NIUE, OB SAVAGE ISLAND. 17 



CHAPTEE 11. 



NIUE, OB SAVAGE ISLAND. 



(June 29.) 



Raoul Island — Off Niue — Tiger Sharks — The Missionary — Excursion in the 

 Island — Familiarity of the Natives — General Aspect of the Island — Its Pro- 

 ductions — Animals — Population — South American Slave Dealers — Police- 

 men — Costumes — Language — Manners and Customs — Past and present 

 Character of the Natives— Contradictory Statements. 



On June 13, before nightfall, we weighed anchor with the 

 intention of shaping our course towards Mue Island. For 

 several days albatrosses, Cape pigeons, and other birds, 

 followed in our wake. At first we had head winds and 

 rain, followed by calms, which obliged us to get up steam. 

 In the evening of the 1 5th we were all thrown into con- 

 fusion by the captain of the main-top contriving to let 

 himself fall from the main -topsail-yard on the larboard gang- 

 way ; his fall having been fortunately checked by his coming 

 into contact with several parts of the rigging, he got off for 

 a sharp contusion on liis spine, from which he recovered in a 

 few days. 



On the 23rd, about seven o'clock in the morning, we 

 sighted Eaoul or Sunday Island, the most northern of the 

 Kermadec group. The land is high, its greatest point of 

 elevation reaching and perhaps exceeding 1,600 feet. Its 



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