New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-06-15


hiaht These Islands and the shallow channels that sePa
rate them are probably the fine wharTes and streets de-
that End Il difficult 10 fan in with this idea-
1t Is much more probable that these natural islands
formed by the fresh water streams that empty through
these many channels Those who once occupied them Cd
iously spsn much time and labor il building the but
esses most probably for the purpOse OF protecting them
from the force Of foods IN the stream above and hon the
more constant wear Of the tides and Taves though the
regular and improved appearance that such works Wgu
give 10 the place and The convenience they would auord
Tor landing from boats or canoes may nave been ADDITION
Mr. Corzat who was our most reliable informant, told
Us that here - 90 islands in that vicinity sep<
ted from each other by labyrinth OF creeks which Is the
term ha. gners in BonShe apply 10 their fresh water
streams We find islands AZ Rono Nure formed 10 the
same manner by the streams which divide into ssyera
channes bat not 70 widely IS al Maniaanm Tor tAe1sb
Lot 80 broad a strip Of l0wand.
I'VE were told that in the centre Of one Of these s2nls
near the ruins pond in which the natives KEEP alSe
sacred eel Our informant said that the Keeper wac
take- food % the eel always approaches the pond walking
back ward that he may not be- guilty OF even looking A.
tie o,red .h When he comes the brink Of the pond
he reaches The food cut behind him. lets il fall into the
water and speedily away reversing me ORDER OF r
treating from majesty on the part oil certain c'@7u Ia
AS The tide was low were obliged to land on 40 ISL
ard wing close 10 the one which the principal runs
brought Us into full view Of the structure from when We
were separated BY shallow channel thirty orfory feet IN
With II presents font OF 100 feet and IS ~ iset 10
r 9th from east 20 west occupying little island about an
cre in extent The foundation platform which consists oi
.be ori,ir al land with the stone works that surround H.
rises about eight feet above the water ..,
On west side he walls, which are ABOUT ~ ieet hyh
are laced back from the edge of the foundao2 works
leaving platform T. feet wide but on each OF the othrr
sizes the face Of the wall CORE ponds win tna OF lne
br-tress presenting perpendicular front = ieet IN Sh'
sloy. Tie water Except the western 'front.' the Tsls
are not only oysrtOpped by large trees but are even buried
10 the green foliage OF ferns and bushes and long hanging
Tiey appear quite perfect except in place on the
north side xhen for the space Of rod or tso the wall
has partially given way on the inner side only .
a1Ie walls axe almost entirely built Of Basac prsms
Of FIVE six and sides varying rom - Ter N isnsn
and two in diameter TO the same proportion IN inchss
They are laid alternately eDgihWse and cross"se the d.
recion of the walls. , . r..
and the smaller entrances or openings 10 the WAL On 'ue
aWbn the outer bulsarks Is another enclosure Is feet
front and % feet deep il has fo midable pJrm OF ~
own In hich IL walls and the main central vault are
| built 1t eight feet above the main ioundtlon.
"Between the walls therefore u walk ~ feet VIDE on
! tbo eastern and y on the other sides
The inner walls are - feet higher than the Pauorm'
and feet lower than the outer walls.
The thickness Of the euter walls vary ron = 20 s-
The inner wall is 10 feet thick At the base ana eet mick
Al the submits with projecting cornlce feet wide ,
The entrance 70 the inner wall Is OF the same width
| and directly opposite that q tie outer wall
ain the center Of this inner nclOsure Is pile oil stone
work about PAGES square A. the bottom aud or -et
| in hight Two surrounding platforms each yard IN
width divide the ascent to the top nto three steps Inc
Within his structure vault and in the west side d.
Of the gateway mere seems 10 htFe ce
been doorway leading into i, but which j. no" strongly
| blockfd IN A narrow entrance has, however, been
open,d the top through which We descended ana end
ourselves in a dark cell feet deep and ii by 10 IN isnSth
The only light that reached entered through the
cracks between the long prsms lfid across over mead
Neremaned in it nearly half hour turning over pieces
of coral and old seasels hoping 10 mud some bone or
o'her relic The foreigners told Us that in ls3s Captain
| Charles Coffin, of the ship Ohio Nantucket ana l. Is
sbnman Of the Marcus, Fairhaven visited this vault to-
gether and took from human bones ct gigantic SIZE
We were fortunate - to meet with anything OF tas
kind; but We had the pleasure Oh hndhs sv'erH niue
I'VE visited two other vaults outside the inner walls in
The rlsor and not marked by any superstructure. We
were told that NJ Dudyit now Of the dElch Islands
took two sver crucifSts from of them There we're
ten other vaults mostly filed up -
MIR Cosga told Us that formerly, me bones OF me
kings and bieh chiefs Of the Maianm tribe were deposited
in iese vaults but priests dared enter within the
enclosure but of late since the taboo mas been broken
over they are not used for this purpose The natives
even now dare enter the vaults When We urged one
to 90 in, he replied, No. me die
AT Kong Kitt, halt mile from tue shore Is Slniu1
enclosure, more roughly built
MIR Guick sher csnyassng the various coniecture3 as
10 te uses of these enclosures arrives at the hghy proOa
he conclusion that Ike the pyramids Of Egypt they were
built 10 perpeuste the memory and mark the sepqurs OF
ancient Kings For various reasons he Is opinion that they
were constructed by the ancestors OF the present IN
habtants Of Bonahe Ascension Isle these people have
tradition that their foreaihers who came from tue East
upd three men on the island who were all that remained
Of the people who had built the stone structures thee
viduas were cid man and bis two sons and they
we're giants They were then engaged in cutting stone
from tho bluff called Sugar Loaf The young men, how
ever left that work and com henced to dig channel
be island but this dispeased the old man and as they
woud not desst he precpaied part OF the mountain upon
them and crushed them.
MIR Guick is Of opinion that the present inhabitants of
this island are identical in race with the hlgs islanders
Tl,r number Is about 5000 and decreasing. They
divided INTO five tribes: Isl The Maaann, the most po
erfuI I'd The Kt. 3D. The Jetrols. ih. Inc M.
tribe sth New Tribe They also divided into several
castles and this singular law governs all Thar marriage
must always be Effected without the caste person may
uot marry within but always without the caste the highest
ste may marry the lowest but TIE chudren are Always OF
lie cate Of tie mother. Pdrtas se7uitnr rfntrsn
The form of government described by Mr. Guick. is
very complicated ard interviewed with castles that clear
exclamation cannot be made from his notes. 10 would
,m that our social reofmeTs would ind series and inter
series attractions and repusions enough To gTaty their
utmost cravings Such terms as JvDeyiiss, Iupeniman
foubal Iipaus Iupnwies and IupenanunbutAouts, are
oute as formidable and perhaps conducive q pasIond
d.yeloumeIt Is any thin laid down by F0urer-ort
might 6e supposed that they had been quietly emul.ung
The ans in the yeufion OF unpronounceable tnes
Cfthtir physical appearance Mr. Quick remarks:
They have rot the Chinese cast Of couRenance they
ere tighter in than any have yet There
is length c. and dccaoy OF nose, when must speak
If a. very agreeable although the expression be sngu
lar one Among many chiefs the hair long and there
generally wreath or some oiheI afls eHeh Dy Whcl
E loosely and elegantly detained IN some individuals tbs
whole hair is curly. which is accompanied with hight com
Die xion The Young chiefs certainly excel in deicacy Of
feature and beauty OF complexion Many OF the women
are in very positive degrees beautiful -
This DESCRIPTION contrasts strangely with Admiral Sukes
In character" Mr. Guick continues; they are very
shreVd active people. Expert in making bargains
and having considerable spirit and power Of exscu
" lion. Although from fifty TO eighty foreign whites
have for many years resided on this island, the
natives still usirtain perfect control over all their
affair, AM the foreigners KEEP, in degree or other
"ofdependence. They fully possessed with the demon