THE NEGRILLO RACE. 



171 



his features more particularly. The forehead was remarkably re- 

 treating, with a horizontal sulcus or furrow, and the lower part of the 

 face was very prominent ; the lips were thick ; the nose, hardly as 

 broad as in the Negro, and the eyes, though small and deeply sunk, 

 were very lively; the cheeks were thin, and the limbs slender, with 

 the calf of the leff high. Notwithstanding his orange features, the 

 countenance was very pleasing, and he seemed unusually active and 

 intelligent. Having been brought away when a child, he had for- 

 gotten every word of his native language. It was reported of him, 

 that at night, instead of seeking like his companions, the protection of 

 houses, he resorted "to the sea-shore, and buried himself in the sand." 



Captain Vanderford once visited Aramanga; and in circumnaviga- 

 ting it, "attempted at various points to open communication with the 

 natives; but he could get nothing from them, except a spear or a 

 stone. They were the most singular-looking people he ever beheld ; 

 and appeared to him rather like monkeys than men." The last ex- 

 pression, will be found to be nearly identical with the terms used by 

 Forster, in speaking of another island of the same group. 



While the Squadron was at Sydney, news arrived, that the Rev. 

 John Williams had been killed by the natives of Aramanga. The fol- 

 lowing particulars were communicated by Mr. Cunningham, who was 

 present on the occasion. "The party first landed on Tamia, an i.sland 

 in a high state of cultivation ; where they were received in a friendly 

 manner : the inhabitants spoke a language much like that of the 

 Hervey Islanders, so that the missionaries were enabled to make 

 themselves understood." 



" After leaving some of the Samoan assistants, the missionaries 

 next proceeded to Aramanga; which, although at so short a distance, 

 proved to be uncultivated and barren. It was also inhabited by a dif- 

 ferent race of men; who were black, and had woolly hair; and whose 

 language they were totally unable to comprehend. The natives 

 seemed suspicious from the beginning, but made no hostile demon- 

 strations; and the missionaries," who, it should be observed, had 

 been accustomed to the habits of the Polynesians, " landed, and 

 amused themselves with picking up shells and pebbles along the 

 beach. They had strolled some distance from the boat, before the 

 attack commenced ; which, although apparently not preconcerted, 

 soon became general, with arrows, spears, and stones." 



Forster expresses himself as having been much surprised at the 



