The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-24
A South Sea Edan.

According to the account of CORES
pondent of the Washington Chronicle,
who has lived at the Navigator Islands,
they might well have been the scene Of
our first parents little adventure. The
writer says:
l know of no island in the world of
equal dimensions so well watered as that
of Upolu, with its numerous rivers and
waterfalls. Brooks which are supplied
from never-failing springs of pure, cool,
crystal waters are to be met at short dis
tances i'm all directions, and together
with lake of fresh water, situated at the
summit of the highest ridge of land,
surrounded with \ scenery which with
that of the surrounding landscape is un-
surpassed, and may be Justly classed
among the most picturesque and beauti-
ful that is To be met with in any part of
the world. In fact the whole surface Of
this island is beautifully diversified with
valleys, plains and irregular hills, the
whole of which is covered with shrubs of
various kinds and trees of perpetual
verdure. Ii is here that the wanderer
may enjoy the pure air, and truly par
adisical scenery that surrounds him.
They may talk of the italian skies and
Sieilian shrubbery; no island or coast in
or around the Mediterranean Sea can
rival this island in salubrity of climate,
fertility of soil or beauty of scenery. Its
air is deliciOusly balm-its shrubbery
luxuriant. Health and beauty here revel
together. Nature is dressed in ever
changing but never-failing charms, and
her sunny smiles are reflected from the
human cOuntenance. From the dawn of
day until some time after sunrise the
most sparkling fable of Turkey, Persia
~. a11 tho ITocf f- ft.II
leaf and flower and spray and blade of
grass is gemmed with dew drops of ex-
traordinary clearness and purity, which
have imbibed so much of the vegetable
fragrance that when they begin to ex-
hale in the increasing warmth of the
solar rays, the whole atmosphere is filled
with the most delightful perfumes, and
every passing zephyr scatters grateful
OdOrs from its wings This is the hour
for healthy recreation; the by-paths are
now crowded with the equestrians Of
both sexes, while the fields, meadows,
lawns, hills and valleys are sprinkled
with people-some in groups, others in
pairs, and many in contemplative sOli-
tude. But when the sun has attained a
somewhat higher altitude and the strag-
glers begin to feel the potency of his
beams, they all repair TO their dwellings
Win keenlS S-snafpeneu appctlteS Tor the
luNuriant breakfast that awaits them.
The natives are the finest specimens of
mankind that have been found i'm the
Polynesian world. They are polite, in
telligent and hospitable; their language
is soft and harmonious. They are
renowned for their chastity and moral
behavior. They have intelligent and
pleasant cOuntenances, and modest de-
meanor, and a most noble carriage Of
their person. Many of the females are
no darker than Spanish brunette, are
very handsome, with the most SYM
metrical forms. They have never been
drawn up in n machine of torture that
was never heard of among all the dia-
bodical inventions of the inquisition-a
machine of whalebOne and steel, and
cord and pulleys and levers; a machine
far more ridiculous and mischievOus
than the iron shoe of China, as the body
and vitals of human being are of more
value than the feet. But they stand out
i'm their beatific simplicity and loveliness,
the emblem of the great Masters handi-
work i'm His happiest mood, a combina-
ton of beauty, grace and innocence,
which no Christian can look upon with
out the deepest sentiments of love and
admiration both toward the Creator and
the created.