Four Years in the Pacific (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849. Excerpt: ... THE SOCIETY ISLES.--TAHEITE. 81 CHAPTER V. THE SOCIETY ISLES--TAHEITE. Beautiful Appearance Of Taheite.--The Bat Of Papiete.--Discovery Attachment To The English.--Abundant Vegetation.--Scenery.--The Natives.--Their Costume.--Observance Of Sunday.--Love Of Strong Liquors Excursion The Guava.--Visit To Toma Phor.--Warm Welcome.--Pomare's Ill-advised Act.--The National Colours.--The Runaway.--Excursion.--Means Of Resistance.--Skirmish.--Indian Graves.--Burial.--The Merry Bath.--The Repast.--Cookery.--The Feast.--The Dance.--The Women Of Fatawa. A Death Scene.--Funeral.--The BroomRoad.--Cook's Orange Grove.--Gathering Cocoa-nuts.--Fine Flavour When Fresh.--Native Treason.--Skirmish.--Dislike Of The French. How pleasant were the songs of Toobonai, When summer's sun went down the coral bay! Come! let us to the islet's softest shade, And hear the warbling birds! the damsels said: The wood-dove from the forest depth shall coo, Like voices of the gods from Bolotoo; We '11 cull the flowers that grow above the dead, For these must bloom where rests the warrior's head; And we will sit in twilight's face, and see The sweet moon glancing through the tooa-tree, The lofty accents of whose sighing bough Shall sadly please us as we lean below; Or climb the steep, and view the surf in vain Wrestle with rocky giants o'er the main, Which spurn in columns back the baffled spray. Byron. VOL. II. 82 BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE OF TAHEITE. It was Sunday on shore as our noble vessel ran along the outside of the reef which encircles the island of Taheite: beyond all was noisy boisterous ocean, but the coral boundary checked its raging waters; within, towards the shore, it was calm and beautifully blue, bathing the sand without a ripple, or curling up amidst the trees. As we sailed along, ...