TO THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS. l3,f> 



geled, until, with his snout smarting and bleeding, he is fain to retreat 

 before his persevering and pitiless little foes. 



I have never witnessed this sort of contest, but have so often heard 

 it described, both by the foreign residents and missionaries, that, prob- 

 lematical as it may appear, I have perfect confidence in its truth. 



After my return to the North American coast, I spent nearly two 

 yeais travelling in Oregon, for the purpose of studying its Natural his- 

 tory, and collecting specimens ; and, about the middle of December, 

 1836, again visited the Sandwich Islands on my return to the United 

 States. I was gratified to find all my old friends living and unchanged. 

 They received me with their wonted kindness, and during the three 

 months that 1 remained, their civilities and attentions to me never flag- 

 ged. 



I take great pleasure in embracing every fitting opportunity of ex- 

 pressing my great obligations to the resident merchants and missionaries 

 of these islands, for the unvarying politeness and hospitality which I 

 experienced at their hands. 



One of the most important public events which occurred during this 

 visit, was the death of the amiable native Princess, IlarieUa JS'ahieuae- 

 na, sister of the King. Loud wailing and lamentation was heard in ev- 

 ery part of the island during several days and nights after the occurrence 

 of this sad event. On the afternoon succeeding her death, I walked to 

 the King's palace to see the mourners who were collected there. The 

 large enclosed space surrounding the house was crowded with natives 

 of both sexes, to the number of perhaps a thousand, all weeping in their 

 loudest key. Young, active men and women, and the old and decrepit, 

 who had just strength enough to crawl to the scene of action. Chiefs 

 and common people, public functionaries and beggars, all were mingled 

 in one common herd, bewailing in chorus their common loss. Then 

 commenced the most disgusting part of the mourning ceremonies. A 

 number of men and women, and even some little boj's and girls, laid 

 themselves upon their backs on the ground, and a man approached them 

 with a small ivory wedge and a large oval stone in his hand. He com- 

 menced his operations upon the first of the victims, who was a fine 

 looking young man, by placing the wedge between two of his front 

 teeth, and striking it a hard and quick blow with the stone. This loos- 

 ened it effectually ; then by inserting the wedge upon the opposite side, 

 and giving another similar blow, out flew the tooth in an instant. Jn 

 this manner, every person who was lying there, lost some two, others 

 three of his front teeth, and during the whole time the crying was not 

 suspended for an instant. These ceremonies were continued for the 



