TAREHA. 
519 
of the oysters he had just opened ; Tareha swallowed it, and 
gave another growl ; the poor fellow hastily opened another, 
which was immediately swallowed, and succeeded by a growl ; 
thus he kept opening oysters, which the other as quickly 
devoured, until the whole stock was almost consumed, when 
he was opportunely rejoiced with the sight of his returning 
comrades ; this man, many years afterwards, told me the 
tale, and said he never should forget his horror at the sight 
of that huge savage, and the sound of his fearful voice. 
In after times, when his cannibal feasts were well nigh 
terminated, and he himself pretty well advanced in years, a 
whale was announced as having been thrown up on the coast 
near his abode; the news reached him on a Saturday evening, 
and fearful lest the dainty dish should be consumed by others, 
he gave notice, as the next day was the Sabbath, he should 
go and guard it himself, that no one should have any of it 
until the Monday ; I had the curiosity to go and see the huge 
fish, I found Tareha encamped close to it, and a large 
assembly of natives a little further off, patiently waiting, I 
suppose, until the lion had taken his share, and although he 
would not allow others to partake of it during the Sabbath, 
I found he had devoured an entire fin himself, when I paid 
my visit, he was eating potatoes, and squeezing a large lump 
of blubber over them as a relish, the putrid oil quite tainting 
the air.* 
This Chief died a heathen, but his son Te Akira, who was 
also of large proportions, was afterwards baptized by the 
name of “King William.” 
* The natives were not so susceptible of smell as we are. In their savage 
state, putrid substances did not appear to be nauseous to them, but they become 
so as they are more civilized, and assimilated to us in liviug. So also, in 
their natural state, they have a peculiar odour, which is very perceptible to 
sensitive nostrils, this appears common to all, however cleanly in their habits, 
the same has been remarked of the American Indians ; and it is singular, that 
the Christians of the mediaeval ages, thought that the Infidels or Saracens had 
a similar smell, and still more, that they should have pleaded guilty to the 
charge ; and further, have entertained the same idea as the Christians, that 
it was lost by baptism.* Early travellers in the Holy Land make frequent 
mention of Saracens bringing their children to be baptized, for this wholesome 
* See Early Travellers in the Holy Land. — Bohn’s Library. 
