1817 - Nicholas, J. L. Narrative of a Voyage to New Zealand [Vol.I] - CHAPTER V

[Image of page 126]

CHAP. V.

THE camp at first sight presented a most singular appearance, and before the mind had time to reflect on the description of persons who composed it, all the grotesque combinations of barbarism arresting the eye in every direction, created ideas of surprise and astonishment. For us, it must have been an awful reflection, to find ourselves now within a few yards of a horde of armed savages, on whose hospitality or perfidiousness our lives were to depend. However,

[Image of page 127]

we remained undaunted, and were resolved to prosecute our purpose at any risk.

The moment we were perceived, one of their women made a signal to us, by holding up a red mat, and waving it in the air, while she repeatedly cried out at the same time in a loud and shrill voice, haromai, haromai, haromai, (come hither,) the customary salutation of friendship and hospitality. Though determined at all hazards to advance, we were not a little encouraged by this cheering invitation, which when once given, is invariably held sacred among them; and we were proceeding boldly, when Duaterra deemed it expedient to check our progress for a few moments. He thought it better, though assured of their good faith from the signal they had given, that himself and Shunghi should have an interview with the chiefs before we entered the camp, in order that our welcome might be made the more cordial. They accordingly went on before us, and saluting George and Tippouie by touching noses in the usual way, they interchanged a few words with them. Duaterra then made a signal for us to approach, and Mr. Marsden, going up to the chiefs, shook hands with them, as did likewise Mr. Kendall,

[Image of page 128]

Mr. Hall, and myself. The chiefs, three in number, were all standing up, and their warriors, seated round them, had their spears stuck in the ground, and seemed to behave themselves with respectful obedience, paying every proper deference to their authority. During the whole ceremony of, our introduction, the old woman never ceased waving the red mat and repeating a number of words, which, according to Duaterra, were prayers exclusively designed for the occasion, and suggested the first moment she beheld us. Though the signal of the mat had set our minds completely, at rest, and removed all apprehensions of danger, yet another auspicious one was now to be given, which was still more significant and confirmatory. -- Duaterra and Shunghi, standing up with an air of unreserved confidence, fired off their loaded pistols, while their rival chiefs, George and Tippouie, doing the same, I thought proper to follow their example, and immediately discharged my fowling-piece. This conclusive signal of amity was regarded by the warriors, who had hitherto remained silent spectators, as the prelude to their commencing themselves; and instantly a report from six or seven muskets was heard to reverberate

[Image of page 129]

in our ears; and spears and fire-arms coming together in deafening collision, the noise very soon became insupportable. It would be hard to say which was more tormented during this conciliatory exhibition, the ear or the eye; for the war-dance now commencing, was attended with such frightful gesticulations, and such horrible varieties of convulsive distortions, that to see was no less painful than to hear. Yells, shrieks, and roars, answered in responsive discord to all the clashing fury of their weapons, and the din made by this horde of savages might inspire even the most resolute mind with terror and dismay.

The chiefs were now in perfect harmony with each other, and the furious clamour having ceased, I had an opportunity of meditating on the scene before me, while Mr. Marsden stood in conversation with George. It was certainly a grand and interesting spectacle. These savage warriors, amounting to about a hundred and fifty of as fine men as ever took the field in any country, were encamped on a hill which rose in a conical shape to a considerable height; and the many imposing singularities they presented, were such as to excite a particular interest in the

[Image of page 130]

mind of the beholder. Few of these men were under six feet in height, and their brawny limbs, their determined countenances, and their firm and martial pace, entitled them very justly to the appropriate designation of warriors.

The general effect of their appearance was heightened by the variety of their dresses, which often consisted of many articles that were peculiarly becoming. The chiefs, to distinguish them from the common men, wore cloaks of different coloured furs, which were attached to their mats, and hung down over them in a manner not unlike the loose jackets of our hussars. The dress of the common warriors only wanted the fur cloaks to make it equally rich with that of their superiors, for it was in every other respect the same, and sometimes even more showy. Many of them wore mats, which were fancifully worked round with variegated borders, and decorated in other respects with so much curious art as to bespeak no less the industry than the exquisite taste of the ingenious maker. The mats of others among them were even still more beautiful, for they were of a velvet softness and glossy lustre, while ornamented with devices which were equally

[Image of page 131]

tasteful with those I have described. These mats were all made from the flax, and some dyed with red ochre, so that the appearance they presented was gay and characteristic. Each individual wore two of them, and some even more, the inside one being always tied round the waist with a belt similar to that I have already described in another part of this work. In this belt was stuck their pattoo pattoo, which is their principal war instrument, and carried by them at all times, no less for the purposes of defence and attack, than as a necessary ornamental appendage. Indeed there can be nothing extraordinary in this, for the same is done in every country, polished or unpolished, the only difference being as to the weapons borne by the various nations; and the warrior of Wangeroa is quite as proud of his rude pattoo pattoo, as the vainest military officer can possibly be of his dangling sabre.

With the exception of the chiefs, there were very few of them tattooed, and all had their hair neatly combed and collected in a knot upon the top of the head, where it was ornamented with the long white feathers of the gannet. Many of them had decorations which never failed to remind one of their

[Image of page 132]

martial ferocity. These were the teeth of the enemies they had slain in battle, which hung down from the ears of several of them, and were worn as recording trophies of their bloody conquest. But ornaments less obnoxious than these to the civilized beholder, were frequently seen among them, and I observed some of green jade that were extremely curious. However, I could not suppress my emotions on seeing the dollars that were taken from the plunder of the unfortunate Boyd, suspended from the breasts of some of them, and all the horror of that cruel transaction was revived in my mind. But the ornaments on which they set the most value, were rude representations of the human form, made of green jade, and carved with some ingenuity. These hung down from their breasts in the same manner as the dollars.

Their instruments of war were as diversified as their dresses and decorations, and the weapons of no two of them were exactly the same in shape and dimensions. The greater part of them carried spears, but these were all of different lengths, and otherwise made in such a manner as to preclude the idea of uniformity; though there were some

[Image of page 133]

particulars in which a similarity among the whole of them might be observed. I remarked many of them with short spears, which serve them for the same purpose that the musket is employed in other countries, to attack their enemies at a distance; and this they generally do to some effect, by darting these spears at them with a sure aim. The long spears, which are headed at the end with whalebone worked down to an extremely sharp point, they use as lances, and with these they do great execution in close attack. Battle axes also were carried by some individuals among them, as likewise an instrument resembling a sergeant's halbert, which had large bunches of the parrot's feathers tied round the top of it by way of ornament. Others brandished in their hands long clubs made of whalebone, and all carried the pattoo pattoo, an instrument of no fixed dimensions, though generally about eleven or twelve inches long, and four broad. In shape, it bears some resemblance to the battledore, but is worked out to a sharp edge, and one blow from it would instantly sever the hardest skull. They employ them for the purpose of knocking down their enemies when they come to close combat, and indeed no weapon.

[Image of page 134]

can do this more effectually. Those I have seen were variously made of the whalebone, the green jade, and a dark coloured stone, susceptible of a high polish. The ingenuity they evince in making these weapons is really surprising, and I am fully convinced that none of our best mechanics, with all the aid of suitable tools, could finish a more complete piece of workmanship in this line than one of these savages, whose whole technical apparatus consists of a shell or a sharp stone. Tippouie, who, I must now observe, was the brother of George, had a weapon of this description which he had beat out of some bar iron, and the polish it displayed was so very fine, that I could not have thought it possible for it to have been effected by the simple process of a New Zealander, had I not many other proofs of the astonishing ingenuity of these people. Thus did the savage instruments of death present themselves to my view in every shape, and the scene gave rise to many powerful sensations.

The fated crew of the Boyd were still present in my mind, and the idea that I was at that very moment surrounded by the cannibals who had butchered them, and had seen the very weapons that had effected their

[Image of page 135]

slaughter, caused a chilling horror to pervade my frame, while looking only at the deed itself, I never once considered that it might have been provoked.

But while my mind was thus agitated with the reflections produced by this shocking massacre, I contemplated with surprise the faces of the perpetrators. Never did I behold any, with the exception of one countenance, (George's) that appeared to betray fewer indications of malignant vengeance. I observed, on the contrary, an air of frankness and sincerity pictured in them all, and the fierceness they displayed was not that of barbarous fury impatient for destruction, but of determined courage, still ready to engage, but always prepared to shew mercy. Such, in general, would appear to be the character of these warriors, were their faces to be taken as the criterion; but to estimate by this rule is not always safe, though it is generally found less erroneous than any other with respect to savage nations. Civilized habits very frequently help to conceal those bad passions which would otherwise openly betray themselves, and dissimulation can never be managed as artfully by the barbarian as by the man of polished

[Image of page 136]

refinement. The savage, it is true, may meditate in dumb silence some horrible deed of murderous revenge, but it rarely happens that his countenance does not shew the brooding rancour of his heart, while the accomplished villain of civilized life can always disguise his nefarious purposes.

The public, I should suppose, are already aware from Mr. Marsden's statement, that the chief George, who is known by this name to the European sailors, some of whom, in all probability, first gave it to him, had been the principal agent in cutting off the Boyd, and certainly the face of this man bespoke him capable of committing so atrocious an act. His features were not unsightly, but they appeared to veil a dark and subtle malignity of intention, and the lurking treachery of a depraved heart was perfectly legible in every one of them. He had acquired too, from his intercourse with European sailors, a coarse familiarity of manner, mingled with a degree of sneering impudence, which gave him a character completely distinct from his countrymen, and making him odious in our view, reconciled us the more easily to their unsophisticated rudeness. This chief having served on board some of the whalers, could

[Image of page 137]

speak English very fluently, and on my going up to shake hands with him, he thought proper to return the compliment with "How do you do, my boy?" which he uttered in so characteristic a style of vulgar freedom, yet so totally unlike the blunt familiarity of honest friendship, that he excited at the same moment my abhorrence and disgust. It was necessary, however, to be very circumspect towards this designing chief, and I took care that he should see nothing in my conduct that could lead him to suspect he was at all obnoxious to me.

The contending parties being now in perfect amity with each other, and peace firmly established, we left the camp to return to the village, resolving however to come back again, and spend the night among these warriors, with whose reception of us we had every reason to be satisfied. We wished to shew them by all the means in our power, that we were capable of forgetting the enormity of the crime they had committed, and that we harboured no resentment against them for the cruel slaughter of our unfortunate countrymen. It was with this view, therefore, that we determined on trusting ourselves for the night to their good faith.

[Image of page 138]

and Mr. Marsden was anxious to convince George, by such confidence, he was no longer in our eyes an object of hatred or suspicion. But whatever may have been the sentiments of this gentleman towards that insidious barbarian, my own were decidedly prejudiced against him; and if I had no apprehensions for our personal safety, it was because I trusted more to the hearts of his people, than to any other honourable principle in their chief. Assured by Duaterra that these people were never known to violate the signal they had given us, I felt perfectly at ease; and though George might himself be disposed to act treacherously, he could find none in this instance who would co-operate in his designs. Yet here let me be understood as speaking of this man only from my own individual feelings, and the impression he made on me by his appearance and behaviour, for there was no positive act to warrant the censure I have passed upon him, though I rather think I have not been much deceived as to his real character.

When we got back to the village, Duaterra, with Mr. Kendall and Mr. King, returned to the vessel, and Shunghi, who had ordered his people to prepare some fish and potatoes

[Image of page 139]

for our dinner, had them now brought before us, and we sat down with a good appetite. Mr. Marsden's New Zealand servant, Tommy Drummond, had by this time come on shore with some tea and an iron tea kettle, and this favourite beverage was never before more grateful to us. The repast was laid out in a large open space, and we were quickly surrounded by crowds of the natives, each with wild amazement visible in his countenance. Men, women and children, flocked in upon us in one oppressive body, so that to keep ourselves from being suffocated, we were obliged to form a circle, which none was allowed to pass, and seating themselves all round the verge of it, they watched our motions with the most eager curiosity. Many of them had never before in the whole course of their lives beheld an European, and to see packaha kiki, (the white man eat,) was a novelty of so curious a nature, that they gazed on it with wonder and delight. Our situation at this moment reminded me very forcibly of certain European kings, who, to shew their subjects that monarchs must eat as well as themselves, have long been in the habit of taking their sumptuous banquets in public. They kept their eyes steadfastly fixed

[Image of page 140]

on us all the time, and not a single occurrence escaped their observation; while staring with surprise, they frequently called to those around them to look at the wonders we presented. Many of them expressed their astonishment in silent attention, and others, bursting out into fits of laughter at every bit we ate, were exceedingly amused by the spectacle. We distributed biscuit and sugar-candy among several of them, which they liked so well that they appeared eagerly desirous to get more, smacking their lips with an exquisite relish for these unknown luxuries.

I observed among the crowd some venerable looking old men, who regarded us with silent contemplation, and seemed rather occupied in forming conjectures as to the motives that induced us to visit their country, than in taking any particular notice of what we were doing. They appeared not to feel any interest whatsoever in the distribution of the biscuits and sugar-candy, and while the young folks, with few exceptions, were all as merry as possible, these mute sages were wrapped in profound meditation. Still looking on us with an air of dignified gravity and serious reflection, they never uttered a word, and a

[Image of page 141]

strange association of ideas formed in my mind some resemblance between them and the Roman senators, when Brennus came with hostile vengeance to destroy the city. But they had nothing of this kind to dread from us, as we wished rather to improve, than demolish their wretched capital.

After having finished our repast, we walked through the village, which we found to consist of about fifty huts, and one hundred and fifty inhabitants. The huts were much better built than those upon the island, and the roofs of many of them were shaped like the curved top of a waggon, while others extended in the form of a sharp ridge, increasing in breadth from the summit to the extremities on each side. A small enclosure in which there was a shed where the inhabitants used to take their meals, surrounded each of these huts, and the general effect of the whole was not uninteresting.

Shunghi informed us, that this village belonged to a chief named Kedah, who was subordinate to his brother Kangeroa, but how far his authority extended over him we could not ascertain. Kedah we had not an opportunity of seeing at this time, as he had gone on board the vessel. There is very little

[Image of page 142]

level ground in the neighbourhood of the village, the hills rising at a short distance from the shore in close contiguity, and covered down to the very base either with fern or hanging wood. The fern is an invaluable production to these people, who subsist in a great measure on the roots of it, from which they prepare a sort of bread. As it grows here in the greatest abundance, they may be always sure of an inexhaustible supply.

On the beach I observed two very handsome war canoes, which were curiously ornamented at both ends with carved work, and embellished in other parts with various feathers of a sprightly colour.

The solemn hour of night was now approaching, and leaving these poor villagers, we returned to the camp, accompanied by our friend Shunghi, whose fidelity and attachment were sincere and devoted. We were also attended by the New Zealand sailor, who used to act as interpreter between us and his countrymen; and on our arrival, we found the warriors all seated on the ground, and the brother chiefs, George and Tippouie, in the midst of them. On our approach they instantly made room for us,

[Image of page 143]

and we were invited by George to place ourselves next to him, and some dressed potatoes were laid before us in a basket, which we were to partake of for our supper.

After eating a few of the potatoes, we entered into conversation with George, and anxious to learn from him all the particulars respecting the Boyd, we immediately commenced that melancholy subject. But before I proceed to the details we received from him, it may be proper to state the fatal circumstances connected with that unfortunate vessel.

The Boyd, a ship of about five hundred tons, commanded by Captain John Thompson, was chartered by Government in 1809, to take out convicts to Botany Bay, when, having completed her charter-party, and taken a number of passengers for England, she proceeded to New Zealand for a cargo of timber. The Captain, I believe, intended this timber for the north-west coast of America, where it was to have been disposed of, but unfortunately both himself and the crew were surprised and massacred, by George and his tribe, while the vessel accidentally taking fire, was burnt down to the water's edge. Having thus given the short history of this

[Image of page 144]

ill-fated ship, I shall now relate the particulars communicated to us by George, who seemed very desirous of extenuating his own atrocious criminality. I must, however, in justice observe, that if the following account can be relied upon, the provocation he had received was very great, and such as at all times would lead a barbarian to the most horrible revenge.

He stated, that himself and another of his countrymen being together at Port Jackson, they both agreed with Captain Thompson to work their passage to their own country. It happened, he said, however, that he was taken so ill himself during the voyage, as to be utterly incapable of doing his duty; which the Captain not believing to be the case, and imputing his inability to work rather to laziness than indisposition, he was threatened, insulted, and abused by him. George attempted to remonstrate against this severe treatment; but the Captain being a man of a choleric temper, this only exasperated him the more, and it was in vain that the other told him he was a chief in his own country, and ought to be treated with some respect, urging at the same time his illness, and assuring him that this was the only cause that

[Image of page 145]

prevented him from working. The enraged Captain would pay no regard to what he said, but calling him a cookee cookee, (a common man,) had him tied up to the gangway, and flogged most severely. This degrading treatment of the Captain towards him, taking away all restraint from the ship's company, he was subject during the rest of the voyage to their taunts and scurrilities, and they persecuted him, he said, in every possible way that they could devise.

Such treatment, it will readily be supposed, must have sunk deeply into a mind like George's, and the revenge he meditated was no less terrible than certain. But whether he resolved on it during the voyage, or had afterwards formed the diabolical design, I was not able to discover; though I imagine he had conceived it before he got on shore, as he told the Captain very emphatically, while he was derided by him for calling himself a chief, that he would find him to be such on arriving at hie country. This, however, might have been said without any other idea than to assure him of the fact, and was a natural reply enough to his taunting incredulity. But a stronger circumstance than this, leads me to suppose that George had determined on

[Image of page 146]

his horrid purpose while he was yet on board. On their arrival at New Zealand, the Captain, induced most probably by his suggestions, ran the ship into Wangeroa, a harbour which I believe had never before been entered by any European vessel, and which lying in the very territory of the chief whom he had so ill-treated, was recommended, I doubt not, to make his destruction inevitable. He would not acknowledge to us that he himself suggested this harbour to the Captain as the most convenient place for him to take in his cargo, though from his evasive answers I am fully persuaded he decoyed him into it.

The ship being now anchored in his own harbour, the Captain, he informed us, sent him on shore; having first stripped him of every thing English he had about him, to the very clothes he had on, which were also taken from him; so that he was received by his countrymen almost in a state of perfect nudity. To these he instantly related all his hardships, and the inhuman treatment he had received on board, while enraged at the detail, they unanimously insisted on revenge, and nothing short of the destruction of the Captain and the crew, and taking possession of

[Image of page 147]

the vessel, could satisfy their fury. This he promised to do, and the work of slaughter was now about to commence, while the devoted victims remained unconscious of the infernal project.

The imprudence and temerity of Captain Thompson assisted that vengeance which his misconduct had roused, and were now displayed in too evident a manner. Never once reflecting on the character of the savage, whose favourite passion is revenge, and not considering that his own tyranny had provoked the most signal retaliation that could be taken, he had the rashness to leave the ship unprotected, and taking a boat's crew with him, proceeded to the shore, where a horde of outrageous cannibals stood prepared for his destruction. The duration of this dreadful tragedy was short. He had scarcely landed, when he was knocked down and murdered by Tippouie; and his sailors, unhappily sharing the same fate, were all stripped by the barbarians, who immediately appeared dressed in the clothes of their victims, and went on to the ship to complete the carnage. Arriving at the ship with their revenge unsatiated, and still raging for blood, a general massacre of the remaining part of

[Image of page 148]

the crew, together with all the passengers on board, immediately ensued; and with the exception of four individuals, neither man, woman, nor child, of all that had left Port Jackson, escaped the cruel vengeance of their merciless enemies. It was in vain they sought to conceal themselves; they were soon discovered with a fatal certainty, and dragged out to suffer the most excruciating torments. Some of the sailors running up the rigging, with the hope that when the fury of the Savages should have subsided, their own lives might be spared, met the same fate as the rest of their unfortunate companions. Coming down at the request of Tippahee, who had, on that dreadful morning, come into the harbour from the Bay of Islands, they put themselves under his protection; and though the old chief did all in his power to prevent their being massacred, his efforts were unavailing, and they fell before his eyes, the last victims in this last scene of blood and horror. But here I am wrong, this was not the last scene, for there was one more at which humanity will shudder, as well as the person who records it. These savages, not satisfied with the vengeance they had already taken, and true to their character as cannibals,

[Image of page 149]

feasted themselves on the dead bodies of their victims, devouring the mangled flesh till their inhuman appetites were completely glutted.

The four who had escaped the cruel destiny of all the rest, consisted of a woman, two children, and the cabin boy; these, except the last, had fortunately eluded the search of the barbarians till their thirst of blood was satiated, and then being discovered were spared, and treated with some kindness. The cabin boy having, during the voyage, ingratiated himself into favour with George, by several acts of friendship, had now the good fortune to receive that reward which of all others was the most valuable to him--his life. The chief, impressed with a grateful recollection of his kind offices, received him in an affectionate manner: while he ran to him for protection, and crying out, in a piteous strain, "George, you won't kill me!" he was answered by the other, who shewed that with all his cruelty he was capable of gratitude, "No, my boy, I won't kill you, you are a good boy;" and taken by him under his own immediate care.

Such was the end of the unfortunate Boyd, and such the melancholy fate of a number of people all cut off in the prime of

[Image of page 150]

life, and lost to their country, their friends, and their dearest connections, by the intemperate violence of one individual. Not less, I should suppose, than seventy human beings were destroyed in this furious carnage; and the vessel, which was of five hundred tons burden, and completely equipped in every particular, must have contained property of very considerable value. The conduct of Captain Thompson should be held up as a warning to all other commanders of ships, and should teach them to avoid those acts of tyrannical oppression, and unguarded precipitancy, which were attended with such terrible consequences to this unfortunate man, and those who had committed themselves to his protection. They should learn from this fatal instance of indiscretion, to act always in accordance with the cool dictates of reason, and never suffer the ebullitions of unruly passion to prevail over their better judgment. But whatever might have been the imprudence of this rash individual, his fate is still to be regretted, and the man who could consider his offence as commensurate with the punishment, would never deserve to be ranked among the friends of humanity. The impartial writer, while he exposes his errors to

[Image of page 151]

public animadversion, may at the same time be allowed to sympathize in the catastrophe of his hapless doom; and that heart must be truly insensible, which a scene like the preceding cannot move to the soft feelings of pity. Mine, I thank Providence, was never so obdurate; and led away by the horror I felt at such indiscriminate carnage, I had almost wished at the moment, that the barbarous perpetrators were all swept away in the vengeance of heaven from off the face of the creation. I felt too an unchristian pleasure at learning from George, that many of them were blown up by the explosion of the powder magazine on board the ship; which was occasioned by one of the chiefs firing at the sailors, and being too near the place where it stood. But though my abhorrence of the crime they had committed, remained always the same, it was impossible for me to entertain towards themselves a lasting enmity; the many good qualities which I saw they possessed, could never be found in hearts that were completely vicious, and made me indulge the fond hope, that one day or other they might efface from all minds the remembrance of their atrocities. And yet perhaps the most strict moralist will not hesitate to allow even to these atrocities,

[Image of page 152]

shocking as they are to human nature, a degree of palliation from the circumstances in which they originated. The head chief of a faithful tribe returns to his country and people, after having experienced indignities and hardships of the most grievous nature. Left almost naked on the shore, he relates his sufferings, and sympathizing in them, they stimulate that revenge which very probably he had already meditated. This revenge is taken in the dreadful manner I have described, and if it is so disproportioned to the offence, it is because the barbarian draws no comparisons in these cases, and has never learned to employ an exact scale of retribution. Man, whether in a rude or civilized state, is never disposed to passive quiescence under the goading hand of oppression, and few are magnanimous enough to neglect an opportunity of revenge whenever it presents itself.

George told Mr. Marsden, that if we would accompany him to Wangeroa, we might take any part of the wreck we thought proper, and that at low water the guns might be got out, as also some cedar that was still remaining in the hold. Of the dollars they had plundered, he said, we could obtain but very few; as they had almost all been

[Image of page 153]

bartered away among the different tribes. This chief gave us here some account of his previous life, and informed us, that before he had engaged himself to sail in the Boyd, he had served on board some other English ships, the captains of which had behaved to him with great kindness. He particularly mentioned a Captain Wilkinson, of whom he spoke in the highest terms; and it were much to be desired that all other commanders of vessels would, instead of provoking the vengeance of savages, strive to merit that tribute of gratitude which his conduct has obtained.

After George had communicated to us all the particulars I have narrated, it was time to prepare for rest, and the warriors, stretching themselves on the ground, began to wrap their kakahows more closely about them. The scene now became awfully appalling. Night threw its gloomy shade over the ruthless murderers of our countrymen, while we, but two in number, remained perfectly defenceless in the midst of them; trusting only to the internal dictates of their hearts, for the privilege of existing a single instant. Yet reflecting on their disposition, which is never vengeful without sufficient

[Image of page 154]

cause, we felt no alarms for our safety; and though perhaps we may have subjected ourselves to the imputation of having unnecessarily exposed our lives in a perilous situation, we ourselves could see no danger in what we had done, and were prompted to it by far other motives than the vanity of adventurous enterprise. George, to whom I wish to render all the merit he deserves, however I may dislike his appearance and manner, was, I must say, particularly attentive to us, and wished to make us as comfortable as he possibly could. At his particular request, we laid ourselves down to sleep beside himself and his wife, Mr. Marsden being on one side, and I on the other. The ground was our bed, and we had no other covering than the clothes we wore; while stretched at full length under the broad canopy of heaven, we prepared for repose, and feared not to close our eyes in the very centre of these cannibals. 1 They proved themselves worthy of such confidence, and in no instance-did there appear the least disposition to take

[Image of page 155]

advantage of it. I slept tolerably well for some part of the night, and awaking at the dawn of day, a scene, the strangest that can be imagined, presented itself to my view. An immense number of human beings, men, women, and children, some half naked, and others loaded with fantastic finery, were all stretched about me in every direction; while the warriors, with their spears stuck in the ground, and their other weapons lying beside them, were either peeping out from under their kakahows, or shaking from off their dripping heads the heavy dew that had fallen in the night. Before sun-rise they were all up, and being invigorated and refreshed by that profound sleep which health is always sure to invite, they rose with lively spirits to their desultory pursuits, and spent no time in lethargic slumbers. This is the practice which Nature prescribes, and I could sincerely wish it were more generally followed; but while the rich continue to be luxurious voluptuaries, frequenters of "midnight revels and the public show," the poor, corrupted by

[Image of page 156]

their example, are often led to turn night into day, and both invert that order which was established for their health as well as for their happiness. But it is time I should conclude this chapter, lest my readers should suppose that I am going to trouble them with a dissertation on ethics.