water resembles oil, is good against lameness, and has a strong, though not unpleasant, smell. It is so much valued for its medicinal qualities, that we are told the King of Achen formerly prohibited the exportation of it on pain of death. CAVES, CAVERNS, AND GROTTOS. VERY REMARKABLE CAVERN ON THE ISLAND OF HOONGA On the island of Hoonga, in the South Pacific Ocean, is a peculiar cavern, situated on the western coast, the entrance to which is at least a fathom beneath the surface of the sea at low water, and was first discovered by a young chief whilst diving after a turtle. The nature of this cavern will be better understood if we imagine a hollow rock rising sixty feet or more above the surface of the water, into the cavity of which there is no known entrance but one, and that is on the side of the rock, as low down as six feet under the water, into which it flows, and consequently the base of the cavern may be said to be the sea itself. Finow, King of Hoonga, and his friends, being on this part of the island, proposed one afternoon, on a sudden thought, to go into this cavern and drink cava, (a liquor the natives are very partial to). Mr. Mariner, a gentleman many years a resident in the island, who related this story, was not with them at the time this proposal was made; but happening to come down a little while after to the shore, and seeing some of the young chiefs diving into the water one after another, was not a little surprised, and inquired of the last, who was just preparing to take the same step, what they were about? Follow me, said he, and I will take you where you have never been before, and where Finow, and his chiefs, and Matabooles, are now assembled. Mr. Mariner, supposing it to be the famous cavern of which he had heard some account, prepared himself to follow his companion, who dived into the water, and he after him, and, guided by the light reflected from his heels, entered the opening in the rock, and rose into the cavern. He was no sooner above the surface of the water than, sure enough, he heard the voices of the king and his friends. Being directed by his guide, he climbed up a jutting portion of rock, and sat down. All the light that came into this place was reflected from the bottom, and was sufficient, after remaining about five minutes, to show objects with some little distinctness; at least, he could discover, being directed by the voice, Finow and the rest of the company seated, like himself, round the cavern. Nevertheless, as it was desirable to have a stronger illumination, Mr. Mariner dived out again, and procuring his pistol, primed it well, tied plenty of gnatoo tight round it, and wrapped up the whole in a plantain leaf; he directed an attendant to bring a torch in the same way. Thus prepared, he re-entered the cavern as speedily as possible, unwrapped the gnatoo, a great portion of which was perfectly dry, fired it by the flash of the powder, and lighted the torch. The place was now illuminated tolerably well, for the first time since its existence. It appeared, by guess, to be about forty feet wide in the main part, but which branched off on one side in two narrow portions. The medium height seemed also o be about forty feet. The roof was hung with stalactites In a very curious way, resembling, upon a cursory view, the gothic arches and ornaments of an old church. After having examined the place, they drank cava, and passed away the time in conversation upon different subjects. Among other things, an old mataboole, after having mentioned how the cavern was first discovered, viz., by a young chief in the act of diving after a turtle, related an interesting account of the use which this chief made of this accidental discovery. The circumstances are as follow: * It is proper here to mention, that, in presence of a superior chief, it is considered very disrespectful to be undrest. Under such circumstances as the present, therefore, every one retires a little; and, as soon as he has divested himself of his usual dress, slips on an apron made of the leaves of the chi-tree, or of matting called gie. The same respect is shewn, if it is necessary, to undress near a chief's grave, because some katooa, or god, may be present. In former times there lived a Tooi (Governor) of Vavaoo, who exercised a very tyrannical deportment toward his people. At length, when it was no longer to be borne, a certain chief meditated a plan of insurrection, and was resolved to free his countrymen from such odious slavery, or to sacrifice himself in the attempt. Being, however, treacherously deceived, by one of the party, the tyrant became acquainted with the plan, and immediately had him arrested. He was condemned to be taken out to sea and drowned, and all his family and relations were ordered to be massacred, that none of his race might remain. One of his daughters, a beautiful girl, young and interesting, had been reserved to be the wife of a chief of considerable rank; and she too would have sunk, the victim of a merciless destroyer, had it not been for the generous exertions of another young chief, who, a short time before, had discovered the cavern of Hoonga. This discovery he had kept within his breast a profound secret, reserving it as a place of retreat for himself, in case he should be unsuccessful in a plan of revolt which he also had in view. He had long been enamoured of this beautiful young maiden, but had never dared to make her acquainted with the soft emotions of his heart, knowing that she was betrothed to a chief of higher rank and greater power. But now the dreadful moment arrived when she was about to be cruelly sacrificed to the rancour of a man, to whom she was almost a deadly enemy. No time was to be lost: he flew to her abode, communicated in a few short words the decree of the tyrant, declared himself her deliverer, if she would trust to his honour; and, with eyes speaking the most tender affections, he waited with breathless expectation for an answer. Soon her consenting hand was clasped in his; the shades of evening favoured their escape; whilst the wood, the covert, or the grove, afforded her concealment, till her lover had brought a small canoe to a lonely part of the beach. In this they speedily embarked, and, as he paddled across the smooth wave, he related his discovery of the cavern destined to be her asylum, till an opportunity offered of conveying her to the Fiji islands. She who had intrusted her personal safety entirely to his care, hesitated not to consent to whatever plan he might think promotive of their ultimate escape: her heart being full of gratitude, love, and confidence, found an easy access. They soon arrived at the rock, he leaped into the water, and she, instructed by him, followed close after. They rose into the cavern, and rested from their fears and fatigue, partaking of some refreshment which he had brought there for himself, little thinking at the time of the happiness that was in store for him. : Early in the morning he returned to Vavaoo, to avoid suspicion; but did not fail, in the course of the day, to repair again to the place which held all that was dear to him he brought her mats to lie on, the finest gnatoo for a change of dress, the best of food for her support, sandalwood oil, cocoa-nuts, and every thing he could think of, to render her life as comfortable as possible. He gave her as much of his company as prudence would allow, and at the most appropriate times, lest the prying eye of curiosity should find out his retreat. He pleaded his tale of love with the most impassioned eloquence, half of which would have been sufficient to have won her warmest affections, for she owed her life to his prompt and generous exertions at the risk of his own: and how was he delighted, when he heard the confession from her own lips, that she had long regarded him with a favourable eye, but a sense of duty had caused her to smother the growing fondness, till the late sad misfortune of her family, and the circumstances attending her escape, had revived all her latent affections, to bestow them wholly upon a man to whom they were so justly due. How happy were they in this solitary retreat! tyrannic power now no longer reached them: shut out from the world and all its cares and perplexities; secure from all the eventful changes attending upon greatness, cruelty, and ambition; themselves were the only powers they served, and they were infinitely delighted with this simple form of government. But although this asylum was their great security in their happiest moments, they could not always enjoy each other's company; it was equally necessary to their safety, that he should be often absent from her, and frequently for a length of time together, lest his conduct should be watched. The young chief therefore panted for an opportunity to convey her to happier scenes, where his ardent imagination pictured to him the means of procuring for her every enjoyment and comfort which her amiable qualifications so well entitled her to: nor was it a great while before an opportunity offering, he devised the means of restoring her with safety to the cheerful light of day. He signified to his inferior chief and matabooles, that it was his intention to go to the Friji islands, and he wished them to accompany him with their wives and female attendants, but he desired them on no account to mention to the latter the place of their destination, lest they should inadvertently betray their intention, and the governing chief prevent their departure. A large canoe was soon got ready, and every necessary preparation made for their voyage. As they were on the point of their departure, they asked him if he would take a Tonga wife with him. He replied, no; but that he should probably find one by the way: this they thought a joke, but, in obedience to his orders, they said no more, and, every body being on board, they put to sea. As they approached the shores of Hoonga, he directed them to steer to such a point, and, having approached close to a rock, according to his orders, he got up and desired them to wait there, while he went into the sea to fetch his wife; and without staying to be asked any questions, he sprung into the water from that side of the canoe farthest from the rock, swam under the canoe, and proceeded forward into the sanctuary which had so well concealed his greatest and dearest treasure. Every body on board was greatly surprised at his strange conduct, and began to think him insane; and after a little lapse of time, not seeing him come up, they were greatly alarmed for his safety, imagining that a shark must have seized him. Whilst they were all in the greatest concern, debating what was best to be done, whether they ought to dive down after him, or wait according to his orders, for that perhaps he had only swam round and was come up in some niche of the rock, intending to surprise them; their wonder was increased beyond all powers of expression, when they saw him rise to the surface of the water, and come into the canoe with a beautiful female. At first they mistook her for a goddess, and their astonishment was not 'essened when they recognised her countenance, and found |
