The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-09-27

whale-shipS, has proved itself. in intercourse with
these innocent people, 10 DC a very carnal sort of
nature, indeed. anu -, made wise 10y experience.
on the advent OF strangers. temptation i prudently
removed, and youth and beauty slowed away. out
of sight. Thus we failed in seeing the brightest
side of the picture-the inner sanctum: and Mel
vile may still be telling the truth. Tor all | know.
and Lieut.. Alaury may have found some ideal 10
e2ptlvate even his philoSophic eve.
festivities.
The two or three hours of our visit passed agree
ably. The ladies would sing for Us low. mono
tonous songs, each verse ending in high. shrill
notes and u ringing laugh. as if the sentiments
expressed were very funny. The picauinnies.
bashtul At first, made rapid advances with the con-
hdence OF childhood. and soon became emulouS of
tue honor Of holding Us by the hand. The lords
oI TINS creation having satisfied their curiosity,
sought ease in the cool OF their hutS some were
busy in taking off 70 the schooner Il supply of
young cocoanuts. which were paid for in tobacco.
Before leaving We joined in eating some fried fish
Tried, probably, for our especial entertainment. as
The popular style Is 10 take them raw and un-
cleaned.
Gould We by any possibility remove from our
minds the preIudices of training and association,
ana look At life as merely an aimal existence
4 succession Of years of eating and drinking. sleep
ING and waking-as ii is, indeed. to the vast
majority of the human tamily-would these poor
South Sea Islanders appear 50 savage after all?
In enlightened countries, il i the part of the
most to struggle all through life. to toll early and
late, 70 win merely = crust for the support of ma
turc, and To lie down and die when the time comes.
Oar friends of TOkOlau are easily sheltered, clothed
without an effort. When hungry. = fish is caught,
and eateng writing in their hand. When tired,
they liedown and sleep, with no factory-bell to call
them at early dawn. They never 60 to war-or
law. Childhood has no bugbear in the shape of
school manhood no wearying business. Death
comes as it does to the most OF humanity, civilized
or barbarian. Indeed, does it not come with less
terror? " For Of those 10 tch0m much IS gircn
much 'ciH be regalredt' So ON the whole. is not
their life the most sensible?
OTHER ISLANDS.
1t was on a Sunday that We made our visit to
Oatafu. Tuesday we were at the Duke of Clar-
ence-Nukunono. The islands are not over forty
miles apart. In appearance they are alike, but
NukunOnO Is the largest, and contains Il greater
population. Our welcome was equally kind, and
as much trading was carried on. The chief
was a splendid specimen of Il man, with long,
black ringlets clustering around i well developed
head. and a deneanOr dignified as becomes the
leader of people. He was made proud and hap
py by the present of n tall white hat from our
Undoubtedly it Will go down TO his
rs the crown imperial.
The next dav we We're at BOwditch, FakaafO,
30 miles to the southeast. Here is the residence
1t the head chief of the group, and his superior
state ana authority was manifested in our recep-
ION. He did not come rushing off in a canoe TO
l1ard Us, but sent q deputajion 10 escort us ashore.
Ills Majesty was seated on a mat. near the spot
If our landing, surrounded by his counselors-
iignitied old men. At a respectful distance the
women were gathered, all showing the usual
marks nfage, and the background was filled up
With a host Of naked picaninnies.
Our intercourse was quite formal. We spread
,ut the presents we had brought, amidst a grave
Hence from the men, and faint. hut Irrepressible,
from the females. In return. Il mat
vas given as the most valuable thing they had to
,estow. On expressing the wish, we were con-
iucted through the village by one Of the dignita-
les, very likely the Prime Minister-the others,
meanwhile, retaining their place ON shore.
town showed one novelty. marking it as the
'apital: there was Il small square. once occupied
" Il temple devoted To idol-worship. \ wear
PREVIOUS to our visit, the temple was destroyed
" fire, and the presiding deity now stood in the
pen air, perched on Il block Of wood. but so COW
with vo.ive offerings rs to be quite obscured
n form and feature. 1t is the god of the group.
Annual gifts are received from the neighboring
stands. and laid on its shrine. As to the forms
I the worship, or the power the religion has over
he minds of the people. cur observation was too
United To enable Us 10 learn.
Missionaries have endeavored to gain a foothold
ere. but have been firmly repulsed with the singu-
II objection that the islands were over-populated,
nd strangers could not be allowed to crowd out
atives.
Living thus secluded, and in small communi-
this people are mild and inofensive. They
ave no rival tribes TO quarrel with, and no use
IT weapons of war. Among themselves peace
nd goodwill seems to prevail. SO that constables
nd courts and calabooses are unknown. We did
ear afterwards that a whaier's boats crew had
zen cut off here and bestowed, but nothing of the
hyso or wherefores; and as the story came through
crooked channel, it may nave got twisted out
F shape. Certain it Is, that the Tokolauians
an agreeable contrast to their neighbors of
he Fejees and in many respects their lives might
= profftably initiated by people who are wiser,
uch wiser. in their own esteem.