.Much rojd good effected by missionaries ijnt\i,iTii rnnnD The natives induced to visit The ihipf. nn 

 Native missionary.— Dress «f awlvcs. 1 A u < * lu 1 u t,KUUr - Ceremony of jircwnU. 



welcome. We wore not long at a loss as to what 

 to ascribe it : the missionary had been at work 

 ii'-rv, and his exertions hail been based upon a firm 

 foundation; tli« savage had boon changed to a rea- 

 sonable creature. Among tho inhabitants was a 

 11 :i live missionary, who bad been instrumental in 

 this work. If the missionaries had effected nothing 

 else, they would deserve the thanks of all those 

 «ho ro3in over ibis wide expanse of ocean, and 

 incur its nuuiy uuknown and hidden dangers. 

 Here all shipwrecked mariners would be euro of 

 kind treatment, and a share uf the few comforts 

 these people possess. .No savage mistrust and fear 

 were seen here. The women and children come 

 ftbotri us, receiving our trifles. They shelved much 

 joy and curiosity at the sight of us, and were eager 

 to supply our wonts. 



I was particularly struck with the modest and 

 <juiet Is-haviour of the native missionary, who was 

 a Tahitinn, He kept himself aloof, whilst all the 

 others were crowding round to partake in the pre- 

 sents we were distributing, and seemed mucli gra- 

 tified and astonished when I selected htm out as 

 tin recipient of a present similar to the one 1 bad 

 given the chief. 



All the males' heads were shaven, somewhat 

 after the fashion of a Dominican friar. This prac- 

 tice is said tn have been adopted by the missionaries 

 at Tahiti, for the sake of cleanliness, and also to dis- 

 tinguish the Christian from the heathen party. The 

 women have theirs cut close, and some are clothed 

 in a pareu, consisting of three or four yards of cot- 

 ton, others in a loose gown. They were any tiling 

 hut good-looking | but the men were tall and well 

 mode. The variety of apparel was droll enough. 

 As for the children, I have seldom seen finer; all 

 wore well formed, and as cheerful as they could be. 

 They were for the most part naked. 



This was the first island on which we observed 

 the downing of Chrbthnity and civilization. The 

 native missionaries, although they are yet ignorant 

 of most of the duties enjoined upon a Christian, 

 still do much good in preparing the way. Many 

 learn to read, and some even to write, under their 

 tuition ; yet they have many impediments thrown 

 in the way of their efforts by the introduction 

 ef spirits by the whites. The old chief, and others, 

 are much addicted to the use of it, and the vessels 

 resorting here for the pearl-fishery generally em- 

 ploy native divers, and pay them for the most part 

 in rum or whiskey. We found here on Englishman 

 who had belonged to a schooner engaged in the 

 jiearl-lishery. lie told me he had been left there 

 sick by his captain, and had been kindly treatod 

 during his stay of three mouths on the island. 1 

 was in hopes of obtaining some information from 

 hint, but be knew littlo or nothing of the language, 

 and was, morever, a stupid fellow. I gave liiiu a 

 passage to Tahiti, whither ho was desirous of 

 going, in the tender. 



Having some business on board, I invited the 

 chief to go oft' with me : he first inquired if all the 

 boat* and men were to stay ; on my telling him 

 tin y were not, he said he would go on board if I 

 would also take his wife and her brother ; to which 

 I consented. 



The chief had lost one hand, which he informed 

 me had been bitten off by a shark whilst employed 

 in diving for shells. We became great friends, 

 and he thought it uccesaary to be at my side the 



whole time. He was an odd old man, and proved 

 before wo left him that he had become acquainted 

 with some of the vices of civilization. 



We all embarked, soou reached the tender, and 

 bore away for the ship, some three or four miles 

 distant. The old one-handed chief now came up 

 to me in a very mysterious manner, and untying a 

 knot in the tail of his shirt, (which was the only 

 garment he wore besides his maro,) with no small 

 dilficulty, with one hand and his teeth, drew from 

 it a small dirty piece uf linen, tied up as a bag; this 

 he produced with great furm, and evidently ex- 

 pected to astonish inc. The contents proved to be 

 a few small discoloured pearls ; these be begged 

 me to accept, but 1 declined to receive them. We 

 now reached the sliip, and I ordered every thing 

 to be shown them. Their surpriso was very 

 great. 



The natives were much amused with the ship, 

 and surprised at the number of men ou board. 

 Many small presents were given them. When they 

 were about taking their departure, the old chief 

 complained of being i|uile sick, and his whole air 

 and manner showed tliat he was much dissatisfied. 

 The reason could not be imagined. The vessel 

 bad so little motion, it was thought it could not 

 originate from sea-sickness. 1 therefore told the 

 interpreter to inquire of him what was the matter. 

 No answer was given for some time, but they con- 

 sulted much among themselves in a low tone. The 

 question was repeated, when the old chiefs wife 

 answered, "that I had not returned (he present 

 that bad been offered me, and that the chief 

 was not pleased ; for, according to their customs, 

 the ottering a present to me entitled htm to receive 

 one in return.'* As very many gifts liad been 

 made him already, this amused mo nut a little. On 

 asking what it was they wonted, they at once sig- 

 nified whiskey, which they said was always given 

 them when they went on board ship ; and tho 

 chief wanted some, for he was very sick. I ac- 

 cordingly ordered a bottle of water with a gill of 



1 whiskey in it to be given them, and the moment 

 they smelt it their manner was changed ; they 



. became all animation, and left the Bhip in great 

 good humour. The brother was an intelligent 

 native ; he drew for me with a piece of chalk, on 

 the deck, with considerable accuracy, all the islands 

 he was acquainted with, giving their relative situa- 

 tions and the native names ; — that of the island 

 wo had seen the day before, as Tai-a-ra, and the 

 one to which I had given the name of Vmcennes 

 Island, as Kawnhe. He informed me of three 

 small islands to the southward of Sacken, which 

 were afterwards found by the V orpoise, during the 

 cruise to this group on winch I sent her in 1H4<) ; 

 his knowledge of tho western part of this group 

 was quite surprising. I place the entrance to the 

 logoon of Karaka hi longitude 144" 07' 40' W., 

 latitude ltf" C 25" S. 



The entrance is on the north side of the island, 

 about one-third of its length from the western end. 

 It is a narrow passage, but will admit a small 

 vessel. Tho current runs very strong out of tho 

 lagoon, so much so, that a boat cannot be pulled 

 against it. The water in the entrance is from five 

 to eight fathoms deep, but there is no advantage in 

 entering, as the reef is quite as steep within. A 

 small vessel may anchor on the outside, in ten 

 fathoms, close to the shore. Tins island is nearly 



