Polynesian., 1858-10-02
No. %
OFFICIAL REPORT

On Central Polynesia, By CHARLES ST. JULIAN Has
HacaiiaR NgestyS Commissioner and Political Com
BeclaI AgeRt, tie Independent States aud Tribes of
Polynesia, aud Consul General for Neuc South Wakes
and Tasmania 'rth Gaseueer of Central Polynesia
by EDWARD REEVE, Gate Chancellor of the Commits
sioH) and other documents appended. Sydney 1857
We have received copy of the above report from its
very talented author and have perused its pages with
equal pleasure and profit. Mr. St. Julian takes large
and liberal views and maintains them WE'LL of the Poly
nesan races He feels dependency the decrease
Of population among them. As philosopher, hsto-
ran, and statesman he looks upon the decrease which
fills the PhilanhrOpist with detection. the destiny-man
with exultation, a matter of course up to a certain
point; for, as ne says:
But assuming permanence changes they only prove
tthat favorable turn cannot under ordinary eeumsan
es De looked o until the greater part OF the native population
has died of the process Of Improvement They prove also
that while state primitive
@ to Christian civilization that the Polynesian tribes die of
most rapidly.
There is sad but profound truth in the above SEN
tence but like most truths, that have for their object
to rebuke the pride and chastse the spirit Of man,
develops from the bitterness Of the present hope for
the future, and points to Canaan after passing the
dangers of the desert.
Perhaps of the greatest injustces done to the
POyuesan tribes, is institute comparison between
them and the most enlightened nations of the present
day, and then condemn them in set as incapa-
bles. On this subject Mr. ST. Julian expresses himself
in this way:
barbar the heather tribes of Polynesia
than the recorded babam Of the northern whose blood
Invested little Of that "enchanment which distance ends
the view Their traditions poetry beautiful
the traces OF Their past history not less interesting Their laws
not less definite and their social organization less perfect
Physically they equal to Of earth Intel
lecuay they way judging those
who have received the advantages Of higher order OF training
education the admirable institutions of Central Polynesia To
them with the people Of Great Britain and the United
States in the day usually DONE to apply most
unjust standard of capacity 1t is unjust boy
CTianisI PsaSF III S5 With the F,Tor4ans of be mid
die and the supposed neriOrty the former will vanish
There semi6arbarc pOmp and display
which accompaniment European feudasm the
balance advantages decidedly the Christian Poly
nesian He more truly civilized equitaby ruled better
educated and better provided for than the
great body ancestors Although therefore may be quite
true tat the various communities Of Central Poynesa 90 not
contain within themselves the of social commercial and
political regeneration this arises from any inherent nferiO
ol e race olt from various influences zoe powerful 20 oe
shaken of without aid from without For these people have
been shut from intercourse with the rest of the world and
the deepest heahenm. And although their with the
white has brought them the glad ngs of Christan
then but too largely the worst Of the white mans vices
In speaking of the influences of different nations up
the future policy and growth Of Polynesia, Mr. St.
Julian says:
The only country has place its
Central Polynesia upon satisfactory footing
kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands The whole surveillance
commissioner with full diplomatic powers who
accredited al the otherwise unrecognzed independent
Hawaiian consulate, and Samoa commercial agency It
proposed to establish other consulates agencies all the
central points opportunities Offer But except in
teon 70 Central PoIynesa by the Cabinet at Honouu as by
great maritime powers Even less, in fact
than has been bestowed by the Cabinets Paris and Washington
The natural mission Of the Hawaiian nation seems to lie that of
have recognized international rights The fir tplace
first in and first influence il is already FIRST IN educa
wealth, and prOspery-amOng set OF young and rising
communities rather than position rugingy recognized among
the petty states OF elder origin ana close imitation o. all their
arhciales The suzersiny Of His Hawaiian Majesty would
erc governmental institutions and as 6uwark against OPP
preston by the officers subjects of other Under this
And extension of Hawaiian dominion excite
neither the fears the which must neeessa V attend
similar extension by any Of the great Powers
We admit freely the position and the duties incnm-
bent, which Providence to have designed for the
Hawaiian nation by placing it the apex of the Poly
nesian pyramid, in the van of the Island World
When remember that it is but fifteen years since the
independence of Hawaii itself trembed in the balance,
partakes of impaence to expect that it, yet,
exercise other than the moral influence of Its and
history upon the other Polynesian nations struggling
upward through the darkness. and inspire fifth in the
ultimate success anu patience uhdeT present ehOarIis
ments.
Embodied with the report is 90 Gazetteer Of Cen
tral Polynesia by Mr.. Edward Reeve chancellor of
the Ommssion,-which, far we have had the
to eompre ami ascertain, is unrivalled for the
precision and funess Of its information. 1t supplies
want that has long been seriously felt by the Poly
nesian student. We hope the author will republish
it in convenient form aud, if possible, include
the North, Northwest and S5uth of Polynesia well
as the Centre.
We shall again refer to this report.
REMARKABLE SURGICAL OPERATION REMOVAL OF
A Mans TONGUB ENTIRE.-An opera-ion per-
formed by Professor Syme, Of Edinburgh, the
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