"FENUA MAITAI" (THE GOOD LAND)

by George Hunn Nobbs

O Pitcairn, I love thee, though, lone 'midst the ocean,
Thou standest exposed to the tempest and storm
Though lava and wide yawning chasms deform.
Yet oft, 'mongst those chasms, with joy have I rambled,
In the "Pools", down "the Rocks", and down "Isaac" have gamboll'd,
Or have join'd my companions, by moonlight assembled,
To sing forth thy praises, Fenua Maitai!

Though discord and strife mark'd the dawn of existence,
Nor yet were the days of our children more bright,
And, but for the efforts of female assistance,
the black man had surely o'powered the white.
But why harrow up recollections of sorrow?
From the past for the future a lesson we'll take;
And draw a close veil o'er those dread scenes of horror,
When blood stain'd thy valleys, Fenua Maitai!

To happier moments now memory turning,
When Youth, Hope and Love gave to Fancy full scope.
I have climb'd the rude cliff at the first break of morning,
To see the sun rise from "the ridge of the Rope".
Or down "T'other side", with his last ray ascending,
Over mountain and valley, in one glory bending,
My rapturous gaze o'er the prospect extending
I have fancied thee "Eden", Fenua Maitai!

By torch-light the haunts of the white bird exploring,
Perch'd high on the "big tree's" aerial bridge.
How quick beat each heart, as the death-wail came soaring
From the ghost that still lingers on "Talaloo's Ridge"!
Or with arrow and grains, on the calm nights of summer,
Whenb the "Davy" recedes from the shores of Tahtama,
The tribes of the ocean, allured by the lamma,
Are the meed of thy children, Fenua Maitai!

"Ship-landing" - "St. Pauls" - "Water-Drop" - "Vaibebea's" -
"Eteaa" - "Arlehow" - "Menalee's Stone" -
"Alah", where the lore of the Indian appears,
Memento of hordes, long extinct and unknown;
From the heights of "Look-out", where the wild goats are bounding,
To the coralline groves where the "Toaw" is sounding,
Sweet Rosebud of Ocean, Fenua Maitai!

Our sires - to their mem'ry this day is devoted;
Our friends - may they prosper in every land;
Ourselves - may our blessings be gratefully noted,
Our errors deplored, and religion expand!
May the flag of old England for ages wave o'er us!
Be Victoria our Queen! May our Queen be victorious,
And this Rock of the West oft resound with the chorus,
"Pitarnia hinaaro, Fenua Maitai"!