THE HEAD OF THE VALLEY--CAUTIOUS ADVANCE--A PATH--FRUIT--DISCOVERY OF TWO OF THE NATIVES--THEIR SINGULAR CONDUCT--APPROACH TOWARDS THE INHABITED PARTS OF THE VALE--SENSATION PRODUCED BY OUR APPEARANCE--RECEPTION AT THE HOUSE OF ONE OF THE NATIVES
I objected strongly to this proposition, plausible as it was, as the difficulties of the route would be almost insurmountable, unacquainted as we were with the general bearings of the country, and I reminded my companion of the hardships which we had already encountered in our uncertain wanderings; in a word, I said that since we had deemed it advisable to enter the valley, we ought manfully to face the consequences, whatever they might be; the more especially as I was convinced there was no alternative left us but to fall in with the natives at once, and boldly risk the reception they might give us; and that as to myself, I felt the necessity of rest and shelter, and that until I had obtained them, I should be wholly unable to encounter such sufferings as we had lately passed through.
It remains a lasting monument of the enterprising and unfortunate Captain Cook, who was murdered by the natives of this island.
Beyond these, however, the country was fertile and well cultivated, with inclosures of yams, plantains, sweet potatoes, sugar-canes, and other productions of warm climates and teeming soils; and the numerous habitations of the natives were pleasantly sheltered beneath clumps of cocoanut and bread-fruit trees, which afforded both food and shade.
The
native warriors filed out, and with them a half-dozen white men.
(5) material, and (6) religious points of view; thirdly, that evidence should be required from the rival department of the measures that had been taken during the last ten years by that department for averting the disastrous conditions in which the
native tribes were now placed; and fourthly and finally, that that department explain why it had, as appeared from the evidence before the committee, from No.
Once more the professor and the
native conversed in the strange tongue, and then Professor Bumper announced:
Conseil and I were absorbed in the contemplation of our treasure, and I was promising myself to enrich the museum with it, when a stone unfortunately thrown by a
native struck against, and broke, the precious object in Conseil's hand.
"He did not come much to Papeete after that, and about a year later it chanced that I had to go to that part of the island for I forgot what business, and when I had finished it I said to myself: ` Voyons , why should I not go and see that poor Strickland?' I asked one or two
natives if they knew anything about him, and I discovered that he lived not more than five kilometres from where I was.
In translating this information to Professor Maxon, von Horn habitually made it appear that the girl was in the hands of Number Thirteen, or Bulan, as they had now come to call him owing to the
natives' constant use of that name in speaking of the strange, and formidable white giant who had invaded their land.
When we came within hail, one of the four
natives who were present advanced to receive us, and began to shout most vehemently, wishing to direct us where to land.
They now turned toward the south, and passing numerous small bands of
natives, posted upon various streams, arrived at the Spanish village and post of Monterey.