SYKYANA AND SAN CHRISTOVAL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4792, 1 August 1876, Page 3

SYKYANA AND SAN CHRISTOVAL.

(From the Melbourne Arrjus.)' In view of the recent deplorable atrocities committed in the islands of the South Pacific, it may not be without interest to hear a few details of a wonderfully opposite character, and which show that in one little island at least the natives are of an eminently pacific disposition. The Hafrsfjord, a Norwegian barque, which has arrived in port from Japan, and which, by the way, brings a large consignment of Japanese curiosities, came by the eastern route from Yokohama to this port, and on the voyage called at Sykyana, or Stewart’s Island, situated in lat. Bdeg. 24min. S., and long. 163 deg. 3min. E. On getting close to the island several canoes came alongside with cocoanuts, and other fruit and produce, and the natives, amongst whom were the king or chief of the island and his_ son, made friendly demonstrations. Captain Meyer received his royal visitors in a friendly manner, showed them some little attention, and invited them into the cabin. There -was no difference between the costume of the dusky potentate and his people, and he had very few trappings to symbolise his -rank. To remedy this symplicity of distinction, a white coat and pair of pants were given him, which he readily donned, but was too well bred to express surprise at the alteration it made m his appearance. Very Httle curiosity was manifested by the visitors at all they saw on board, except when Captain Meyer got his sextant to take an observation. The king, who was standing near, inquired what he was doing, but the performance, although explained as lucidly as possible, seemed to puzzle him altogether. Au invitation to go on shore and see the island was accepted, and Captain Meyer, with Mr. 0-. Bottiger, and Mr. W. Wake, two passengers by the Hafrsfjord, joined the expedition, the two latter taking their fowling-pieces with them, as the natives had said there were wild pigeons on the island. Previous to getting into the ship’s boat, Captain Meyer was about to fasten his revolver in his belt, hut the action being observed by the king, he went up to him and said in effect, “ I do not like you to take that weapon with you. We trusted you and you must in return trust us.” Acting on a frank and fearless impulse, Captain Meyer put back the revolver, and said, “So be it, then, I will trust you." In conveying the king and prince to the island, it was ascertained from the former that about two years have elapsed since a vessel hove-to at the island, and allowed natives on board. A reference book was afterwards handed to one of the passengers to write something in it about the visit of the barque, and on perusing the book it was found that since 1852 only nine vessels had visited the island, and four of these were American whalers, which had called for provisions, &e. AU the notices in the book gave the natives a most favorable character. It has been stated that the Austrian frigate Novara called at Stewart’s Island while on a cruise, but the natives had no recollection of her. The party remained on shore all night, the king sending his sou on board the barque as a hostage. Several of the party bathed between the island and the outside reef next morning, and the natives made na sign until the bathers returned to term firma, and then they began capering and dancing, and saying, “ Shark no eat white man, shark no eat white man.” The consternation ■of the swimmers may be imagined when they were informed that sharks swarmed about the place. Next day, on returning to the vessel, there was a plentiful interchange ■of presents, combs, pieces of calico, and other comparatively trifling articles being highly prized by the natives. Previous to getting under way, the king’s son had expressed a wish to leave the island, and accompany Captain Meyer on his voyage, but at the', very last he wavered, and judging, according to his light, that it was better to bear the ills he knew about than encounter others of which he had no conception, he returned to his principality and his people. Captain Meyer gives the natives a high character for honesty and friendliness of purpose. After sailing for about 160 miles, San Christoval, the easternmost of the Solomon Group, was sighted, and on nearing the land, three large canoes, different in construction from those seen at Stewart Island, approached the barque. Evidently the canoes had no intention of trading, spears and hatchets being the only commodities visible. Thenatives|weremost urgent in their gesticulations for a party to go on shore, but Captain Meyer, not being altogether favorably impressed with their appearance, affected to misunderstand their invitation. They pointed to a large schooner-rigged vessel at a distance, as if to attract attention to it, hut on loofdng through the glass, the schooner had all the appearance of being on a reef, among tho breakers. The American ensign was flying, hut no sign of distress or otherwise, and Captain Meyer formed an impression that the natives were making a decoy of the schooner in order to entice them on shore. Tie natives were evidently of a different type from those of Stewart’s Island, being smaller in physique, and having their hair done up differently, and being far less pleasing in their appearance. Their savage looks, and the circumstance of their being so well armed with native weapons, decided Captain Meyer to finaUy decline their overtures to land, and the barque kept away on her course.