His CAPTORS. 37 



Landing through the Surf. Characteristics of the People. 



Eager to know something more of a people 

 from whom came so cordial an aloha, and 



My very heart athirst 

 To look on Nature in her robe of green, 



I made ready to go ashore. The breakers were 

 not formidable enough, though beating with 

 fearful violence, to make me forego the novelty 

 of setting foot on a coral South Pacific island, 

 and the pleasure of a stroll among the trees 

 after seven weeks at sea. Taking, therefore, 

 a life-preserver, I ventured into one of the little 

 canoes that came alongside the boat, and was 

 paddled and handed by a narrow cleft, through 

 roaring breakers and ragged rocks that threat- 

 ened instant destruction, among which a com- 

 mon boat could hardly live a moment. Those 

 frail canoes, however, only nine and eleven feet 

 long, carried safely through, one by one, all that 

 ventured ashore. 



Immediately on our landing, the natives 

 gathered around and formed a ring, naturally 

 curious, like savages every where, to notice 

 every thing, and I not less so to observe their 

 own eager attitudes, expressive gestures, and 

 fine looks. The women have an uncommonly 

 pleasing aspect of countenance, clear skin, but 



