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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 356, 8 March 1866, Page 2

The Chatham Islands. —The new number of the “Proceedings of the Linnean Society” con* tains some interesting notes, by Mr U. Hammersly Travers, on the Chatham Islands, a prosperous settlement of the New Zealanders, established by them about 1835, when they took forcible possesion, killing and eating very many of the natives (Morioris) and reducing the rest to slavery. It appears that the report of tho plump, well-led persons of the latter led to their destruction. They are ranch shorter and stouter built than their masters, and have darker skins, but thesarae straight hair. Their faces are rounder and more pleasing in expression, and their noses are Roman in shape, resembling the Jews. They have never tatooed, and discontinued cannibalism before the arrival of the New Zealanders. Their disposition is cheerful and easy, and their habits of living rude and improvident, their indolence preventing them even from seeking food until pressed by hunger. Their mode of government was very primitive; their ruler having been generally the most successful birdcatcher or fisher. They have no idea of a God, but believe that a good fishing or hunting ground is under the charge of an “ atua,” or good spirit. Mr Travers gives details of the botany and zoology of the Islands. Besides wild cats, Norway rate, and English mice, there are no indigenous mammals on the islands; but seals, whales, and porpoises abound on the coasts. Pitts Island is covered with bush, but in Chatham Island the majority of the plants are identical with those of New Zealand. Many introduced plants, such as English fruit trees and vegetables, white clover, daises, docks, mustard, &c., grow vigorously. Mr Travers was hospitably received by Mr Fredrick Hunt, who settled on Pitt's Island some 20 years ago, and from whom he obtained much valuable information. The number also contains several papers specially interesting to advanced botanists.