peete Feast on that Occasion-Rites formerly used on laying the Foundation-stones of Maraes and royal Residences-Unset- tled State of the Government of Tahiti-Houses tabued-A Tradition-An Earthquake-Names and Abode of first native Converts-Punishment for drinking Ava-Captain Riggs-His Escape-Ferocity of Marquesans-Winter-temperature of Ta- hiti-Birth-day of young Pomare... Russian Captain Lazaroff-Decision on a difficult Point of Tahitian Law-Impostures of ancient Priests-Basaltic Formation- Mountain-peak of Arofena--Magnificent Scenery-Valley of Arofena-A perilous Feat-Visit to Papara-Presents of Native Articles-The Fara-tree-First Parents of South Sea Islanders, according to Tradition-Opening of a Chapel-Fare na Atua, or The Deputation at Eimeo-Discontents in Tahiti-A Cow Slaugh- tered at Eimeo-Roby's Place-Style of Ancient Kings-Me- ridian Rainbow-Old Superstitions-The Deputation sail for the Pearl Islands Chapel at Raivavai-Taro-grounds--Chapel open- Voyage to the Pearl Islands postponed, and the Deputation return to Eimeo and Tahiti-Parliament of the Windward Islands-Dis- cussion and Adoption of the revised Code of Laws-Russian Ships under Captain Kotzebue visit Tahiti-Transportation of a House-Important Question respecting Rights of the Royal Fam- 178 The Deputation take a final Leave of Tahiti, and proceed by Eimeo for New South Wales, touching at Huahine, Tahaa, and Rai- atea-Anecdotes, and a remarkable native Prophecy-Tides in the Pacific Ocean-An odd Incident in Fishing-A perilous Ad- venture-Borabora-Summary of Observations on the State of the Missions in the South Sea Islands, by the Deputation..... 223 A Dead Calm-The Harvey Islands-Two Native Missionaries left there Their Labors and Success-The Deputation land at Atui-Christianity on that Island-Extraordinary Preservation of Five Christian Natives-Rarotonga-Reflections--Affecting Account of Oli and Mydo, the two first Converts to Christianity Coast-scenery of New Zealand-Approach and Appearance of the Natives Their Canoes-Their ferocious Conduct, and the peril- ous situation of the Deputation and the Crew, while the Ship was in Possession of the Savages-Deliverance from Captivity and Death by the Chief George, and the Wesleyan Missionary, Mr. White-Visit to the Wesleyan Station--Remarkable Cure of a diseased Native, with his own Description of it-Sail from Town of Sydney-Comfort-Interchange of Kindness with good Men-British Convicts-Visit to Parramatta-Joyful Feelings on the Reception and Perusal of many Letters from Friends in Eng- land-Sir Thomas Brisbane-Factory for Female Convicts-Mr. Cunningham, the Botanist--Nettle-tree-Native Population of New Holland-Excursion from Parramatta-Black Ants-Wild Native Animals-Orphan School--Kissing Point-Conversion of the New Hollanders-Methods of Civilization-Customs and Visit to Parramatta-Sir Thomas Brisbane-Barbarous Remark of a Settler respecting the Aborigines-Methodist Missionary Meet- ing-Note from Major Ovens-Effects of Rain on Vegetation- Large Serpents-Opossum Tribe-Native Dogs-Kangaroos- Pelicans, Cranes, Black Swans, &c.-Notices of the Aborigines -A Missionary Station among them determined upon-Mode of punishing a Murderer by the Natives-Interview with Wes- leyan Missionaries-Further Notices of the Aborigines--Sunday Schools at Parramatta-Macquarrie Anniversary-Missionary Stations examined-Characteristic Traits of the Natives-Reed's Mistake, a Colonial Station--A Receiver of Stolen Goods-Two Classes of Colonists-The Rev. Mr. Sheppard, from New Zea- land-Arrival of Captain Kent-New Zealand Flax-Curious Superstitions and Practices of New Hollanders-Arrival of the Brutus from the Society Isles-Narrow Escape of some of that Ship's Company at the Friendly Islands-Anecdote of horrible JOURNAL. CHAPTER XVII. Landing at the Point where Captain Cook was killed-Native Huts -The Rattle-stick Performer-Incidental Notices-Entertainment by American Captains-Coast Population-Mr. Young-Idolatry abolished in the Sandwich Islands, in 1819-Intoxication and Smoking-Native Amusements-Salt-works-Licentiousness-Irregularity of Seasons-Providential Deliverance from the Upsetting of a Whale-boat-Want of Water-Sterility of the Land-AnimalsCooking-Canoes-Various Sandwich Notices-Landing at Oahu -Introduction to Rihoriho, King of the Islands, and his CourtAmerican Missionaries. April 2. WE landed this morning near the point where captain Cook fell, and were conducted to the rock on which he stood when he received the fatal wound. It is part of the volcanic scoria which encrusts much of the surface of this section of the island, and occasionally runs out, as here, into the sea. A small native house, and some stunted cocoanut trees, are the land-marks of a spot at which the eye of every stranger who visits this coast will look with intense curiosity and interest, and of which every reader of the voyages of the great circumnavigator will have his own ideal picture; and this, however little like the reality, must be far more distinct than such creations of fancy often are, from the minute descriptions of the scene, and details of the tragic event, repeatedly given to the public by the eye-witnesses of the latter and the visitors of the former. We need not dwell on either. The bay is about three miles across in the widest, and two in the narrowest, direction. 14 THE RATTLE-STICK PERFORMER. The neighboring village consists of about sixty huts; all, except two or three, exceedingly mean, and the circumstances of the inhabitants proportionably wretched. We crept into one of these hovels, through a hole in the side, which required that we should stoop nearly double to get admittance. Though all was slovenly within, there were various articles of domestic convenience, such as calabashes, stools, mats, &c. Observing, among other things, a stick rather neatly fashioned, five feet long, and tapering to a point at each end, with a hole towards one of these, we inquired the use of it. On this, the master of the house, an old man, started up, and produced a companion-stick, something shorter, which we found was to be to it what the bow is to the fiddle. Grasping the first by the middle, he began to beat upon it with the second; while a boy, with two other corresponding sticks, did the same, to something like measured time, which the master kept with his left foot. miserably monotonous clatter of sticks, which was any thing but music, was accompanied, by both minstrels, with noises which were any thing but singing; the old man, all the while, writhing his limbs and distorting his visage in the most grossly ludicrous manner, which it would be as difficult to describe as it. will be to forget. Brutes never make themselves ridiculous; that is the peculiar prerogative of men. The former, in their strangest vagaries, act according to nature; while the latter, in trying to go beyond her, render themselves contemptible in the eyes of others, just in proportion as they excel in their own. This Proceeding along the beach, over an immense bed of lava, we arrived at a marae of great extent, now neglected, and falling into ruins. It consisted of an inclosure of rough stone walls, a hundred feet square, and six feet high, within which cocoa-nut trees are growing, and idol-images stood. Two of the latter remain on the north-east side. These are notched posts, twelve feet high, across the middle of each of which something to resemble a human face has been carved, of monstrous size and uncouth features, once regarded with awe and veneration worthy of men who could think such bugbears divinities. They affect to know better now, and profess to have renounced all their idols. To say the truth, they have done this literally; but their escape from the superstitions of their ancestors as yet amounts to no more than this-that he who formerly worshipped an idol, "which is |