File:Life on the ocean- (1845) (14782769442).jpg

Identifier: lifeonocean00litt (find matches)
Title: Life on the ocean:
Year: 1845 (1840s)
Authors: Little, George, b. 1791? (from old catalog)
Subjects: Voyages and travels Sailors
Publisher: Boston, Waite, Peirce, and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
onstructed, yet they were of great beauty, and,as regards speed, nothing that floats, of the same length,can excel them. Each of the canoes had an outrigger,which is taken up or let down at pleasure, to preventcapsizing in sudden flaws of wind. With the exception of the king and two of the prin-cipal chiefs, the natives were almost in a state of natureas regards clothing, having nothing about them exceptwhat they termed a tappa,^ which is a piece of cloth,made of grass, thrown around their loins. The kingand two chiefs, however, in addition to this species ofdress, had a piece of red broadcloth, (no doubt purchasedfrom a ship that had touched here,) which hung looselyover the back, forming a kind of mantle, and was securedin the front with a gaudy ribbon, topped off with somefeathers sewn together, to form a head-dress. Thesechiefs were received in the most polite manner by Capt.W., and in return they gave us a hearty welcome, andpromised to afford every facility in procuring refresh-
Text Appearing After Image:
o -3 LIFE ON THE OCEAN. 131 ments., the principal object of our visit to the island.After a stay of about an hour, during which they weretreated with great kindness, Capt. VV. gave them manypresents, at which they expressed much satisfaction, andthen took their leave. February 25. — At daylight, many canoes came offfilled with the natives, both male and female, bringingwith them almost all kinds of tropical fruits, togetherwith yams, tarra-root — a good substitute for potatoes;also geese, fowls, and hogs, which are abundant in theseislands. The only point of difference in the dress ofthe females, was, that the color of the cloth worn aroundthe loins was more gaudy. Indeed, they were almost ina complete state of nature. The males were in generalsmall in stature, and slightly formed. The femaleswere finely proportioned, their forms symmetrical, theircountenances pleasing, with features corresponding moreto the European stamp than the Indians of either Northor South America. We found

Note About Images