FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102  
103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   >>   >|  
stature, have a dark hue, and, in general, forbidding features. If we met with a fine woman among them, we were sure, upon enquiry, to find that she had come from some other island. The general appearance of Eimeo is very different from that Otaheite. The latter rising in one steep hilly body, has little low land, except some deep valleys; and the flat border that surrounds the greatest part of it toward the sea. Eimeo, on the contrary, has hills running in different directions, which are very steep and rugged, leaving, in the interspaces, very large valleys, and gently-rising grounds about their sides. These hills, though of a rocky disposition, are, in general, covered, almost to their tops, with trees; but the lower parts, on the sides, frequently only with fern. At the bottom of the harbour, where we lay, the ground rises gently to the foot of the hills, which run across nearly in the middle of the island; but its flat border, on each side, at a very small distance from the sea, becomes quite steep. This gives it a romantic cast, which renders it a prospect superior to any thing we saw at Otaheite. The soil, about the low grounds, is a yellowish and pretty stiff mould; but, upon the lower hills, it is blacker and more loose; and the stone that composes the hills, is, when broken, of a blueish colour, but not very compact texture, with some particles of _glimmer_ interspersed. These particles seem worthy of observation. Perhaps the reader will think differently of my judgment, when I add, that, near the station of our ships, were two large stones, or rather rocks, concerning which the natives have some superstitious notions. They consider them as _eatooas_, or divinities; saying, that they are brother and sister, and that they came by some supernatural means from Ulieta. SECTION VI. _Arrival at Huaheine.--Council of the Chiefs.--Omai's Offerings, and Speech to the Chiefs.--His Establishment in this Island agreed to.--A House built, and Garden planted for him.--Singularity of his Situation.--Measures taken to insure his Safety.--Damage done by Cock-roaches on board the Ships.--A Thief detected and punished.--Fire-works exhibited.--Animals left with Omai.--His Family.--Weapons.--Inscription on his House.--His Behaviour on the Ships leaving the Island.--Summary View of his Conduct and Character.--Account of the two New Zealand Youths._ Having left Eimeo with a gentle breeze and fine weather, at day-break, t
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102  
103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

general

 

border

 

grounds

 

Chiefs

 
Island
 

gently

 

valleys

 

leaving

 

island

 

particles


Otaheite

 

rising

 

notions

 
Arrival
 
SECTION
 
Ulieta
 

Huaheine

 

Offerings

 

differently

 

Council


judgment

 

brother

 

stones

 
divinities
 

eatooas

 

sister

 
station
 
natives
 

superstitious

 
supernatural

Safety
 

Behaviour

 
Summary
 

Conduct

 
Inscription
 

Weapons

 

exhibited

 
Animals
 

Family

 

Character


Account

 
weather
 

breeze

 

gentle

 
Zealand
 

Youths

 

Having

 

punished

 
Singularity
 

Situation