The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-01-20

charge of musketry which the ignorant{ p creatures
had loaded with ball and IN firing pointed the guns
towards the boats. The crews were thus fired on
several times and when the Julia came along they
gave her a regular brOadSide. Happily no damage
was did more than frightening the people that 1
had on board l succeeded IN getting two passen-
gers, Notwithstanding the bad reception, one of
them speaking good English and who appeared
most anxious TO get away from his friends. We
came TO anchor on the west side. and the next
morning L Eot Nhat water We wanted and then
sailed TO work the north shore. At 8 %. m. came
to again but found no more people that wanted to
go away. The nam range of mountains on this
island Is about I.5oO feet high ranging in an east
and west direction, the island is nearly square and
Is about nfte6n miles long from north TO south
and nearly IS much from east 10 west. The land
slopes toward the sea, except at the Sc and NV
ends where it falls in ridges. 1 saw but few large
trees, the cocoanut being the most prominent. The
island generally has not the fresh appearance of
those of the New Hebrides. nor do / think Thai
1t Is as fertile, though the products are the
same. At this season of the year there is nothing
but a few cOcoanutS and q little taro, of an ex-
celleut quality to be had. The natives are of the
same race OF people as the New Hebrides, and,
except on the southwest side where they are noisy
and quarrelsome and treacherous), we found them
peaceable and friendly, showing plainly that they
have been under the good training and influence
of the noble and hard working band of mission
aries, who may well feel proud of the good work
the other islands of the group.
As there were no more people at Santa Maria
who desired TO go away, l made sail for Nanu Lava
where We arrived October 30th, and came to anchor.
This island Is the largest OF the group, and lies in
a north and south direction, Is about ~ miles long
by II miles wide II has four or i've high noun
tains, the highest being at the southwark end, and
is about $500 #. above the sea. The land in appear
ance and productYeness Is the same as Santa
Maria. The natives are of the same race and color,
but much better featured than those of the New
Hebrides, and for their kind are peaceable, quiet,
and polite they never forget to say Z" thank you
for anything that is given to them. The island is
well watered, there being two or three waterfalls
on the southwest side, one of the falls being a
most beautiful sight, spreading at the leap to
about ten feet, and falling a distance of over one
hnndrlH feet into tho Cnn Iharn - fun nr -
harbors and good roadsteads at this island. OBJ
tanned one man, and as l saw no prospect of
more, sailed for Ureparapara, or Bligh Island. This
island lies i'll a northwest direction from Vanau
IaYau. 1t was formerly n volcano and is remark
aoie as an extinct crater. III was Formerly round,
but is now IN the shape of a horse shoe, the change
in form having been caused by the caving IN of the
east side. The remaining sides are steep, and there
appears to be deep water Ill the basin. The time l
visited it there was a very heavy swell setting in,
though the wind was light and had been for sew
eral days. l do not think it would be a safe place
to go into, even with the wind from the west, as
there are several coral patches in it. The land is
we'll populated and under a good state of %cultiva-
ton, and 1t produces yams, taro, and some fruit.
The island is about 800 feet high and II miles
around. The natives are friendly and well-behaved
showing the good effect of missionary influence.
AS we found no one here who wanted to go away,
and as l did not think it worth while to try the
other islands of this group (there are six or
seven of them, all more or less populated and as
the cruise in the New Hebrides and Banks Islands
was finished, the prov of the Julia was turned
~homewards.
In connection with the characteristics of the
islands visited, l might say the people of both
groups are excellent farmers and bestow a great
deal of care on the land they cultivate. They
have no Instruments but a piece of wood, pointed,
with which they dig and plant. The land that is
cultivated is kept clear of grass and weeds show
ing great care and industry. The natives of both
groups, except where the missionaries are sta
toned, live in a perfect state of nudity and live in
miserable hatitations, often but a shed, which to
enter they must crawl on their hands and knees.
They have no religious belief, but are supersti-
tious in the extreme, believing in omens of good
and evil and an old humbug of a medicine man
and like the Africans believe in Fetichism. Nor
have they any marriage ceremony but buy
and sell their women, the more energetic the man
the more wealthy, ana the more wives he has,
virtue or chastity Is unknown among them. There
is as near as | could learn about three men to one
woman on an average through the group; on some
of the islands the disparity i'll the sexes is much
greater L believe. The men are never seen without
their guns. tomahawks or what Is worse their
bows and poisoned arrows. In their own country
board of a ship when handled rightly they become
peaceable, quiet and apparently well disposed to
each other. An instance was related to me where
the recruits have risen and taken the ship, viz
the brig Isabel, of Marlborough. / got the particu-
lars from the then captain. 1t seemed that in his
absence the immigrants rose and murdered all
hands, pIundered and then set fire to the brig and
made their escape with assistance from the shore.
November 2nd kept away to the north to call at
any island that may lie in or near our course. The
wind was light and variable until the 9Th, when it
fell calm with the island of Tucopia in sight bear
ing north by compass, distant about B miles. Sent
the boats in to prospect while they were away the
natives of the island came off in their canoes,
which are of a good and serviceable model. The
natives are of the Polynesian race, and are a fine
athletic looking people, averaging 6 feet in height,
with good features, light compilations and limbs
like giadiators. They mar their good looks by eat
ing the betel nut, which blackens their teeth.
They wear their hair long and use lime on it, max
ing it a blond. The female portion of the commu-
nifty wear their hair quite short and use but little
lime on it. The clothing they wear, if l may call
it by that name, is a kind of cloth made from the
bark of a tree and called tdpd. They wrap it about
their loins and then consider themselves dressed.
There are about three hundred inhabitants on the
island, and they are governed by four chiefs, who
have much influence over them they are easily
governed and have no wars. l asked a man If they
did not fight sometimes he replied by asking me
with much establishment expressed in his face,
a What for fight ?' There are many young men
and women who would have come with us, but the
chief would not let them. The reason was, he said,
a ship had taken about thirty of his people away
some years before and had never brought one back.
We learned from the natives that two years ago
a canoe with twelve people, six men, five women
and one child, a female, landed on the island in a
most pitiable condition. They were kindly re-
ceived, and are now living as the people do. We
interviewed them and found that they were from
Apemama Gilbert Islands, and were blown of
while trying to go to Kuria, an island of the same
group about % miles off, and drifted to this place,
a distance of about $50 miles. They are well used,
but would like to go home again the people, how
ever, are much attached to them and would not let
them go. The highest peak on Tucopea is about
LOO feet, and can be seen about % or 30 miles IN
clear weather. Tucopea lies in a n. W.. and S. Z.
direction, and is about six miles long and one to
three miles wide, with a moderately good anchor
age and no hidden dangers around. There are nc
1NSAS - 80 80 ACANH CAA SOANA 49, -
are no supplies to be had here. At 2 p. m. on this
date 9th got a light wind from the south and
soon sailed out of sight of the island, bound north
Passed close to the island of Arari, Nov. &c.
This island runs nearly east and west, is about !
miles IN length by about one mile IN width and fol-
the area of land is density populated. The mis-
sionary influence is predominant and with the
usual beneficial effects noticeable. Arrived off the
island of Tamana on the 18th, sent boats in and
obtained a supply of cocoanuts and hogs. This
island is about 3 miles long by two miles wide, was
told that the population numbered abot 300, the
sexes about equal in number. The climate is
healthy although the island lies within the Torrjd
Zone. Here we experienced the first of the north
east trades and we were we'll pleased at their ad-
vent, having experienced only calms and variable
winds during a month past. Laid our course fol
Jaluit, where l desired to obtain water. On the
morning of the Both Nov. sighted Onoatao, and il
the afternoon sighted Tapituea.
Crossed the Equator Dec. LIST, at 4 P. NJ, in lon
gitude 173 50 east. Weather pleasant, sea smooth
northeast trades. Arrived at Jal1it Dec. 4h and
after obtaining necessary supplies, started again
for Honolulu on Dec 9th at 6 P. NJ. While at jail
nit 1 learned that the American Missionary brig
Morning star, Capt. Isaiah Bray, had left there