Polynesian. [volume], June 22, 1844, Page 18, Image 2

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18
THE POLY N E S I A N .
June,
Tonga Groups, for days together at certain
seasons, there is no sea breeze whatever; me
tides obey the moon with a regularity as un
deviating as in any other part of the world,
'." although the majority of the numerous har
bors in the two latter arc formed by coral
reefs. As great regularity prevails also in
the recurrence of the abnormal tides of the
Society Islands, except when interrupted by
occasional heavy gales, and these for the
most part blow either across or opposite to
the direction of the trade winds.
" In a paper professing to be an " Extract
from Lieut. Maiden's Official Account of the
Sandwich Islands," published in the Append
ix of Lord Byron's voyage in H. M. Ship
Blonde, p. 256, Loud. Ed., 18'2G, are these
remarks in reference to the tides at Hawaii,
"The tide was observed to rise about four
feet, and to be high water at sunset, and low
water at daylight, being influenced by sea
.and land breezes. This regularity would
probably not take place in the winter months,
when they do not prevail."
"This is also incorrect in every particular,
"save the height of the tides. They do not
statedly occur at the times here given, neith
er are they affected to any extent by the prev
alence or absence of the breezes, and I atn
at a' loss to imagine upon what grounds Lieut.
M. predicated such a statement as the above.
Had he lacked opportunity during his stay at
Honolulu of observing for himself, there were
certainly foreign residents enough there,
missionaries and others, who could have fur
nished him with more correct information on
this subject, had he sought to obtain it. The
truth is, that unless retarded or accelerated
by occasional storms, the flood and ebb at
these islands, from one vear's end to another,
summer and winter, in breeze and calm, fol
low the course of the moon as regularly as
do the tides in Boston Harbor. The rise and
fall of the tide, varies in different harbors,
from four to five and a half fert. Having
resided for six months in the Hawaiian
Group, traversed the four principal islands in
various directions, and beside making care
ful inquiry of the residents, examined no less
than twelve harbors, including nearly all of
any consequence, some of them open road
steads, others formed by small bays, and a
large proportion by coral reefs; I can speak
with some confidence on this point.
, ."All my visits to islands in coral archipel
agos having been very brief, I am unable to
state what is the course of the tides among
them, but incline to believe that at the de
tached Paumotus, they obey the usual laws.
On landing a second time at Bellinghausen's
Island, which is about two hundred and sev
enty miles West of Tahiti, I found the reef
Suite bare, at the same hour that it was over
owed on my first visit, some months previ
ous. At the full and change of the moon,
the rise at Ocean Island is about twenty-two
inches, while at Christmas Island it is five
feet, but the tides on both are normal, by the
accounts of those who have been wrecked
and resided on them for several months.
; " It is a remarkable fact, and one for
which I am not aware that any explanation
has been offered, that while in the Pacific
and flndian Oceans, coral abounds every
where between the tropics for a space of about
six thousand leagues from East to West, it
does not exist on the West coast of South
America (at least South of the eighth parallel
of latitude,) nor do we meet with any coral
islands within the whole space of nearly eight
hundred leagues to the westward of it.
fc ."Even at the Galapagos, situated directly
upon the Equator, there are no traces of a
coral reef. This absence ofcoral formations
in portions of the same parallel in w hich their
most profuse display is presented, has by
some been referred to one ofthosc inexplica
ble,' ' apparent caprices of nature, beyond
man's ability to fathom, analogous to the
well-known fact, that certain classes of plants
which flourish luxuriantly in the other hemis
phere, will not thrive at all in situations and
climates seemingly in every respect adapted
to their growth, in our own. In the Atlantic,
it is my impression that the same absence of
coral characterizes a large portion of the
South American coast, and the outlying in
tertropical islands, such as Trinidad, Martin
Vas, and Fernando Noronha; while it abounds
in the same parallels North of the line, among
the Antilles, and even in tho latitude of 32
we find a very considerable group of coral
reefs, and islands ofcoral limestone. At the
Cape Verde Islands, and I think the Cana
ries also, we have again an entiro absence of
such formations, although the former are 17
degrees nearer the Equator than Bermuda.
' "On the East coast of South America, this
may perhaps be attributed partly to the im
mense bodies of fresh water poured into the
Atlantic from those great streams, which roll
ing in turbid floods through a course thou
sands of miles in length, empty themselves at
various points from near the Equator to the
I include i the TWa or Friendly tslamls on the author!
ry or Key. Mr. W illiama. who had tifx-nt ow time among
laeta, ''; . " -
latitude of 35. It is well known to what an
astonishing distance their waters arc carried
along the coast, unmingled with those of the
ocean, and loaded with a fine, impalpable
mud. This must unquestionably be highly
deleterious to the coral polypes, if not suffici
ent to utterly prevent their growth, as they
require the purest ocean water for their suc
cessful dcvclopement.
"But 1 am persuaded, after a careful exam
ination of the facts, that the absence ofcoral
on tho other side of the continent, and in the
wide space between it and tho low islands of
Polynesia, is to be attributed to tho preva
lence of cold currents, which proceeding
northward from the Polar regions are per
ceptible the whole distance from Cape Horn
to Callao, and I presume much further to the
north, in a temperature of tho ocean too low
for the existence of the coral animals, and
that in a similar low temperature we arc to
seek for the cause of their absence at the
Cape Verde Islands. 1 have already allud
ed to the greater heat on the southern part of
our coast and the Bahamas, produced by the
vicinity of the Gulf Stream.
"A like temperature prevails along tho
southern shore of Cuba, and the islands in its
vicinity, and though unable to speak positive
ly, from having no data, as to the Bermudas,
I have no doubt from their proximity to the
Gulf Stream, that they nro washed by an
equally warm sea. Now let us glance for a
moment at the facts bearing on this question,
in regions situated in corresponding parallels
of latitude, where no coral formations exist.
At Valparaiso, in hit. of 33 South, and thence
as far as the l20th parallel, in the month of
November, the surface temperature ot the
ocean near the coast has been found to range
from o8'J to GO"; at Callao, in the lat. of
from oJ0 toGl2, and thence in a North-westerly
direction to the Galapagos, to increase
gradually to C8 and 70. Among these
islands, at the same season, its average was
not above l3, and at some of them it did not
exceed G2. But leaving these islands and
proceeding South-west, wo find it steadily
rising, till on the skirts of the Dangerous
Archipelago it is up to 73 and 7D, nearly
'20 higher than on the coast in the same par
allel. And here we enter upon the coral
formations. Among the Paumotus, the field
of their most lavish display, the temperature
varies from 77 to 83; at Tahiti from 77 to
80, and about the same at the large groups
to the West of it. At the Hawaiian Islands,
lying between 19 and 22 North latitude, it
is as high sometimes as 81.
In our own hemisphere, among the Antil
les, Bahamas, and along the southern coast
of Florida, I have found the temperature of
the water near the shore, at difierent seasons,
from 78 to 82, and in all these regions co
ral reefs abound.
" At the Cape Verde Islands, and in the
neighborhood of Trinidad, Martin Vas, and
Fernando Noronha, it falls to 69 and 71;
and these islands, as was before remarked,
are entirely destitute ofcoral formations. It
is not unlikely that there are cold currents
from the Antarctic along the East as well as
the West coast of South America, which
combine with the fresh water of its large riv
ers, in preventing such formations upon a
certain portion ol it, but thi3 I have at pre
sent no means of determining, being without
any data as to the temperature North of 35
on that side. It appears to me, that such
coincidences as the facts hero submitted
prove to exist, between certain temperatures
of the ocean and the absence or presence of
coral reefs, can scarcely bo considered by
any reflecting mind, as merely casual; and
that there are strong grounds for believing
that we have here a clue to the real cause of
the singular absence of recent coral forma
tions in certain regions corresponding in eve
ry thin" save temperaturo to those where
they are most profusely scattered."
The observations upon tho growth ofcoral
are novel, and have already attracted much
attention, but to whom the merit of first no
ting belongs, is a matter of controversy. Mr.
C. was tho first to lay them before the pub
lic, but Mr. James Dana, the geologist of
the Exploring Expedition, claims for himself
the honor of first broaching the theory, and
charges Mr. C. with having borrowed his
facts from him. Those who may feel an in
terest in tho dispute, will find the facts on
cither side fully stated in vol. 45, of the Am.
Jour, of Science and Arts. The disputants
are both eminent naturalists, and have con
tributed much that is valuable to tho sciences
which they so ably represent, and it is to be
regretted, that any cause of difference should
exist between congenial spirits.
Over its marriages the Sandersville Teles
cope has a picture of a well-dressed cminln
done up in goose yokes. They look remark-
amy interesting tor young married penplo.
THE POLYNESIAN.
HONOLULU, SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1844.
Verily the world is becoming more mor
al! We shall soon cease the good old cus
tom of our grandfathers, of looking upon the
past ages as the ages of gold, and our own
as those of brass. Behold the contrast.
Not many years since, the civilized adventu
rer that by chance dropped upon a country
on the wide ocean, where the fashions of the
people were not like his, and the "malo,"
or blanket, usurped the places of the breech
es or frock, claimed it for his own master,
and the world quietly acquiesced. What bu
siness had tautaucd men and women, slimy
with cocoa nut oil, to own lands that had
come down to them from ancestors as rude
and naked as themselves! It was a mons
trous violation of the rights, of the wclltrous
ed and well breeched. Like the trallic in
slaves and rum, this kind of proceeding, for
long years passed unquestioned. But, since
the wholesale spoliations of Napoleon affect
ed earth's mighty ones, and the robbers
were robbed in turn, a different spirit has
fallen upon them. "Ne quid nimis" they
were fain to cry out, und to be let alone
themselves, they are now willing to let others
alone. Good has thus been wrought out
from evil. The scenes of the few past years
in the Pacific, will not soon be renewed; un
less, indeed, the war-fever' again rends so
ciety and nations to their very foundations.
The policy of England from the days of
Cook down to the present time, towards the
Hawaiian people, has been highly honora
ble. She has not sought to take possession,
though at one period it could have been done
without invidiousness. But the whole tenor
of her conduct has evinced a sincere desire
to benefit them. The deeds of Vancouver,
Lord Byron, George IV., and many naval
commanders, who have visited these shores,
attest this fact. The exception lies not with
the nation or government, but with a few in
dividuals, and those individuals have met
with deserved rebuke. It has been evinced
that too much honor exists in the councils of
England, for her to allow herself to be coz
ened into a fraudulent aggression upon the
rights of this people. The web of intrigue
was cunningly wove, and the temptation
made great. Plausible statements were not
wanting, to arouse the vengeance, or awa
ken the jealousy of tho English nation. But
they all most signally failed, and when the
full disclosure of the history of the few past
years is made, an infamy, greater even than
that which now exists, if such is possible,
will rest upon the unprincipled intriguers.
France, influenced by the far-sighted, and
peaceful policy of a Guizot, has added the
force of her example to the side of justice.
One deed of open, even handed justice is far
more to her glory, than the conquest of an
Al giers. The restoration may have come
too late to heal the wounds already inflicted
upon the national independence of Tahiti,
but it was prompt and decided upon the re
ceipt of the news of tho aggression of their
Admiral. Guizot, in his speech of the 1st.
March, observes that " he does not believe
any question of so great importance, had
been exainined and resolved upon more
quickly." "England, on a similar occa
sion," he goes on to remark, "took more
than six weeks to settle tho question." He
indignantly denies the. charge that it was the
influence, or fear of England, that led to this
result, and boldly proelairns it the policy of
France, uninfluenced by any foreign power.
Long may such councils continue to prevuil.
The strong are ceasing to prey upon the
weak. Other nations will not dare to usurp
what these have declared free, but will join
in lending a helping hand to sustain them,
while throwing off the swaddling bands of
infancy. Tho principle, that nations, like
individuals, in the eyo of the law, are equal
in their rights and privileges, however dis
proportionate their relative strength, wealth
and population, is now practically establish
ed. The Hawaiian nation has been declared
of age. It now yields to others all the rights
to be derived from the Law of Nations, and
demands for herself the fullest reciprocity.
Untrammelled by foreign foes, and, secure
in the confidence of national independence,
it is destined to earn for itself an enviable
reputation, and on these shores a commu
nity will arise, which will show itself wor
thy of national fraternity, even with the
strongest and best.
The case of George Pelly rs. Richard
Charlton, for slander, in which the plaintiff
accused the defendant of charging him false
ly with the crime of sodomy, damages laid at
$ 10,000, came on to be tried at the Honolu
lu Court, on Tuesday the 18th. inst., before
His Excellency, Gov. Kckuanaoa, with the
assistance of the Hon. G. P. Judd, and John
Bicord, H. II. Majesty's Att'y. General.
Mr. Charlton plead not guilty, and proposed
to give the truth in evidence. A numerous
audience, both of Hawaiians and foreigners,
were present to witness the proceedings,
which were conducted "with order and regu
larity; perfect respect being paid to the Tri
bunal by both parties. H. B. M. Consul
General, the U. S. Commissioner, and the
Consuls of France, England, and the United
States, were present. Messrs. Perkins and
Shillaher appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr.
Sea for the defendant. Mr. Shillabcr op
ened the case in a very pertinent and forci
ble address to the Court and Jury, stating
the nature of the charge, itsheinousness, and
the several points which the plaintiff's coun
sel were prepared to prove. The case was
continued over to the following day, when,
after the close of the examination of witness
es, Mr. Sea made his plea for the defend
ant, and was followed by Mr. Perkins for the
plaintiff. We regret our want of room to
give the addresses of the counsel for both
parties, in full; that of Mr. Perkins was tru
ly eloquent. The evidence adduced was
thoroughly sifted, and the enormity and ma
lignity of the slander, fully exposed; its eff
ect upon the character of Mr. Pelly shown;
and the previous high standing of the defend
ant, as H. B. Majesty's Consul General for
these islands, was dwelt upon, as having en
hanced the magnitude of the crime, by the
weight of official standing; also the plaintiff's
own high standing as a gentleman, and man
of integrity, the agent for the Hon. Hudson's
Bay Company ; one whose reputation had in
no otherwise been assailed. The slander was
shown to have been often and long repeated,
the fruit of personal hatred, and a revengeful
disposition. The importance of a just ver
dict in this case, was also forcibly demon
strated. It was the first of this nature brought
into Hawaiian Courts. They were in their
infancy, and the decision of this would not
only be a precedent for the future, but ac
cording to its justice, give character to it
abroad, and protect the reputation of all
within its jurisdiction from the calumnies of
the reckless and unprincipled. It was also
shown that not a particle of testimony had
been produced to prove the truth of the ac
cusation, on the part of the defendant, but
his witnesses testified no further than that
they had heard such reports from Charlton
himself, and from common rumor. But, as
we purpose publishing a full report, from the
records of the Court, we refrain for the pres
ent, from giving any thing further than the
verdict of the Jury.
The undersigned Jury, have come to the
following verdict: ; ; 5
That the charge brought by Mr.'. Pelly
against Mr. Chariton, is sustained, and the
defendant guilty, but in consideration of Mr.
Charlton's pecuniary circumstances, tho Ju
ry have assessed the damages at three thou
sand, four hundred and fifty dollars, with
costs. Robert W. Wood, (foreman,) Wil
liam Ladd, Robert C. Wyllie, Lawrence C.
Gray, John R. von Pfister, Hiram Grimes.
John Munn, Edward H. Russell. ' -
A travelling mesimerizer ! hvntryiA ki
was ready to answer any question that might
.,,., u jvtiuucKiuii uesireu 10 Know
" how much it cost per week to paster Ne
buchadnezzar during the time he was out on
graw." The above is Thorpe V ' ' ' '