360 THE MARAE. 



which broke in masses of spray upon their summits, and then fell 

 over in graceful arches, glittering- in the sunlight with a thousand 

 brilliant colours : within this barrier the water was perfectly calm 

 and undisturbed ; canoes were shooting backwards and forwards ; 

 fishermen were plying their labours ; and groups of naked children 

 were swimming and splashing about with as much ease and agility 

 as if the sea were their natural element. 



The island itself seemed an abode " fit for the gods," or for men 

 in the golden age : the shore was bold and rocky, but clothed with 

 vegetation down to the water's edge; many of the trees and shrubs 

 dipping their branches into the waves, giving a softness and a finish 

 to the outline : verdant glens and spreading vallies were seen ex- 

 tending far away into the interior, spotted here and there by the huts 

 of the inhabitants, and overshadowed by the luxuriant foliage of the 

 pandanus and the bread-fruit ; whilst in the background were lofty 

 mountains, clad in the magnificent vegetable productions of tropical 

 regions. 



The whole formed a scene of beauty and of domestic activity 

 inexpressibly touching; and as I quitted the vessel and placed 

 myself in a canoe, 1 involuntarily exclaimed: 



" Eternal Spring, with smiling verdure here, 

 Warms the mild air, and crowns the youthful year." 



On landing, my delight was increased by a closer view of 

 every thing around me : the place where I disembarked was a 

 sheltered cove, rendered absolutely gloomy by a gigantic growth of 

 cocoa and bi trees ; the latter loaded with bunches of the most 

 tempting fruit, intermixed with the brilliant apples of the jambo. 

 A crowd of natives and several of the missionaries welcomed us on 

 shore. 



Several weeks had passed in rambling at will through the islands 

 in my neighbourhood passionately fond of indulging in solitary 

 musings amidst the beauties which the Creator has so plentifully 

 scattered over the earth, but which seemed here to be concentrated 

 so as to form a perfect paradise. I sometimes passed whole days far 

 away from the inhabited parts of the country. There was plenty of 

 scope for my wanderings, and I enjoyed a feeling of independent 

 existence which I had rarely experienced. 



I scaled the loftiest mountains, and looked over the expanse of 

 ocean, studded thickly with " emerald isles," with their belts of rock 

 and foam : canoes like specks were gliding from point to point, and 

 nothing was seen of man that could disturb the harmony and beauti- 

 ful repose of the panorama. 



One day, whilst resting in indolent listlessness in a wooded soli- 

 tude, I was startled by the sound of a multitude of voices, rising some 

 distance on the left. A cane-brake and a forest of underwood 

 prevented me from seeing what could be the circumstances giving 

 rise to an uproar so unusual, as the people, though they quarrelled 

 often enough, rarely fought in factions like the Irish, generally 

 contenting themselves with a few hard blows and hearty falls, and 



