The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-08-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
JnCOb's Scenes ian the Pacific
-ss Ocean.

We caught a distant glimpse Of
Moa. At eight p. NJ. the sky cloud
ed over, and became as black as the
cooks funnel. We furlcd the light
sails, close reefed the topsais. and
made all snug. It was a dismal
night tho thunder roared and
crashed around us as if tho heavens
had been rent asunder; the chain.
lighting circlcd around, and seeming
ly played over our spars and rigging.
We stopped the chain-holcs with can
vass, to prevent the electric fluid
from entering our magazine. The
rain poured down in torrents. and
filled tho stcrn-boat as-fast as one
could bail it out. BY the glare Of
the lightning our crew could be seen
standing in line upon deck, rassin:,
buckets of rainwatcr from the trunN
i tosfllup the water casks.
The second day after this, in the
afternoon, we were sailing to the
eastward, close along the coast of
Papau, which is here formed Of
beautiful elevated lands, covered with
the vcrdurc of perpetual summer,
and watcrcd by purling streams CT
clear, cold water.
n great many came off in hand
some canoes, with one outriggcr, for
the purpose Of tratiicking with us.
They were naked, with the exception
of ornaments hung about their per,
sons, and were stout, savage looking
Smen, Of dark copper color, with
hair somewhat longer and straightcr
than the wool Of the negro.
Each canoe contained goodly
supply Of powerful bows, arrows,
spears and war-clubs, all of which,
combined with the physical appear
ancc of these natives, designated
them as race Of fearless warriors.
They seemed friendly, and we threw
them two lines over the stern, and
entered into trade for cocoanuts and
Jasper stone adzcs. They invited us
politely to come on shore, and said
that, in one moon they would bring
us plenty Of tortoise shell, pearl shell,
ostrich plulncs, ivory, camphor, nut
megs, edible birds nests, palm oil,
diamond, etc.
The wind now freshcncd up and
our headway increased, SO that the
canoes sheered about, cndongc ing
their outriggcrs, and we're obliged to
Jet 60 the towlincs and drop astern.
We now arrived at the mouth Of n
noble bay; it was "ncw discovery"
Tho land was elevated, picturesque,
and verdant. The cast point of the
bay was q dcnudcd red clay and rocky
bluff, from which put off a shoal.
With the usual daring Of our captain,
we boldly entered the bay, and steer
cd for its foot with all sails set. We
now sighted beautiful small bay, or
mouth Of river, that extended to
the eastward from the foot Of a gulf.
On the beach wc spicd great mul.
titude of warriors, hurrying along
with bundles Of war implements, and
dcpositing them in canoes, which
they launched into the water, and
put off for the vessel from various
coves and inlcts. One war canoe,
commanded by a celebrated brave,
was towcd, by one Of our lines, near
tho stern.
Our captain stood upon the traffrail
cycling tho accommodating dangers;
and thinking that, when we anchored,
and the crew were aloft turlng sails,
tho host Of the savagcs might be
tempted to pick the sailors of the
yards like 80 many black birds, he
determined to have clear course
yale coming to, and 80, to irisht:n