To whom the author is under the greatest
obligations for their countenance and assistance,
this little work is gratefully
INSCRIBED
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS OF TATTOOING.
PREFACE.
The islands now known by geographers under the general name of Polynesia, have for some time past attracted the attention of the scientific and commercial world. Few opportunities, however, occur of obtaining information respecting any of them except those which are resorted to for commercial purposes. With a view, therefore, to the collecting of all the necessary materials for the history of their soil, climate, productions, and other particulars, especially of such of them as have not already been visited by the civilized people of Europe and America, it is desirable to preserve all authentic accounts of them, even of those which are of inferior importance.
The following unpretending Narrative contains such an account of one of them, commonly called Lord North's Island, but sometimes known by the name of Nevil's Island and Johnston's Island. It is situated in about lat. 3° 2¾' N., and, according to the most correct calculations, about long. 131° 4¼' E.
This island has been stated, in geographical works of authority, to be uninhabited; but Horsburg's India Directory (vol. ii. p. 497, edit. of 1827) correctly says it is inhabited, and that the natives "will sometimes come off to ships passing near." And it will accordingly be found, by the present Narrative, that it has a population of between three and four hundred inhabitants, as nearly as could be estimated by the American seamen, whose captivity and sufferings are the subject of this work; the island itself being, according to their judgment also, about three quarters of a mile long and half a mile in breadth.