The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-07-28
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

FROM THE MARoUEsAs BY the return of the Mis-
sionary packet Morning Star, We have advices from
this group to the middle Of June. Capt. Brown has
furnished US a full report of his voyage, from which we
quote The Morning Star sailed from Kealakekua
Bay on MOI day, May 9. crossed the line on the oath
in long. 143e So W., just nine degrees east of her
track on her voyage south last year, having fallen in
with calms, squalls and variable winds in lat. 20 ~,
long 1919 W., with a slight set of current eastward.
We arrived in sight of the Marquesas on the Both of
May ut daylight, but did not come to anchor until
June 4. We found the people of Fatuhiva, as usual.
at war, that is, butchering each other. l think the
natives of this island are the worst in the group.
They are great warriors, when they can End their
victims asleep. About the time of our arrival the
warriors of Omoa made a descent upon Hanavavi,
three miles distant, Just before day, and although the
assailants numbered eighty, they ventured to attack
but n single house. Its inmates rushed out, only to
be shot down. Two men and two women fell, and
their severed heads were carried off in triumph. A
child, two years old. was taken alive from the arms
of it's murdered father who was endeavoring to escape
with it. The mother made her escape. and begged
in vain for her child. 1t was taken to Omoa, cruelty
tortured and finally %strangled, and given, as SOM of
themselves said, to the devil. to propitiate him, and
gain his favor and assistance in battle. a chief
strutted about the beach and claimed the honor of
having killed a woman, whose head our people saw
sailed down in a tub. He came on board and asked
me for finfs. l SAID. No. it [ give you Aints. you
will use them TO shoot women. He finally said he
would shoot only men. I asked him if [ could visit
the tabu ground, where they had placed the little
dead girl. He said they had a gott up there, mean
ing a god; that no one who ate with women could be
allowed to visit the place, which is a beautiful cocoa
nut grove, upon a hill quite near the anchorage and
from which the fruit is never taken
"June 7, we came to anchor at Hivaoa. and learn
ed that the w~haleship Ticiiight. of New Bedford, had
been wrecked on the evening Of the LIST, while at
tempting to put to sea. l commenced landing my
cargo intending to go to her assistance as soon as pos
sible. but hearing that Captain Hathaway was
threatened by the natives, l left my work half done
and proceeded to the wreck. Taking on board the
ships companS and goods saved. we left the group
for Tahiti. June %, and arrived the 2Sth."
At Hivaoa, Capt. Brown found the missionaries
all very we'll, but anxiously awaiting the arrival of
the packet. Wars. quarrels, murders and cannibal-
ism, still abound throughout the group, yet such is the
power of religion tina. the houses and persons Of the
missionaries are respected by all classes of the natives.
During March, an American, formerly of Vermont,
named VIM. Lawton Heiks, who had resided several
years on Hivaoa, was shot by a native, with whom he
had a quarrel, and killed. No redress could be
taken, nor justice inflicted. Another foreigner, who
came up from that group on the Morning Star, was
stabbed by q native and nearly killed. Civil war
continues to prevail as formerly among the petty rival
chiefs. The French have withdrawn all their forces
and officers from the Marquesas, leaving only a flag
flying on one of the islands. One or two priests also
remain there; but otherwise no signs of French au-
thority remain. No communication had been had
between the Society and Marquesas groups for some
six months, though they only lie four days sail apart.
UNRELIABLE FIGuREs.-The Poiynesion frequent-
ly copies the tables published in San Francisco Of
exports to these Islands, passing them off as correct.
They are however seldom correct. Take for instance
one of the cargoes of the bark Yankee, that of
March ID. As published in San Francisco, it amount.
ed TO $14. 289 as entered here it amounted to
81, Jos. Sometimes the difference is the other
way. The Mere. Gazette Of the 9th June publish
ed the freight list of the Yankee, last trip over, as
SO, 37s-rather a high figure. The actual amount
was 1886. -
PASSENGER TAx.-We notice the recent enforce
ment of the new tax Of taco dollars on each passen-
ger arriving from n foreign port, for the benefit of a
hospital for Hawaiian Seamen. We would like to
inquire whether this fund goes to the benefit of the
hospital now being organized or not We under
stand that about 500 passengers arrive annually
consequently about $1,000 revenue will be derived
from this tax. -
TnE !" MESSENGER BIRD.''-In our foreign news
column will be found some interesting details about
this vessel. which Captain Delee run off with from |
Rio. By the Morning Star. We learn that she ar
rived at Tahiti May 11th. and sailed again the l7th
for Sydney. The vessel belongs to B.. A. Peirce Of
Boston, We believe It il possible that she W5l
BE- ovsvtaksn et Sydney.