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(Hippa.or Clace of retreat in New Tealand. & a War Cance.

Published by hie & Dent

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high; the ornament at the stern was fixed upon that end, as the stern-post of a ship is upon her keel, and was about fourteen feet high, two feet broad, and an inch and an half thick. They both consisted of boards of carved work, of which the design was much better than the execution.

The paddles are small, light, and neatly made; the blade is of an oval shape, or rather of a shape resembling a large leaf, pointed at the bottom, broadest in the middle, and gradually losing itself in the shaft; the whole length being about six feet, of which the shaft or loom, including the handle, is four, and the blade two. By help of these oars they push on their boats with amazing velocity.

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Having called again at Tongataboo, captain Wilson proceeded on his voyage on the 7th of September. About nine o'clock on the 13th, the ship struck upon a coral rock. All hands were upon deck in an instant,' says the writer, and, as she stuck fast, became under great apprehensions of being shipwrecked; a misfortune which presented itself with a thousand frightful ideas. We knew that the Feejees were cannibals of a fierce disposition, and who had never had the least intercourse with any voyagers; consequently we could expect no favour from such. Imagination, quick and fertile on such occasions, figured them dancing round us, while we were roasting on large fires. However, it was no time to indulge thoughts of this kind, but to try what could be done to save the ship. Judging it to be a weather reef we were on, the moment she struck the sails were hove aback, and in five or six minutes we beheld with joy that she came astern, and shortly after was quite afloat; when we were again delivered from our fears, and found the ship, which had kept upright the whole time, seemed to have received no injury."

On the 25th they discovered several islands which were called Duff's group. The natives appeared stout and well made, and their houses built close, which indicated some degree of civilization. On the 29th they passed near New Georgia, where a few canoes came alongside from a small island, and Tucker and Connelly were discovered swimming near the stem with a view of escaping, which the captain per

mitted, being desirous to get clear of them. After this they sailed past the Carolinas, and on the 5th of November, approached the Pelew islands. Many of the islanders came on board and were clamorous for the ship to come to an anchor; but as no safe anchorage could be discovered, the ship was kept under way. The natives, says our author, are in our opinion, inferior in external appearance to the Marquesans, the Society or Friendly islanders; they have not the stature and symmetry of the two first, and fall far short of the muscular, bold, and manly look of the latter. They approach the nearest to their neighbours, the Carolinians; for, like them, they are neither a stout nor handsome race. Among some customs which they seem to have in common at both places, is that of slitting the ear, through which some of them put vegetable ornaments, at least an inch thick. In tatooing at Pelew, their legs and thighs appear as if they had been dipped in a dye of blueish black, the same as at the Carolinas; but they mark their bodies also with figures, like fingers, or gloves. They appeared before us quite naked, without seeming conscious of shame, and shewed their kindness and hospitality by the earnest invitations they gave us to visit their habitations. Captain Wilson on leaving this group, steered north-west to the Bashees, leaving the Philippine islands on the west.

Of this interesting group, the isle of Luzon, or Luconia, is the chief. The capital is Manilla, which is built upon the shore of the bay which bears its name, and which is more than twenty-five leagues in circumference, lies at the mouth of a river that is navigable as far as the lake from which it derives its source, and is as delightfully situated as any place in the world. All the necessaries of life are to be procured there in the greatest abundance, and at an excellent market; but the cloths, manufactures, and furniture of Europe bear an excessive price. The want of emulation, together with prohibitions, and every species of restraint put upon commerce, render the productions and merchandise of China and India in general as dear as in Europe; and this colony, notwithstanding its receipts from the customs amounts to near 800,000

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M. Man & Woman of the Sland of Lucenia.

Published by Madonie&Dent.

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