Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-11
Of the EVENING STAR.
u. 5. STEAMER wACHrsErT,
PAPEETE, TAHITI, SOCIETY ISLANDS,
Il

u =. STEAMER NACttSErT.
PAPEETE, TAHITI, SOCIETY ISLANDS
June IL. 1855.
According to promise. viii now give YOU a
sketch of our trip from Honolulu to this place
The last four or five days of our stay in Hon
olulu were very busy ones for all of us When
on duty we were busy in preparing the ship Cor
a long sea passage. and when of duty were on
shore making our p. y. c. calls on our many
friends who had entertained SO handsomely
during TWO months and a half. At last April
18th, the day of departure came and instead of
the neat appearance our decks usually pre-
sented, they looked like those of a store shin.
but suggestive of good living at least during
the passage. In the port Cangway there was a
pen containing some sheep and pigs and the
booms and nettings were well slowed with
stable sea stores of all kinds. while the fore
castle and poop were disfigured by chicken
coops well stocked with noisy fowls.
that made person think at times
that he had been transported to some farm yard,
instead OF being on one OF Uncle Sans old ships
During the forenoon numbers OF our shore
friends. as well as officers from the foreign war
vessels in the harbor, came on board To say good
bye, so We had no chance TO display on our
faces the sad feelings that perhaps existed in
some hearts At pm. We were lying at single
anchor, hove short and swinging TO the stiff
northeast trades, which came flushing down tie
Nuuann valley. seeming anxious TO give las as
| much of the sweet perfume of the tropical val
ley as possible, before IL bore Us away to another
sunny cline. but farther south aud farther from
home and friends.
KING KALAKAUA CALLS /.
Inc arrival OF His Majesty, the King TO paw
his farewell call, was all that detained US He
soon appeared, coming in his ROYAL barge, &C
companied by couple Of his staff officers. and
on arriving consented TO go with us until We
were outside. All hands were at their stations
for getting under way SO that i'm two minutes
IA mrs ir-al bnl
tie to Hawaiian soil. and the anchor was dang
ling at the bow as We steamed out of the harbor
Each vessel that we passed dipped her flag. and
the band of the German war vessel "Leipzig
prayed Hall Columbia" making the hearts Of
all on board swell with pride for our native
land. The steam launch of the Russian war
ship. flled with officers. steamed alongside of
us all the way outside and at last gave three
rousing cheers as they turned to GO back The
cheers were heartily returned for Americas
powerful friend. The King soon left us and the
rounds of cheers that were exchanged were In
dicatlye OF the strong friendship existing be-
tween this little kingdom aud our great re-
public. 90 -"'- ''-' $500
The land rapidly faded from view as under
steam we fastened towards the SOUTH When
We were well i'm the ''offing" fires We're hauIed
and We were depending entirely on the usually
faithful trades. They did not fail us either, but
carried us clear down across the line where We
picked up the southeast trades. But little
happened to break the monotony of long sea
voyage until one day, when the wind had failed
us Tor few hours. some of the sailors caught a
large shark. They succeeded I'm getting IL out
oil the water; but before they could get it on
board, the line parted and he was again free. q
piece Of pork and a hook ahead
BIG ECLIPSE.
The 9th OF May We witnessed the ecpse oi
the sun. II was almost total, and lasted from
to IL I'm. During this eclipse noticed for
the first time that every hole or hollow of auy
kind, no matter what its form was cast a
shadow, or rather made a light spot, In the
shape Of a crescent.
On the morning of the 23d day we sighted
land, and as soon as it could be seen plainly we
found it was the Island of Upuu and that we
were Just off the harbOr Of Apia our destina-
ton ON approaching the island II presented
different and much more attractive appearance
than the Sandwich Islands did for instead OF the
mountains being brown and barren they were
yerdant to their very submits. The beach, as =
far as one could see. was fringed with cocoanut
trees, and little distance out there was line
OF heavy breakers, made by the coral reef which
entirely surrounds the island. An opening in
the reef allowed MS To pass into the lagoon be-
You'd, which formed the harbor of Apa The
town is beautifully situated at the foot of
steep mountain. down which beautiful water
fall tumbles. We had scarcely let go our anchor
when numbers Of canoes came alongside. con-
tanning almost naked savages. They were the
most perfect pictures Of physical manhood that
have ever seen. With their tall. straight. ath-
letic forms was united face expressive of much
Intelligence and friendship. They had all kinds
OF things for sale-war clubs, spears mats
cloth, and many trlnkets, &C., OF exquisite
workmanship, besides poultry, cocoanuts ba-
nanas. oranges, and other products Of the
island, very acceptable to US after twenty-three
days Of sea fare. They did not care 30 much
for money as for clothing of oil kinds handker.
chiefs and tobacco. The weather was very
warm during the day, but at night cool and
liant moonlight, which adds even more to Q
tropical evening than TO those of our own
country.
THE SORT OF STORM THEY HAVE IN THE PACY-
FIG.
Unlike the Hawaiian Islands these are some
times visited by terrible storms. earthquakes
and tidal waves. They always occur ia the
winter and In March. On the oath of March
they had terrible cyclone, beginning Mt the
southwest and working around to the north.
east, where it could blow full into the haIbor.
The storm was accompanied by tidal wave and
an earthquake, and great damage was done.
OF five vessels living in the haibor at the time Of
the storm tour went into the coral reefs and
were complete wrecks inside OF twelve hours.
The earthquake caused an upheayal Of the earth
i'm the harbor and made several acres Of new
coral reefs, nearly closing the entrance to the
harbor. Tho rise Of the water due to the tidal
wave was only about three feet there, but on the
southwest shore Of the island OF Sayaii the
west island OF the group to the westward OF
Upulu, the wave swept the shore and DESTROYED
several native villages with great loss of life
The worst hurricanes known In the Pacific .
visit the waters between the Nayigators
and Tonga Islands during the winter months
Accompanied by the American consul to Samoa
We went to Pago Pago. where the U. s. govern
ment has a reservation for O coaling station. It
Is said to be the finest harbor in the Pacific. and
from my observation should Judge the report
was correct. The harbor In shape resembles
very much chemists retort, and the surroundz
Ing land Ia about LOO feet high. The average
depth Of water is 20 fathoms, and the harbor Is
large enough to elbow our whole navy to lie
there at once. The natives at Page Pago are
the most generous of all the natives that hasc
vet seen. They ell insisteG on giving you any
thing that they had and asked nothing IN g
turn. They were. however, well recompenee6
for none of us would be outdone In genoroe1tH
by a lot Of sayages. After we left the consa
at Apia. we finally took our departure May 18th
from the Nayigators Island. and. after tedious
passage. on account OF light or contrary winds.
of twenty days. we arrived ut this lovely little