294

LANDING.

scarce above the brute in their nature and habits, asthose alike ignorant and reckless of all distinctionbetween that which is right and that which is wrong,they treat them with utter contempt, except whenviews of immediate selfishness dictate the contrary;and themselves too often lay aside, in their inter-course with them, both the principles and practicesof morality and even a customary regard to com-mon justice and honesty. They care not what theimpression left by them among such a people maybe, and seem to have no foresight of the evils thatmay result from their ill conduct to others who maycome after them.

Believing this to be the fact, Captain Finch is de-sirous of staying its consequences as far as practi-cable, and of removing any former ill impressionsby paying to their chiefs, as the rulers of a sovereignpeople, every mark of respect in his power. Weearly had direct proof of the wisdom of this determi-nation and of the capacity of these savage chief-tains rightly to appreciate the dress and etiquette ofa ceremonious visit, in comparison with a common-place and informal call, in the disappointment andchagrin openly expressed by the Taua of Taioa, be-cause the parties visiting his valley and people wentin the undress suitable for a pic-nic, and not in thedisplay in which he had first met us at Taiohae.

But to return: the beach was not much throngedwhen we landed, great numbers of the men beingon board the Vincennes with cocoa-nuts and differentarticles for barter, while crowds of females coveredthe rocks abreast of her and could not make their