C H A P .
VII.
.Tail.
1S26.
In the 'forenoon of the following day several white tern, noddies,
and black gnlls came about us, and gradually increased in numbers as we
proceeded on our course. A few hours afterwards Lord Hood’s Island
was reported from aloft. On nearing it, we found it to consist of an
assemblage of small islets, rising from a chain of coral, even with, or a
little above, the water’s edge. Upon these grew a variety of evergreen
trees thickly intertwined, among which the broad, leaves and clusters
of fruit of the pandanus were conspicuous, and beneath them a matted
surface of moss and grass, so luxuriant and invitingly cool, that we were
almost tempted to land at any risk. The sea, however, broke so
heavily upon all parts of the shore that the attempt would have been
highly dangerous, and we consequently collected all the information
that was required, and hastened our departure. Krusenstern states
in his “ Memoire snr la Pacifique,” that this island is inhabited: such
must undoubtedly have been the case once, as we saw a square stone
hut, similar to those described at Crescent Island, on one of its angles ;
but there are no human beings upon it at present, which indeed we
conjectured to be the case before our boats made the circuit of it,
from the number of sea birds in its vicinity, and also from the shoals of
sharks which followed the boats, and even bit at the oars; for these
animals, like most others, seem to have learned by experience to avoid
the haunts of man. The only living thing seen upon the shore was a
grey heron gorging itself with black star-fish.
Lord Hood’s Island was discovered by Mr. Wilson in the Missionary
ship Duff; it is 11-2 miles in length, and 4-7 miles in width, in
a north and south direction; and like almost all the coral islands it
contains a lagoon, and is steep on all its sides.
After quitting it, we looked in vain, the next day, for an island
which Mr. YVilson supposed he saw; but not finding it in or near the
situation assigned, and he being himself doubtful whether it might
not have been a cloud, I did not bestow longer time in the search,
but steered for the island of Clermont Tonnere, which was seen on
the 18th. I'his island bears a very close resemblance to Hoods
Island, but was inhabited, and clothed with cocoa-nut trees. The
sea broke so heavily upon all parts of the shore that there was
no possibility of landing in our boats; yet the natives put oft in
their canoes and paddled to us. They were a very inferior race to
those of the Gambier Islands, and seemed more nearly allied in leature
to those of Mangea and New Caledonia; yet here also there was among
them a great diversity of complexion. In one of the canoes was a man
nearly as dark as an African negro, with woolly hair, tied in a knot like
the Eadackers; and another with a light complexion, sandy hair, and
European features.
About forty of the natives came down to the beach when we
approached it, with bunches of feathers and leaves fastened upon sticks,
and with bludgeons in their hands. Both sexes were naked with the
exception of their maros, and without any ornaments or tattooing.
Iron, which they call “ toki,” was the most marketable article, but the
surf was so high that there was very little communication with them.
The men, who came off to us in their canoes, would not suffer our
boats to approach them. After having made a number of presents to
one of them, we thought we might at least examine his canoe ; but he
and his comrade paddled away with the greatest precipitation, and
were so terrified at the approach of the boat that they jumped overboard
and swam towards the shore.
The canoe was constructed with small pieces of wood well put
together and sewed with the bark of a tree, and, like all the single
canoes of Polynesia, was provided with an outrigger. She carried two
men, but was propelled almost entirely by one, the other being fully
occupied in throwing out the water, which came in plentifully at both
sides and over tlie stern. Could they have avoided this and applied
the efforts of both to the paddles, her rapidity would have surpassed
that of our boat; but as it was she was soon overtaken. The annexed
sketch executed by Mr. Smyth is a faithful representation of a canoe of
this kind. After the one in question had been examined, the men
swam to her, and got in, one at a time, at the stern, and paddled ashore.
The dialect of the people of Clermont Tonnere was quite different
from that of the Gambier Islanders, though, from a few words which we
distinguished, there is no doubt of the language being radically the
Jan.
1826.
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