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

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CHAP. IV.

ON arriving at the settlement, I found all our friends perfectly well, and with the exception of two or three who were more timid and credulous than the rest, quite free from any apprehension of being attacked. The report was never believed by the more reflective among them, who could not bring themselves to entertain those suspicions of Themorangha which they knew were not

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warranted either by his conduct or disposition, and must have been maliciously excited against him, in order to serve some private purpose. In this I am persuaded they judged very rightly, and on paying a visit to Duaterra, I had every reason to suspect, from the manner he vilified the chief in question, that he wished to provoke our detestation against him, at the expense of all truth and justice; though it is but right I should observe, that this was the first time I had occasion entirely to disbelieve any statement he made. Inveighing against Themorangha with the same malevolence as Tupee did against Korra-korra; he told us he was one of the most ferocious and treacherous characters in the island, that he was fully determined to cut us off, and only waited for a favourable opportunity. Of this meditated atrocity he said he had been informed himself by Warrakee, who happened to hear the people of Thiomi declare their intention of destroying all the Europeans, both on board the vessel and at the settlement; and that Themorangha, on being asked how many were in the cabin, said two or three, sometimes none, adding moreover, that from the number of New Zealanders always on board, the ship might be cut

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off without the least difficulty. I now asked Duaterra, if such was the determination of the chief, why did he not attempt the execution of it? To which he replied, that certain reasons prevented him, and among others, the dread of the areekee Tarra, who would punish him with death for such an outrage on hospitality, within the limits of his jurisdiction. The details of this story appeared to me not only improbable, but as originating in complete falsehood; and as we had given permission to Themorangha to accompany us to Port Jackson, which he had an anxious desire to visit, I doubt not but it excited the jealousy of our friend the chief of Rangehoo; for such was his wish to monopolize our friendship, that he could not bear we should extend it to any individual of a different tribe from his own. Urged on by this jealousy, and probably incited also by some idle conversation with Warrakee, he did not hesitate to indulge in the slander so prevalent among the other chiefs; though it is my opinion, that nothing but an impulse of this kind could lead him to do so, as he was rather remarkable for his veracity than otherwise.

While I was yet standing in conversation

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with Duaterra, some of his people came to inform him that his cow had calved; when anxious to see this increase to his wealth, he set out with one of his warriors, arming himself with a pistol stuck in his breast, and a bill-hook in his hand. Surprised at this precaution, (for the distance he had to go was not more than five hundred yards, and in the midst of his own people,) I asked him what danger he could anticipate, that had made him thus prepare for it; and his reply was, that he was not sure of his life upon any occasion, since he became possessed of so much wealth, and that he made it a rule ever since the hostile chief was going to spear him, when he was returning from his farm, never to go any where without proper means of defence. The circumstances of the case might have justified this precaution, but still Duaterra appeared to me of a very suspicious disposition, ever apt to imagine violence where none was intended, and not feeling himself safe in the midst of security. This was certainly the consequence of that habitual vigilance to which men in the savage state are necessarily accustomed; for danger, however actually remote, is always present in the minds of such people. On going

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down the hill, we saw his people driving the cow into his stock-yard, followed by a very fine bull calf; so that in a little time, this part of the island may probably be well stocked with a breed of black cattle.

On Thursday, Feb. 2nd, Shunghi and his brother Kangeroa, having come to pay us a visit, Mr. Marsden invited the former to dine with us, and we were glad to shew every possible attention to this chief, for whom we entertained a particular regard.

The following day, Feb. 3rd, passed away without any occurrence worthy of notice. I took my usual rounds through the town, and made a few purchases of thread and other trifling articles, but no circumstance worth recording came under my observation.

The smith having by the 4th, got a number of axes ready, I prepared to take them to the vessel, and applied to Duaterra for a canoe; but he told me it was impossible he could accommodate me, as he had not one of his own convenient, and that his influence over the people 1 did not extend so far as to

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oblige them to take me, though in other respects he might command their services. I prevailed on him, however, to engage three of the natives to go with me, though he was necessitated to use some persuasion before they would consent to it. I was going to have my dinner before I set off, but he told me, if I did not take the men while they were in the humour, it was very doubtful if I could prevail upon them to go at all; so reluctant were they to lend their services on the present occasion. It appeared to me, therefore, much better to forego my dinner, than to run the chance of losing a conveyance to the vessel; and I got into their canoe that very instant. I had a most tedious and disagreeable passage, being no less than seven hours before I reached the ship; the wind blew directly against us the greater part of the way, with a very heavy swell coming in from the heads. On arriving at Motooroa, the men landed, and cut down a large stick for a mast, to which they tied their kackahows, as a substitute for a sail.

It was quite dark when I regained the vessel, where, on going into the cabin, the first spectacle that presented itself to me, was old Tarra and his wife Mrs. Goshore,

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lying upon the lockers. Here they had chosen to take up their night's lodging, having made on that day a visit on board; but as soon as the old chief heard the rattling of the axes, he could no longer compose himself to rest, and jumping up with an agility unusual in one of his grave deportment and venerable years, he began to examine them all very attentively; and selecting out the largest of them, he tabooed it immediately, and set it apart for his own exclusive use. Pomaree, who was on board, waited my return with anxious impatience, and appeared quite overjoyed at the sight of the supply I had brought with me, fixing his eyes on the axes with his usual avidity. He told us, that he intended returning to his district the following day, for the purpose of providing us with more timber, and said he would take care that no delay should be made in getting as much as would be necessary to complete the cargo. But he observed at the same time, that there were some of his people who had not yet received any presents, and who envied the good fortune of the others so much, that they could not support the idea of it, while they reflected that themselves had not an opportunity of an equal participation. This

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had caused, he said, nuee nuee tanghee tanghee (a good deal of crying) among them: he therefore requested Mr. Marsden would give him some nails to distribute among them, which would make them all happy; and with these, as well as some other trifles, he was immediately furnished.

There was on Sunday morning, Feb. 5th, a report very current among the natives on board, that a great battle was to be fought in the course of the day between Wiveeah, the chief against whom Korra-korra's 2 expedition was directed, and Henou, the chief whose wife had been seduced. As Themorangha expressed his intention of being a neutral spectator of this conflict, I felt no hesitation in accompanying him, while he pledged himself that I should be perfectly secure; and the calumnious report I had heard respecting this chief, had no effect in making me doubt his sincerity. It being the sabbath, Mr. Marsden was prevented from joining us, by that peculiar reverence for the day, which he always observed: so, taking

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thirteen of the natives with us, we set out together, a strong curiosity urging me to disregard in this instance, the pious example of my reverend friend. Our party, of whom I was the only European, anxious to arrive at the scene of action as soon as possible, plied their paddles with so much activity, that in the space of three hours we arrived at the Wycaddie, where lay the district of the offending chief, and the general rendezvous of the contending parties.

The landing place here is about half a mile from the village, which I have already described; 3 but our approach had been perceived, and two of the natives, running up and down the beach with long whalebone pattoo pattoos in their hands, shook them at us in their usual style of defiance. My friends, however, who were all armed, jumped on shore without more delay, and put them to flight that very instant; the whole party pursuing them at the same time, with the exception of Themorangha, whose friendly attention to me would not suffer him to leave me behind, seeing that all the speed I could make would be very soon outstripped

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by the fleetness of his countrymen. We both walked on together with a moderate pace, and were met before we entered the village by a considerable number of warriors, among whom I observed our people mingle with a social familiarity. I now entered this little capital, and found it one scene of bustle and confusion, being full of armed men, who ran wildly about through every part of it, with impatient anticipation of the savage affray. Here I recognized our friend Tupee, together with two other chiefs whom I knew, Guy and Show. They were sitting on the roof of a house, and Tupee, the moment he observed me, beckoned to me to come and sit beside him, which I did, and had an opportunity of viewing from this dignified elevation (for as such it was considered) the whole strength of the combatants on both sides. Directly opposite to where we were sitting was a large enclosure separated from us by the Wycaddie, and here Henou and his party were encamped. This party, amounting to the number of at least two hundred men. and composed of different tribes, headed by their respective chiefs, were sitting on the ground dispersed in groups, and all attentively watching an old warrior, who had risen for,

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the purpose of addressing Wiveeah and his followers. In this old man, who appeared a complete oratorical champion, I beheld a curious sample of the popular eloquence of the country; and from the martial vehemence of the action he employed, I should suppose that "his voice was still for war," nor were his hearers uninfluenced by his harangue. Walking, or rather running up and down behind the paling that was drawn along the verge of the opposite bank, he uttered his words in a tone of violent resentment; and these we could distinctly hear, the distance between the parties not being more than a hundred yards. He occasionally shook his head with the view as it were of confirming his arguments; and brandishing his spear as if he could exterminate Wiveeah and his entire host with a single stroke, the veteran appeared ungovernable in his passion for the conflict. The most profound silence prevailed; and when he had finished his vehement address, two of the warriors on our side rose to reply.

The persons deputed for this purpose by general consent, were Tupee and Themorangha, who answered him with an accent and manner as mild and conciliating as his

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were obstreperous and turbulent. They appeared, however, to urge their cause with a steady and determined firmness, and the opposite party listened to them all the while with becoming attention. Their speeches were not delivered together; but Tupee rising first, commenced his reply, which occupied only a few minutes, when taking his seat again, he was succeeded by Themorangha, who spoke somewhat more at length, but with the same gentle and persuasive manner as his companion, whose arguments I should suppose he enforced with some cogency. To him also the opposite band were equally attentive;, and I was much struck with the coolness and good order observed on both sides during the time these harangues were delivered. Themorangha having concluded, I expected there would be no more speeches, but that the parties would instantly rush upon each other, and employ the pattoo pattoo instead of the tongue. This, however, was not the case; for they seemed resolved to decide their quarrel by the latter weapon, a determination that afforded me no small degree of pleasure; preferring by far to witness among them such a conciliatory disposition, than to have my

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curiosity gratified by beholding a real New Zealand battle. The speeches of Tupee and Themorangha were answered by another warrior of Henou's party, who rising up from among the group that surrounded him, advanced to the same spot where the veteran had stood, and began his rejoinder in a masterly style of native eloquence. There was an easy dignity in the manner of this man, that peculiarly distinguished him from the other orators. He spoke for a considerable time; and I could not behold without admiration the graceful elegance of his deportment, and the appropriate accordance of his action. Holding his pattoo pattoo in his hand, he walked up and down along the margin of the river with a firm and manly step, arrayed in a plain mat, which being tied over his right shoulder, descended with a kind of Roman negligence down to his ancles, and to the mind of the classical beholder, might well represent the toga; while his towering stature and perfect symmetry gave even more than Roman dignity to the illusion. His words, though delivered in impassioned accents, seemed by no means expressive of a violent or unaccommodating spirit; and though ignorant of the tenor of

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them, in consequence of my knowing so little of their language, I have no doubt, from the manner they were uttered, but they were of a conciliating import.

To this orator, (who might well deserve the name, all the necessary requisites beingunited in his person in an eminent degree,) Tupee and Themorangha, as well as two other chiefs on our side, replied individually; and their rejoinder was answered by a third speaker of the opposite party, who had nothing remarkable in his manner or delivery. The harangue of this man was the last that was delivered on either side; and having now an opportunity of asking Tupee what the result of this oratorical debate was to be, he told me that the parties had already come to an amicable adjustment. Some preliminary ceremonies, it appeared, had taken place between Wiveeah and Henou before my arrival; and though I doubt not but the old warrior urged the necessity of having immediate recourse to arms, his arguments, I am persuaded, were over-ruled by the others, who were not hurried forward by the same impulse of implacable hostility. One man told me, that before I had arrived the parties threw spears at each other; but this, on

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making farther inquiries, I had reason to believe incorrect; and nothing had passed previously to my coming but certain formalities, which, from the want of an interpreter, I could not get explained.

As yet I had not seen Wiveeah, but he now advanced towards me in a very friendly manner, attended by five or six of his warriors; and after shaking me by the hand with much cordiality, returned back again, and mingled with his people. This man, whose lawless intrigue was the cause of all the speeches I had heard and all the demonstrations I had witnessed, was the gallant gay Lothario of this quarter. He appeared about five-and-thirty, of the middle size, but of a graceful figure, and remarkably well proportioned. He had a handsome mat, adorned with feathers, tied round his waist, leaving bare the upper part of his body, which was deeply besmeared with oil and red ochre; his hair was nicely tied up on the crown of his head, and a large comb, as white as ivory, made of the bone of some cetaceous animal, and curiously cut in filigree work, stuck in it. His cheeks were painted red, which giving fire and vivacity to his eyes, formed a curious and not unbecoming

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contrast to his black and bushy beard. His appearance altogether was such as might attract the attention of the ladies of his country, who looked upon him as the very acme of elegant manliness.

Tupee informed me, that the forces both under Wiveeah and Henou belonged to him, though on this occasion they were obliged to follow separate interests, from the circumstances in which they were placed, as deriving immediately under these inferior chiefs who had thus led them out in opposition to each other. But I should suppose he only meant to say, that they acknowledged the authority of his brother Tarra, who was the areekee, and that himself being the fighting-man, he had a control over them in consequence.

All differences being now amicably settled, and no variance existing between the parties, they were willing to consummate their reconciliation by a plentiful banquet; and Tupee conducting me over to Henou's side, one of the natives carried me on his back across the river, while we were followed by others bringing a quantity of potatoes to Henou, as a present from Wiveeah, who sent this supply for the use of his late adversary,

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seeing that he was short of provisions to celebrate the joyous occasion. I found Henou with his son Temoutee, sitting in the middle of the field, surrounded by warriors, who were either of his own tribe or those in alliance with him; and passing through a file of these, I went up to the chief, and touching noses with him in the usual style of ceremonious formality, seated myself beside him at his particular request. There was no similarity either of face or figure between this chief and Wiveeah. Henou, though at an earlier period of life he must have been a well-looking man, had now nothing in his appearance that could secure to him the attachment of a woman, whose fidelity was solely to depend on external impressions. All the vigour of youth was completely wasted in the gradual progress of declining years; and it was not matter of surprise that his wife, who conceived herself bound by no other tie than that of sensual gratification, should have preferred his rival, who was in the prime of life, and remarkable for those personal attractions which are most admired in the country. The son of Henou was quite as old as Wiveeah, and the chief himself could not have been less than seventy, with a beard

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as white as snow, and covering his breast with patriarchal gravity.

After sitting a little time with Henou, during which he never uttered a word, (but looking at me steadfastly in the face, seemed employed in drawing from my countenance inferences respecting my intentions,) I rose up and joined the different groups dispersed in the enclosure. These were all exceedingly amused at the sight of me, and pressed me with their usual earnestness to seat myself among them. They examined my boots and clothes with minute attention, and no article of dress about me escaped their notice. I felt it rather inconvenient to be subjected to this impatient scrutiny, as they thronged round me in such a manner as to bring me in contact with their cootoos, from which I had already but too frequent occasion to clear myself: they were not, however, to be denied this freedom, except by absolutely repelling them, a measure to which I did not deem it prudent to resort. Some of them would unbutton my waistcoast, and insist upon seeing my breast; 4 and looking at each

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other, as if they beheld in me some creature differently organized from themselves, and entirely heterogeneous in the economy of my frame, they uttered a few words occasionally, according as their wonder was excited by each new object of astonishment. While I was shewing them my watch, the ticking of which did not fail to call forth their wonted indications of surprise, the chiefs cried out in their true style of native haughtiness, ittee ittee tungata, meaning that the persons whose curiosity I was gratifying were common men, and as such ought not to be noticed. I did not however indulge them in this ungenerous exclusion; nor did their ill-natured pride make me withhold from the poor cookees a sight so peculiarly attractive to their superiors. In the midst of one of these groups I observed a man who was born a cripple; he had a hunch-back with crooked legs, and his stature was so very diminutive, that he looked quite dwarfish. This was the only instance of similar deformity that I discovered among these people; for in general all the members of their body were perfect and shapely; nor could any unsightly blemishes be perceived in their persons, except such as they themselves caused, in conformity with their super-

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stitious rites of mourning, or had produced under the preposterous idea of enhancing their native endowments.

During the time that I still continued here, a party of cooks prepared themselves for dressing the baskets of potatoes that were sent over by Wiveeah. These being first brought into the middle of the field, under the direction of a chief belonging to Wiveeah, were all placed there together; and certain ceremonies being gone through, which consisted partly in the repetition of some words which I could not comprehend, and in the interchange of various movements among the assemblage, they were regularly distributed through the different tribes.

Of all the warriors assembled here, I saw none more conspicuous than Warree, the man who had seduced Duaterra's wife, and who now presented himself to us for the second time since he had made his escape from the vessel. Though not habited in the same attire with his countrymen, his appearance was no less formidable and imposing, and none of them betrayed a more martial air or determined countenance. He was dressed in a sailor's jacket and trowsers, and had a musket in his hand, with a cartridge-box

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hanging by his side; he offered me his hand, and not deeming it politic to shew on this occasion, any recollection of his offence by repelling the familiarity, I shook it as if completely unmindful that he had ever transgressed in the manner I have recorded. Entering freely into conversation with him, I was asking him some questions respecting the people in this quarter, and the merits of the scene of which I was a spectator; when Themorangha coming up, shook his head at him with indignant resentment, and reprobated his conduct in the strongest terms of violent reproach. Warree himself explained tome the particulars of this invective; and the epithets made use of against him were such as betrayed the enraged feelings of the other, and the abhorrence in which he held him, for the crime he had committed. But the chief, now that he saw me inclined to converse familiarly with him, gradually altered his tone; and asking me if he was miti, I replied that he certainly had done wrong, but would, I hoped, do better in future; upon which he readily became reconciled to him, and touched noses with him in testimony of all resentment having vanished. As I stood in conversation with these, I was accosted by a man of the

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name of Hereco, who informed me that he had been at Norfolk Island, and also at Port Jackson; he inquired with an earnest solicitude after Governor King, and Captains Piper and Brabyn, all of whom he recollected perfectly, and was anxious to learn if they were yet at the colony.

The number of fires kindled by the cooks, who were by this time as industrious as possible, raised such a smoke, that to avoid the suffocating volumes which were constantly wafting in my face, I was glad to get out of the field with all the expedition I could make; when re-crossing the river, I again joined Wiveeah and his party. Here I found them all regaling themselves with potatoes, which were distributed in baskets among the several detached groups who sat round them, and who enjoyed their kiki with their usual appetite. I offered the chief some biscuit, but he would not touch it, as he happened to be then under the taboo, and consequently precluded from feeding himself; he ordered, however, some of his people to lay it by for him, till he was released from this mystical quarantine, when he purposed to gratify his palate with the welcome rarity. One of his warriors, a man of commanding;

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stature and expressive countenance, was very singularly dressed. Round his waist he had a mat lined with birds' feathers of various colours, which were carefully connected together in a thick texture, and sewed to the garment with much exactness: over this was another mat, that hung with graceful freedom over his right shoulder, and on the outside of all was a piece of red India print, with another stripe of the same material bound round his forehead. His hair was gaily, but at the same time most fantastically decorated; in every part of it were stuck long feathers of a snowy whiteness, and these were disposed in such an outlandish style of savage fancy, as to produce an effect that was irresistibly ludicrous. His cheeks were painted red, and in his hand he carried a tremendous iron pike, with a long pattoo pattoo stuck in his belt or girdle. Thus equipped, he paced about with an air of stately importance, holding up his head in as good style as the best disciplined grenadier, and regulating all his movements by a sort of military cadence, intuitively suggested to him, and adopted according to the occasion; being always in practical readiness for any, whether grave, lively, or vehement. Going up to shake

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hands with him, I was willing to flatter his vanity, by telling him he was nuee nuee miti, which I here meant should imply very fine; he received the compliment as if he considered it a just tribute to his lofty consequence, regarding me nevertheless with much complacency, and telling me in turn, that I was nuee nuee miti Europee--a very good European.

The chiefs upon this occasion were principally distinguished from the inferior warriors, by their dog-skin dresses; the different coloured furs presenting an uncommonly curious appearance, from the strange devices they had conceived, in joining them together; some of them being cut in square patches, as white as snow, and others extending in long mottled streaks, while intermingled with these, were several spots all differing from each other in shape, colour and size; and in these garments there was evidently more regard paid to gaudy show than to taste or uniformity. Perhaps a panther's skin may convey the best idea that can be given of them, but even this must present but an imperfect notion of their grotesque varieties. Indeed I observed on this day a greater display in point of dress and gorgeous deco-

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ration, than I had yet met with; and this was also the largest assemblage of warriors I had hitherto seen, being at least double the number of the Wangeroan forces, among whom we had spent the night on our first arrival. The sublime grandeur of the adjacent scenery, gave additional interest to this spectacle; and while the mind was inspired with a feeling of awe and wonder, at the mysterious dispensations of Providence, in thus leaving man in a state of rude nature, though formed with a genius for intellectual attainments, and placed in a country so much more favoured than many where science has left nothing unexplored; while this sentiment was continually present, the poor barbarian, who was unaided but by his own individual faculties, and could not resort to concentrated talent to furnish his equipment, claimed an involuntary respect for his devices, and a due regard for his astonishing expedients.

When both parties had sufficiently refreshed themselves, they prepared, as a necessary conclusion to the reconciliation that had taken place, to go through their war evolutions. Henou assembling all his people, formed them into two divisions, when the foremost being armed with spears of an im-

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mense length, rushed clown to the paling; vociferating with their wonted clamour, and followed closely by the other division. Halting here, they collected themselves into one compact phalanx; and the chiefs taking their stations according to their rank, and the number of warriors they respectively commanded, the whole party commenced their military manoeuvres; betraying their usual impetuosity, and roaring out with the same tremendous shouts as in the former similar exhibition that we had witnessed. But it was truly terrific to see with what violence of gesture, they feigned to charge upon their supposed enemies; while the chiefs appearing always prominent in every dangerous exploit, incited by their example, the furious courage of their warriors; and worked up their passions to such a pitch, that the scene, though unbloody, seemed fraught with slaughter, and that which was but the semblance, assumed all the horrors of actual reality. Twice did they make this dreadful charge with the same apparent fury, after which they danced and sung the war-song, when the raging vengeance of the scene was softened down by three females, who joining in the dance amidst the plaudits of the assemblage, soon chased away the

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horrid discord, and held all the warriors in mute attention to their graceful movements. When these females had concluded their performance, the entire party seated themselves down in the midst of the enclosure, and it being Wiveeah's turn now to exhibit a similar display of martial tumult, this chief drew out his men in order of battle; and leading them down to the water's edge, in the same manner as his adversary, he put them through evolutions equally violent, and resembling as nearly as possible, those that had been practised on the opposite side.

This frantic exhibition of their respective strength, being now concluded on both sides, the orators again stood up, and again claimed the same attention from the assemblage. The first of these was the veteran speaker, who now presented himself with renewed vehemence; and whether the display of these warlike movements had called forth all his martial spirit, or whether he thought his countrymen too tame in wasting their military energies in mock encounters, I know not; but from being only vehement at the beginning of his harangue, he became, as he proceeded, quite outrageous, and literally jumped about the field with raving violence. He was answered

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by Wiveeah in a speech of some length, as were also two other orators who succeeded him; and at length the injured chief Henou, rising from his seat with venerable gravity, delivered an address with much gentleness of manner, and which was probably an affecting lecture to his rival, though unmarked by any symptoms of indignant recrimination. Wiveeah replied to this address with equal mildness, and his three wives now deemed it expedient to interpose their oratory, as confirming mediators between the parties, though there was no longer any enmity existing on either side. They spoke with great animation, and the warriors listened to their separate speeches in attentive silence; they assumed, I thought, a very determined tone, employing a great deal of impressive action, and looking towards the opposite chief with an asperity of countenance, not warranted by the mild forbearance of his deportment. The expostulating harangues (as I should suppose they were) of these sturdy ladies, completed the ceremonials of this singular conference; and the reconciliation being thus consummated, the parties now entertained no sentiments towards each other but those of reciprocal amity. Happy

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would it be for the natives of this country, if all their dissensions were adjusted in this amicable manner; and I am rather inclined to believe, that however great is their impatience for war, they are still not insensible to the dictates of peace, but are often ready, as in this instance, to compromise their feuds with a mutual spirit of forbearance. This disposition to let the force of reason supersede the violence of resentment, even in the very height of their rage, and at the moment when its ebullitions seem too furious to subside, is a fine proof of the great intellectual character of these people; and perhaps a nobler instance cannot be given of the superiority of the human mind over the instinctive faculty of the brute species, than that the savage is capable of this unexpected transition.

Henou and his party now left the field, and went to their respective places of residence; and it was certainly fortunate for Wiveeah that they had forborne to attack him, the advantage being evidently on their side in point of numbers. When these had departed, the warriors on our side dispersed likewise; and being much entertained with the spectacle I had witnessed, I now col-

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lected my party together, and got into the canoe, attended by Tupee, who wished to accompany me to the vessel. As we were rowing down the river, the sun was setting behind the distant hills, and as it cast its parting rays upon them, I could discern the Indian warriors winding their devious course over the high lands; and the sight was altogether so imposing and singular, when connected with the romantic localities of the scene, and the associations they induced, that I beheld it with a pleasing admiration while it was yet in view; nor can I at this moment bring the picture to my recollection, without having my mind impressed with a similar feeling.