16 



ETHNOGRAPHY. 



and of acquiring new possessions, is the motive of most of their wars; 

 and it has invariably been found, that after the natives of any newly 

 discovered group or island have recovered from the first emotions of 

 fear, with which they regarded their unknown visiters, their imme- 

 diate impulse has been to attack and destroy them for the purpose of 

 seizing upon their property. 



The Polynesians are not naturally treacherous. This is by no 

 means from a horror of deception, but apparently from a mere inapti- 

 tude at dissembling. Their wars are rarely carried 9n like those of 

 our Indians, by surprises and ambushments, but by fair fighting in 

 open fields. If they have sometimes resorted to treachery, in their 

 attacks upon vessels, it is only when they have learned by experience 

 the utter inefficiency of their ordinary mode of warfare when opposed 

 to the weapons of the whites. And in almost every case where ships 

 have been cut off, it is worthy of remark, that those on board have, in 

 some way or other, either by direct disclosure, or from the bearing 

 and conduct of the natives, had previous warning of their intention. 

 They seem nearly incapable of keeping a secret. The perpetrator of 

 a crime is almost certain to be discovered by his own indiscretion and 

 inability to keep silent about it ; political conspiracies are divulged 

 almost as soon as formed, not through treachery but heedlessness. 

 When their usual air of frankness and gaiety is suddenly succeeded 

 by an access of ferocity, we are not to conclude, in most cases, that 

 the former was assumed to conceal the latter ; each exhibition of feel- 

 ing is natural to them, and not less so is the rapid transition from one 

 to the other. 



But of all the qualities that distinguish this race, there is none 

 which exerts a more powerful influence than their superstition, or, 

 perhaps, it would be more just to say, their strong religious feeling. 

 When we compare them with the natives of Australia, who, though 

 not altogether without the idea of a God, hardly allow this idea to in- 

 fluence their conduct, we are especially struck with the earnest devo- 

 tional tendencies of this people, among whom the whole system of 

 public polity, and the regulation of their daily actions, have reference 

 to the supposed sanction of a supernatural power; who not only have 

 a pantheon surpassing, in the number of divinities and the variety of 

 their attributes, those of India and Greece, but to whom every striking 

 natural phenomenon, every appearance calculated to inspire wonder 

 and fear, nay, often the most minute, harmless, arid insignificant 

 objects, seem invested with supernatural attributes, and worthy of 



