very common among them
They unac4uanted with The use or value oil money
in lieu OF which articles of trade substituted IN the
transaction of business.
As far as could Judge muskets, gunpowder, bullets,
lead, and flint, golden currency calico OF red
and haring colors, coons, whales teeth, hatcheis,
knives, scissors, razors, &c, are as silver and empty
bottles, OF all kinds, (while glass is preierred) fish
hooks beads, tobacco, muskets, balls &C. answer Tor
small change Among themselves mats form the princi.
pal currency and personal property
Whales teeth and empty bottles were decidedly the
best articles had for trading with the canoes that
came alongside; but unfortunately we had but few on
board Ii amusing 10 officer buying an empty
bottle from the steward enable him to purchase few
shells, the like, from the natives fifty cents was the
common value OF an empty quart bottle:
The regular traders have fixed value to those aru
cles, al which they generally received but there are
fluctuations competitions, and different valuations.
corng 10 the state OF the market here, as IN more civil
lied places.
A musket a keg OF powder, number of faihoms OF
cotton CLOTH number OF hatchets, &c. equivalent to
many pigs turkeys, ducks. chickens, many hundred
yams, cocoa nuts, &c.
This people have the reputation OF being the best
tive mechanics in Polynes Their houses and canoes
constructed with much judgment and ingenuity,
Some OF their from seventy 10 hundred and
feet long, capable of carrying five hundred men
The inhabitants OF a town near Rewa manufacture
earthenwafe such boilers, jars, and water Jugs OF
various patterns Some OF the Jars will contain twenty
thirty gallons The vessels thin light and neat.
and although only burnt by the domestic fires or faggos
varnish of the juice Of a tree gives them handsome
brick color finish On the island OF Iakemba large