valley--the progeny of some cocks and hens accidentally left there by an
English vessel, and which, being strictly tabooed, flew about almost in a
wild state--he determined to break through all restraints, and be the death
of them. Accordingly, he provided himself with a most formidable-looking
gun, and announced his landing on the beach by shooting down a noble cock,
that was crowing what proved to be his own funeral dirge on the limb of an
adjoining tree. "Taboo," shrieked the affrighted savages. "Oh, hang your
taboo," says the nautical sportsman; "talk taboo to the marines"; and bang
went the piece again, and down came another victim. At this the natives
ran scampering through the groves, horror-struck at the enormity of the
act.

All that afternoon the rocky sides of the valley rang with successive
reports, and the superb plumage of many a beautiful fowl was ruffled by
the fatal bullet. Had it not been that the French admiral, with a large
party, was then in the glen, I have no doubt that the natives, although
their tribe was small and dispirited, would have inflicted summary
vengeance upon the man who thus outraged their most sacred institutions;
as it was, they contrived to annoy him not a little.

Thirsting with his exertions, the skipper directed his steps to a stream;
but the savages, who had followed at a little distance, perceiving his
object, rushed towards him and forced him away from its bank--his lips
would have polluted it. Wearied at last, he sought to enter a house that
he might rest for awhile on the mats; its inmates gathered tumultuously
about the door and denied him admittance. He coaxed and blustered by
turns, but in vain; the natives were neither to be intimidated nor
appeased, and as a final resort he was obliged to call together his boat's
crew, and pull away from what he termed the most infernal place he ever
stepped upon.

Lucky was it for him and for us that we were not honoured on our departure
by a salute of stones from the hands of the exasperated Tiors. In this
way, on the neighbouring island of Ropo, were killed, but a few weeks
previously, and for a nearly similar offence, the master and three of the
crew of the K----.

I cannot determine, with anything approaching to certainty, what power it
is that imposes the taboo. When I consider the slight disparity of
condition among the islanders--the very limited and inconsiderable
prerogatives of the king and chiefs--and the loose and ind