Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-01-04

HONOLULU, SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1851.

i y Cls
bors that deserve the name on the island
and none on Savaii
Name in general chart, Varao; native
name, Varau. Lat. lS 35 S., Ion. ia 05
/ w. Remarks: Varau has one of the most
| magnificent harbors in the world, easy OF
ingress and egress, having two openings the
one to the northwest and the other about
west-south-west. Proceeding up the harbor,
you can come to anchor close to the settle
ment, the residence Of the missionaries and
Governor. A pilot will come on board; but
without his assistance your position can be
easily taken up on good anchorage, on a
sand bank, with about eight fathoms of wa
ter Port charges, five dollars for schooners
and ten dollars for three masted vessels
Between Varau and Tonga are Hapae
group; but without pilot and an excellent
chart no stranger should venture; the navi-
cation is both difficult and dangerous
Name in general chart, Tong gataboo; ma
tive name, Tonga. Lat 81 8 8, long lis
10 west. Remarks: Tonga possesses fine
harbor and safe anchorage for vessels Of any
burthen. There are two entrances, the one
on the north and the other on the SOUTH
With the usual wind this is convenient, as a
vessel can never be detained from getting
outside by contrary winds Water very bad, !,
and payment is also demanded by the natives
for it. Stock can be obtained, but would
recommend vessels bound to the northward
to continue their course to the Navgators,
about three days sail The natives ofTonga
are too independent and saucy to give great
assistance in short space of time, and take
unfair advantage of vessels requiring "re-
cruiting.
NOTE.-There are several other islands
which lie in the track of vessels bound to the
| nOrthward, such as Savage, Keppel's, Bos-
cawan, Monha Wallis and Horn Islands;
but we think, to those short of provisions and
water, none (south of the Line) offer better
| facilities than those mentioned in this list
ADVENTURES OF LEWIS WETzEL-Among
the heroes of border warfare, Lewis Wetzel
holds no inferior station. Injured to hardship
while yet in boyhood, and familiar with all
the varieties of forest adventure, from that
Of the willy Indian, he became one of the
most celebrated marksmen of the day. His
form was erect, and of that height best adapt
ed to activity-being very muscular and pos
sessed of great bodily strength. From con-
slant exercise he could without fatigue bear
prolonged and violent exertion, especially
that of running and walking; and he had by
practice, acquired the art of loading his rifle
when running at full speed through the forest,
and wheeling on the instant, he could dis
charge it with unerring aim, at the distance
of eighty or one hundred yards into a mark
not larger than dollar This art he had
been known to practice more than once upon
his savage foes with fatal success
A marksman Of superior skill was in those
days estimated by the other borderers much
in the same way that knight templar, or a
knight of the cross, who excelled in the tour
nament or the charge, was valued by his
cotemporaries in the days Of chivalry. Chal-
lenges of skill often took place and marks
men, who lived at the distance of fifty miles
or more from each other, frequently met by
appointment to try the accuracy of their aim
on bets of considerable amount Wetzel's
fame had spread far and wide, as the most
expert and unerring shot of the day 1t
chanced that young man, few years
younger than HIMSELF who lived on Dan
kard's Creek, tributary of the Monongahe-
la river, which waters one of the earliest set
Elements of that region, heard of his fame
and as he was also an expert woodsman, and
first rate shot, the best in his settlement, he
became very desirous Of an opportunity for a
trial Of skill So great was his desire that he
one day shouldered his rifle, and whistling
his faithful dog to his side, started for the
neighborhood of Wetzel, who at that time
lived at Wheeling creek.
When about half way on his journey, a
fine buck sprang up just before him. He
leveled his gun with his usual precision, but
the deer, though badly wounded, did not fall
dead in his track. His faithful dog soon
seized him, and brough. him to the ground,
but while in the act of doing this, another
dog sprang from the forest upon the same
deer, and his master making his appearance
at the same time from behind tree, with
loud voice claimed the property, because he
had been wounded by his shot, and seized
by his dog 1t so happened however, that
they both fired at once at this deer-a thing
which may very esily happenwhere two ac-
tive men are hunting upon the same ground,
although one may fire at the distance of fifty /
yards, and the other one at one hundred. |
The dogs felt the same spirit of rivalry and
quitting the deer which was already dead,
fell to worrying and tearing each other. 10
separating the dogs, the strange hunter hap
pened to strike that Of the young man. The
old adage, "strike my dog, stl ike me, +" arose
in full force, and without further ceremony,
except few hearty curses, he fell upon the
hunter and hurled him to the ground. This
was no sooner done than he found himselfl
turned, and under his stronger and more
powerful antagonist.
Discovering he was no match at this play,
The young man appealed to the trial by rifles,
saying it was too much like dogs for men and
hunters to fight in this way. The stranger
assenled to the trial, but told his antagonist
hat before he put it fairly to the test, he had