Polynesian Researches, During a Residence of Nearly Six Years in the South Sea Islands, Including Descriptions of the Natural History and Scenery of the Islands, with Remarks on the History, Mythology, Traditions, Government, Arts, Manners, and Customs of the Inhabitants, Volume 1 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Afareaitu appeared Areois arrival Atehuru attended Barff beach beheld body Borabora bread-fruit called canoe Captain ceremonies chiefs Christ Christianity circumstances cocoa-nut colour commenced companions death degree delighted desire district dwelling effect Eimeo employed endeavoured engaged England erected exhibited favour feet formed frequently friends fruit furnished gods gospel habits Huahine idolatry idols inches influence inhabitants instruction Jehovah kind king labour land leaves Leeward Islands Matavai means ment mind Mission Missionaries morning mountains murder native cloth Nott occasion offered Papara Papetoai Pare party Pearl Islands plantain planted Pomare Pomare's Port Jackson prayer present priest principal procured Raiatea reached received reef religion remarkably residence round sacred sailed Sandwich Islands sent ship shore side Society Islands sometimes soon South Sea Islands South Wales spirit station Tahaa Tahiti Tahitian tataued temple tion tree Tubuai vessel visited voyage worship Zealand
Popular passages
Page 101 - An act for the more effectual punishment of murders and manslaughters committed in places not. within his Majesty's dominions.
Page 4 - Sea, in whose character we find such a mixture of perversity and meekness: the state of half-civilization in which these islanders are found, gives a peculiar charm to the description of their manners. Here, a king, followed by a numerous suite, comes and presents the fruits of his orchard ; there, the funeral festival embrowns the shade of the lofty forest.
Page 134 - Of superstition, ignorance, and hell : High on the pagan hills, where Satan sat Encamped, and o'er the subject kingdoms threw Perpetual night, to plant Immanuel's cross, The ensign of the Gospel, blazing round Immortal truth...
Page 405 - I gave these also. Each wrapped his book up in a piece of white native cloth, put it in his bosom, wished me good morning, and without, I believe...
Page 487 - With scarce inferior lustre gleam'd the sea, Whose waves were spangled with phosphoric fire, As though the lightnings there had spent their shafts, And left the fragments glittering on the field.
Page 286 - Their traditionary ballads were a kind of standard, or classical authority, to which they referred for the purpose of determining any disputed fact in their history." And when doubts arose, " as they had no records to which they could at such times refer, they could only oppose one oral tradition to another ; which unavoidably involved the parties in protracted and often obstinate debates.
Page 317 - Upaupa was the name of many of their exhibitions. In performing these, they sometimes sat in a circle on the ground, and recited, in concert, a legend or song in honour of their gods, or some distinguished Areoi. The leader of the party stood in the centre, and introduced the recitation with a sort of prologue, when, with a number of fantastic movements and attitudes, those that sat around began their song in a low and measured tone and voice ; which increased as they proceeded, till it became vociferous...
Page 9 - O thou great Arbiter of life and death ! Nature's immortal, immaterial sun ! Whose all-prolific beam late call'd me forth From darkness, teeming darkness, where I lay The worm's inferior ; and, in rank, beneath The dust I tread on ; high to bear my brow, To drink the spirit of the golden day, And triumph in existence...
Page 102 - ... or may hereafter be issued, under and by virtue, and in pursuance of, an act passed in the forty-sixth year of his present majesty, entitled, 'An Act for the more speedy trial of offences committed in distant countries, or upon the sea.
Page 265 - Ua pau! i te bure anae ;" Vanquished ! vanquished ! by prayer alone ! His words at first seemed but as words of irony or jest; but the earnestness of his manner, the details he gave, and the intelligence he brought from the king and some of the chiefs, confirmed the declaration. The Missionaries were almost overcome with surprise, and hastened to render their acknowledgments of grateful praise to the Most High, under feelings that it would be impossible to describe. It was, indeed, a joy unspeakable,...