Mission Life, Ed. by J.J. Halcombe (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ...and gardens farther along the beach to the north, where Takua and I, with his six wives and numerous progeny, used to go and picnic. As I hope to interest the reader in the future history of this island and its people, I present a likeness of these three potentates. Takua is of middle height, stout, and heavily built; his eyes are very close together, his cheekbones high, brows prominent, and forehead receding. With the exception of a little imperial, and a tuft on the top of his head, he is clean shaven. His temper is sullen and morose, but as far as I can judge, not treacherous. Like all his people he is rapacious. He behaved towards me as a gentleman from first to last of my visit, gave me much sensible advice, and was exceedingly anxious that I should look fat and well when the vessel came back. Never awkward, ever at his ease, polite, and singularly apt in entering into one's thoughts and objects of interest, and turning the conversation in that direction, he is (in common with many other heathen chiefs), a noble by nature as well as by position. Sauvui, the second brother, is quick and impulsive, insolent, rough, and noisy; as rapacious as a shark, as hysterical as a woman, as merciless as Shylock, and, at times, as polite as a dancing-master. Ndikea, in the first vigour of manhood, is as straight as an arrow, agile, with a fine open countenance, but with a frequent frown upon his brow. His powdered hair is long, and is worn like that of a German professor, combed back off his forehead and falling behind. His eye, quite unlike the dull smear which usually represents that feature in these people, is clear hazel with depth in it. It is large, full, and bright. His face is clean shaven, save two little tufts of hair, one at each corner of his...