World Ho!
Five suns rose and set. And Yillah pining for the shore, we turned our
prow due west, and next morning came in sight of land.
It was innumerable islands; lifting themselves bluely through the azure
air, and looking upon the distant sea, like haycocks in a hazy field.
Towering above all, and mid-most, rose a mighty peak; one fleecy cloud
sloping against its summit; a column wreathed. Beyond, like purple
steeps in heaven at set of sun, stretched far away, what seemed lands
on lands, in infinite perspective.
Gliding on, the islands grew more distinct; rising up from the billows
to greet us; revealing hills, vales, and peaks, grouped within a
milk-white zone of reef, so vast, that in the distance all was dim. The
jeweled vapors, ere-while hovering over these violet shores, now seemed
to be shedding their gems; and as the almost level rays of the sun,
shooting through the air like a variegated prism, touched the verdant
land, it trembled all over with dewy sparkles.
Still nearer we came: our sail faintly distended as the breeze died
away from our vicinity to the isles. The billows rolled listlessly by,
as if conscious that their long task was nigh done; while gleamed the
white reef, like the trail of a great fish in a calm. But as yet, no
sign of paddle or canoe; no distant smoke; no shining thatch. Bravo!
good comrades, we’ve discovered some new constellation in the sea.
Sweet Yillah, no more of Oroolia; see you not this flowery land?
Nevermore shall we desire to roam.
Voyaging along the zone, we came to an opening; and quitting the
firmament blue of the open sea, we glided in upon the still, green
waters of the wide lagoon. Mapped out in the broad shadows of the
isles, and tinted here and there with the reflected hues of the sun
clouds, the mild waters stretched all around us like another sky. Near
by the break in the reef, was a little island, with palm trees harping
in the breeze; an aviary of alluring sounds, that seemed calling upon
us to land. And here, Yillah, whom the sight of the verdure had made
glad, threw out a merry suggestion. Nothing less, than to plant our
mast, sail-set, upon the highest hill; and fly away, island and all;
trees rocking, birds caroling, flowers springing; away, away, across
the wide waters, to Oroolia! But alas! how weigh the isle’s coral
anchor, leagues down in the fathomless sea?
We glanced around; but all the islands seemed slumbering in the
flooding light.
“A canoe! a canoe!” cried Samoa, as three proas showed themselves
rounding a neighboring shore. Instantly we sailed for them; but after
shooting to and fro for a time, and standing up and gazing at us, the
Islanders retreated behind the headland. Hardly were they out of sight,
when from many a shore roundabout, other proas pushed off. Soon the
water all round us was enlivened by fleets of canoes, darting hither
and thither like frighted water-fowls. Presently they all made for one
island.
From their actions we argued that these people could have had but
little or no intercourse with whites; and most probably knew not how to
account for our appearance among them. Desirous, therefore, of a
friendly meeting, ere any hostile suspicions might arise, we pointed
our craft for the island, whither all the canoes were now hastening.
Whereupon, those which had not yet reached their destination, turned
and fled; while the occupants of the proas that had landed, ran into
the groves, and were lost to view.
Crossing the distinct outer line of the isle’s shadow on the water, we
gained the shore; and gliding along its margin, passing canoe after
canoe, hauled up on the silent beach, which otherwise seemed entirely
innocent of man.
A dilemma. But I decided at last upon disembarking Jarl and Samoa, to
seek out and conciliate the natives. So, landing them upon a jutting
buttress of coral, whence they waded to the shore; I pushed off with
Yillah into the water beyond, to await the event.
Full an hour must have elapsed; when, to our great joy, loud shouts
were heard; and there burst into view a tumultuous crowd, in the midst
of which my Viking was descried, mounted upon the shoulders of two
brawny natives; while the Upoluan, striding on in advance, seemed
resisting a similar attempt to elevate him in the world.
Good omens both.
“Come ashore!” cried Jarl. “Aramai!” cried Samoa; while storms of
interjections went up from the Islanders who with extravagant gestures
danced about the beach.
Further caution seemed needless: I pointed our prow for the shore. No
sooner was this perceived, than, raising an applauding shout, the
Islanders ran up to their waists in the sea. And skimming like a gull
over the smooth lagoon, the light shallop darted in among them. Quick
as thought, fifty hands were on the gunwale: and, with all its
contents, lifted bodily into the air, the little Chamois, upon many a
dripping shoulder, was borne deep into the groves. Yillah shrieked at
the rocking motion, and when the boughs of the trees brushed against
the tent.
With his staff, an old man now pointed to a couple of twin-like trees,
some four paces apart; and a little way from the ground conveniently
crotched.
And here, eftsoons, they deposited their burden; lowering the Chamois
gently between the forks of the trees, whose willow-like foliage
fringed the tent and its inmate.