The beautiful island of Tahiti was discovered by Captain Wallis in the
year 1767.
It was on a bright day in June when he first saw it from the deck, but
when his vessel (the _Dolphin_) came close to it, a thick mist descended
like a veil and shut it out from view of the impatient mariners, who
were compelled to lie to until the mist should clear away. At length it
rolled off, and disclosed one of the most lovely and delightful scenes
that could be imagined.
The _Dolphin_ being the first ship that ever touched at Tahiti, the
natives, as we may well imagine, were filled with amazement at its vast
size and curious shape. No sooner did the ship draw near than she was
surrounded by hundreds of canoes, containing altogether nearly a
thousand naked savages. At first the poor creatures were afraid to draw
near. They sat in their little barks gazing at the "big canoe" in
silent wonder or talking to each other about her in low eager tones, but
never for a moment taking their eyes off this great sight!
At last, after consulting together, they began to paddle slowly round
the ship, and make signs of peace and friendship, which those on board
were not slow to return, endeavouring to induce some of them to come on
deck. This they were naturally afraid to do, but at length one fellow
took heart and began by making a speech, which lasted for full fifteen
minutes. As none of the sailors understood a word of it, they were not
much enlightened; but the savage, who held a branch of the plantain-tree
in his hand during his oration, concluded by casting this branch into
the sea. This was meant as a sign of friendship, for soon after, a
number of similar branches were thrown on the ship's deck, and then a
few of the islanders ventured on board.
There was "much talk," however, on the part of the savages, before they
began to feel at ease. Trinkets of various kinds were now offered to
them, and they gazed around them with great interest, gradually losing
their fears under the kindness of Captain Wallis and his companions.
This happy state of things, however, was suddenly interrupted by a goat
belonging to the ship, which, not liking the appearance of the
strangers, attacked one of them unceremoniously, and butted at him with
its head. Turning quickly round, the savage was filled with terror on
beholding a creature, the like of which he had never seen before, reared
on its hind legs, and preparing to repeat the blow. Without a moment's
hesitation he rushed in consternation to the ship's side, and plunged
into the sea, whither he was followed by all his countrymen in the
twinkling of an eye. A storm of musket bullets could not have cleared
the deck more quickly than did the attack of that pugnacious goat!
In a short time they recovered from their terrors, the ill-behaved goat
was removed, and some of the natives were again induced to return on
board, where they were treated with the utmost kindness, and presented
with such trifling gifts as beads and nails, etcetera, much to their
delight. Notwithstanding this, however, the visit terminated
inharmoniously in consequence of one of the natives snatching a
gold-laced hat from an officer's head, and jumping with it into the sea!
After this Wallis stood in-shore, intending to anchor, and sent his
boats still closer to the land to take soundings. Here they were
immediately surrounded by a great number of canoes, and the captain,
suspecting the natives of hostile intentions, fired a nine-pounder over
their heads. They were much startled by the unknown and terrible sound,
but, seeing that no result followed, they proceeded to attack the boats,
sending showers of stones into them, and wounding some of the men. It
now became necessary to act in earnest, so a musket-shot was discharged
at the savage who began the attack. The ball pierced his shoulder,
whereupon the whole host paddled to the shore in great terror and
confusion.
Notwithstanding this, the islanders soon returned to the ship with their
boughs of peace: a speech was made by one of them. A few trinkets were
given by the Europeans, and friendship was again restored; but next
morning, when the boats were in-shore searching for fresh water, a
second attack was made upon them. Three large canoes ran against the
ship's cutter, and stove in some of her upper planks. The natives were
about to leap on board when a volley was fired into them, and two of
their number fell into the sea. On seeing this they instantly retired,
and the wounded men were dragged into the canoes.
Never having seen the effects of fire-arms before, the astonished
savages apparently could not understand what was wrong with their
comrades. They set them on their feet, but finding they could not
stand, they tried to make them sit upright. One of them being only
wounded, was able to remain in this position, but the other was dead, so
they had to lay him in the bottom of their canoe. Once again they made
peaceful signs, and Wallis, who was most anxious to avoid bloodshed, met
them more than half-way. Traffic was speedily opened, and a
considerable quantity of fruit, fowls, and hogs was obtained in exchange
for scissors, knives, beads, and small trinkets of little value. But
this did not last long. Warlike preparations were renewed by the
natives, and many of their canoes were seen to be filled with large
pebbles. At last an attack was made on the ship itself, and a regular
battle was fought.
This happened early in the morning when the sailors were engaged
trafficking with the people in the canoes that contained provisions.
Captain Wallis observed, with some anxiety, that, besides those
provision canoes, many others of large size and filled with stones were
gradually crowding round the ship; he therefore kept part of the crew
armed, and loaded his guns. More canoes were putting off from shore and
crowding round until there were about three hundred of them, with
upwards of two thousand men, some of whom sang a gruff sort of war-song,
while others blew into a shell as if it were a trumpet, and some played
on an instrument resembling a flute.
In the midst of these discordant noises one canoe, larger than the
others, and with a canopy over it, pushed alongside, and a naked warrior
handed up a bunch of red and yellow feathers. This was, of course,
supposed to be a sign of peace, but such was not the case. Immediately
afterwards the canoe pushed off and the leader threw into the air the
branch of a cocoa-nut tree. This was the signal. A general shout burst
from the savages; the canoes made for the ship, and showers of stones
were thrown on board. Many of these stones were fully two pounds
weight, and as they were thrown with great force, some of the sailors
were severely wounded.
The crew of the _Dolphin_ rushed to quarters. The watch on deck
instantly opened a fire of musketry on those nearest the ship, and two
of the quarter-deck swivel guns, which happened to be loaded with
small-shot, were also discharged. This warm and vigorous reception
checked the attack for a few minutes; but the courage of the savages was
aroused. They quickly renewed the assault, coming on in all directions,
and receiving constant reinforcements from the shore. But now the great
guns of the ship were brought into play; the thunder of artillery
echoed, for the first time, from the mountain-sides of Tahiti; and, as
the heavy balls tore up the sea and crashed upon the shore, the
terrified natives in the canoes nearest the ship took to flight.
Seeing this, the Captain at once ordered the fire to cease, being
anxious to do as little harm as possible. This, however, had the effect
of restoring confidence to the natives, who lay for some time gazing at
the ship from a considerable distance. They had evidently profited by
their short experience in this new style of warfare, for, observing that
the terrible iron shower came thundering only from the _sides_ of the
ship, they made their next attack on the bow and stern--advancing with
much daring, and throwing their stones with great violence and good aim,
insomuch that some more of the men were severely hurt.
There is no saying what might have been the end of this fight, had not a
lucky cannon-shot, fired from one of the great guns that had been run
out at the bow, hit the canoe of the savage chief, and cut it in two. A
result so tremendous had the effect of filling the hearts of the savages
with terror. Every canoe turned tail and made for the shore in dire
confusion, while the people who had crowded the beach took to their
heels and ran over the hills in the utmost haste, as if they felt their
only safety lay in placing the mountains between them and the terrible
strangers in the big canoe. In half an hour not a single canoe was to
be seen!
Captain Wallis now hoped that the natives would feel his immense
superiority, and cease a useless contest, but he was mistaken. He was
not yet done with them. They were a very determined set of men. Soon
after this fight they were observed making preparations for a renewed
attack. They could be seen pouring over the hills in all directions,
and lurking in the thickets, while, round the point, numbers of
war-canoes came paddling to the beach, where fresh warriors and bags of
stones were embarked. It was evident that a grand attack was to be
made; so Wallis prepared to repel it. Soon after, the bay was crowded
with canoes as they paddled straight and swift toward the ship. At once
the great guns opened with terrible effect, and so tremendous a fire was
kept up that the entire flotilla was almost instantly dispersed. Many
of the canoes were run ashore and deserted; others fled round the point,
and the savages took to the woods. Into these the fire was then
directed, and the natives, who doubtless imagined that no danger could
penetrate from such a distance into the heart of their thick bushes,
were driven, astonished and horrified, up a hill on which thousands of
women and children had taken up their position to witness the fight.
Here they deemed themselves quite safe, but Captain Wallis resolved to
show them that they were not so. He thought that the best thing he
could do would be to inspire them with a wholesome dread of his
tremendous artillery, so he ordered the guns to be fired at the crowded
hill. The shots tore up the earth near a tree under which a dense crowd
was collected. It need scarcely be added that the whole host fled on
the wings of terror, and in less than two minutes not a man, woman, or
child was to be seen.
The natives now at length submitted. Not many hours after the close of
this fight, a few of them came down to the beach carrying green boughs
which they stuck into the sand, and placed beside them a peace-offering
of hogs and dogs and bundles of native cloth. Of course Wallis was
right glad to accept it, and in return gave them presents of hatchets,
nails, and other things. Peace was now thoroughly established, and the
two parties engaged in amicable traffic with as much good-will as if
they had neither quarrelled nor fought. The queen of the island visited
the ship, and from that time till the _Dolphin_ left everything went
smoothly.
The ignorance of the natives as to the relative value of various metals
was curiously shown one day. In order to find out what things they
liked best, Captain Wallis spread before them a coin called a johannes,
a guinea, a crown piece, a Spanish dollar, a few shillings, some new
halfpence, and two large nails, and made a sign to them to help
themselves. The nails were first seized with great eagerness, and then
a few of the glittering new halfpence, but the silver and gold lay
neglected!
The friendship thus established continued to increase as long as Wallis
remained there, and when at length he took his departure the natives
exhibited every sign of extreme regret--the queen especially was
inconsolable, and wept bitterly when she bade them farewell.
Such were a few of the scenes that occurred at the discovery of Tahiti,
an island which has since become famous as the scene of the residence of
the mutineers of the _Bounty_, and the field of much earnest and deeply
interesting missionary labour.