The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-02-10

NUMBER SIX



which accompanies the changing of the
trades-mOre properly, perhaps, the mon
soons-had set in. At the same time, or
rather two days before the gale began, we
saw, one evening in the western sky, the
immense comet of that year, about twenty
degrees above the horizon, with a tail of
thirty degrees in length. The natives were
much terrified at its appearance, and predic-
ted either a great war, or some portending
misfortune The next day, the wind began
to rise from the eastward in squalls, accom-
panied with rair. The captain ordered the
shore party at the biche-le-me- house, to
return on board, which was done at once,
bringing with US our trade and baggage.
The natives gathered around us as We en-
barked in the boats, in silence and with
ugly looks. As soon as we got on board,
as the gale was increasing. the top-gallant
yards were sent down and the top-gallant
masts housed, while the best bower was
dropped under foot. By daylight in the
morning, the wind had increased to such
a degree, that the topgallant masts were
sent down on deck as well as the topsail
yards, and the top-masts housed. There
was but very little swell in this inland sea,
as it might with truth be termed, but the
wind blew in terrific gusts, occasionally
veering suddenly three points on either
bow, making the brig occasionally heel
several streaks. About three o'clock in
the afternoon, she began to drag, and two
other anchors, the stream and a large
kedge, were let go. These seemed to
check her, bat none too soon, for we had
dragged to within two cables length of the
shore, where we could see the inhabitants
of Tayea, apparently in good deal of ex-
citemeut, evidently expecting that our brig
would strike at any moment. They were
DClhCCu lnC CONOau0l ttCCof
and lodging in and out of the mangrove
bushes. The belief among these island
ers is, that whatever is driven on shore,
either vessel or a canoe, is direct pres
ent to them from the Gods, and they in
variably kill any living creature that may
survive the wreck. Our captain knew this,
and therefore, it is not to be wondered at,
that during the five days which the gale
lasted his anxiety was such, that he never
quilted the deck. When at length the
wind subsided, he was Thoroughly exhaust
ed, and giving the necessary orders for
sending aloft the spars and yards, and pre-
pairing to get underWeigh. he retired to his
cabin, saying, as he went below, Saved.
thank Godlr This was the first that
heard of any very special danger, beyond
the possibility of the vessel going on shore
on mud-bank, where there were no break
ers- Expressing my surprise at the cap
tains manner, the mate said to ME, boy,
if our anchors had not held, the moment
the brig struck. there would have been
five hundred of those rascally Tavea men
on board, and We should all have been
clubbed." "How about the hostage?" en-
quired. "He would have Joined with the
Others" was the reply. And France?" |
added. "No doubt he would have been
killed with us, for they hate him because
he favors the white men,"
After fair weather had again set in, the
the chief of Tayea came on board, and
was very anxious that We should resume
the fishing. He brought canoe-load of
fruit as present, consisting of bananas,
papaias. oranges, lines, shaddocks, nddrds,
and other nameless varieties of tropical
ed with young cOcoanuts, all nicely husked
and tied together in lunches. These were
piled up on one side of the briggs deck,
and the weight was such as to cause her to
heel couple Of streaks. Nuts like those,
in point of size, are never seen on these
islands of Hawaii-nei, nor have met with
any among the other islands of the Pacific
which have visited, that could compare
with them. Tui-1avea-the chief of an
island often assumes the name of his par
ticular locality, with the prefix of "'rui,"
which signifies, as nearly as may be rem
dered, belonging to"-also brought sew
eral turtle, hogs and some fowls-ghich
last, run wild in the woods, and like those
of these islands, may be heard growing at
all hours of the night. The chief, on
meeting our captain, greeted him with
smiling face, and the usual "Si yandra,
Saka," aad sat down on the cabin compan-
ion-way, to smoke his seluka- After the
presents were all on board, Tui-Tayea made
quite a speech to the captain, in which he
congratulated the -Kai papalangi' liter
ally, the native of Heaven" term which
was applied to all white men-on the ces-
satiou of the storm, and expressed his ear
nest hope that renewal of the fishing
would be rewarded with abundant success
The captain listened until be was through,