Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-10-16

LIFE IN THE PAcIFIc.-Among the myriad
islands which dot the surface of the South
Pacific ocean, is little island about ten miles
in diameter, lying near the Fejee group, call
ed Horne Island. Its climate and productions
are nearly similar to those of the Sandwich
Islands. Its inhabitants .are dark complex
toned, and are said to be the most ferocious
and savage of any in Polynesia. Until very
lately they were cannibals. A correspondent
of the Pictou Chronicle, writing from a whale
ship in the tropics, gives the following de-
scripton of a visit to these Interesting people
for the purpose of procuring wood, water,
yams, &c.
"On our approach, we were Immediately
surrounded by twenty or thirty canoes, filed
with the most hideous looking wretches L ev-
or beheld. Their hair, which is long and
very coarse, stands erect, giving them most
ferocious appearance; and they kept up such
an unearthly yelling, being everjoyed to see
us, that we finally came to the conclusion that
we might possibly by mistake have discovered
a small corner Of the Internal regions. After
satisfying their curiosity and ascertaining our
wants, they Immediately returned to the shore
to satisfy them, and in a short time several
canoes came alongside filled with the choicest
productions of the island, consisting of hogs,
fowls, yams, cocoanuts, and fruits of all
q
ed by any rag fair in Europe; but we were
not little surprised to find that our money
was of no value to them and they refused to
take it, therefore regular barter commenced.
! Old shirts, handkerchiefs, pipes, tobacco, and
fancy trinkets, took well with them. Our
captain being an old Cape Cod Yankee, who
had been seafaring for forty years, understood
well what was required for traffic with the ma
tives, and having, of course, come prepared
for the occasion, laid in 40 hogs, 200 fowls,
large supply of yams, cocoanuts, &c., in ex-
change for what cost him not over SIS, in the
shape of red flannel, knives, hatchets and
beads. 1t was quite amusing to see him bar
gain for his supplies especially the vans,
which grow here to a size weighing Is to 20
lbs. One percussion cap was to be given for
one yam, but the old sea cock not being satis-
fled by taking small and great as they came,
would repeatedly impress upon the natives
the necessity of bringing large yams, by say
ing, "one cap, one yam, big YAM" at the
same time stretching his eyes and extending
his hands to describe the size. 1 must say,
although he treated US very well during the
passage, if he ever had any conscience, il had
little to do in trade with the natives of Horne
Island.'
Owing to the difficulty of procuring water
the vessel was detained at the islands eight
visits to the shore and became quite intimate
with the King and all the nobility. The king
was black, rough looking fellow, six feet
six inches in height. His entire wardrobe
consisted of an old flannel shirt and Pana-
ma hat. The costume of the other members
of his family was even more limited. The
mode of cooking food among these people is
similar to that of the Sandwich Islanders, and
is thus described:
''They bake their food in an oven or shall
low hole dug in the ground, in the bottom of
which fiat stone is laid, embedded in mud,
and when it is sufficiently heated, the Goals
are taken out and several layers of leaves
spread on the stones, after which the yams,
plaintain, banana, &C., are carefully laid in,
and layer of leaves laid over the whole,
which is quickly covered with earth. By this
means the steam is confined and vegetables
cook in very short time. When taken out
of the fiery bed smoking, and eaten with milk
of the young cocoa nut, they cannot be pro-
nounced bad dish.