retirement of their own villages have a natural
ease and elegance of manner, which they soon
lose after their introduction to our rough
sailors. I have seen a party of very handsome
girls, just landing from one of the whalers,
their beautiful forms hid under old greasy
red or checked shirts, generally put on with
the hind parts before. In some cases the
sailors, knowing their taste for finery, bring
out with them, from London, old tawdry
gowns, and fierce coloured ribands. And
thus equipped, they come on shore the most
grotesque objects imaginable, each highly delighted
with her gaudy habiliments.
Kororadika beach, where we took up our
residence, seemed the general place of rendezvous
for all Europeans whom chance might
bring into this bay. At this time there were
two large vessels lying at anchor within a
quarter of a mile of the shore, and I was informed
there were sometimes as many as
twelve or thirteen.
The spot is a most delightful one, being
about three quarters of a mile in extent, sheltered
by two picturesque promontories, and
possessing a fine circular, firm, sandy beach,
on which there is seldom much surf, so that
boats can at all times land and haul up. Scattered
amongst the rushes and small bushes is
seen a New Zealand village, which at first
landing is scarcely perceptible, the huts being
so low. Some of them are of English design,
though of native workmanship. These are
generally the dwellings of some Europeans,
who are of so doubtful a character that it
would be difficult to guess to what order of
society they belonged previous to their being
transplanted amongst these savages.
I found a respectable body of Scotch mechanics
settled here, who came out in the
New Zealand Company’s ship “ Rosanna,”
and who determined to remain at Kororadika.
Their persevering industry as yet has been
crowned with success, and they seem well
pleased with the prospects before them.
Here, these hardy sons of Britain are employed
in both carrying on, and instructing the
wondering savage in various branches of useful
art. Here the smith has erected his forge,
and his sooty mansion is crowded by curious
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