AmongthenumerousafflictionswhichtheEuropeanshaveentaileduponsomeofthenativesoftheSouthSeas，istheaccidentalintroductionamongthemofthatenemyofallreposeandrufflerofeventempers-themosquito。AttheSandwichIslands，andattwoorthreeoftheSocietygroup，therearenowthrivingcoloniesoftheseinsects，whopromiseerelongtosupplantaltogethertheaboriginalsand-flies。Theysting，buzz，andtorment，fromoneendoftheyeartotheother，andbyincessantlyexasperatingthenatives，materiallyobstructthebenevolentlaboursofthemissionaries。
Fromthisgrievousvisitation，however，theTypeesareasyetwhollyexempt；butitsplaceisunfortunatelyinsomedegreesuppliedbytheoccasionalpresenceofaminutespeciesoffly，which，withoutstinging，isneverthelessproductiveofnolittleannoyance。
Thetamenessofthebirdsandlizardsisasnothingwhencomparedtothefearlessconfidenceofthisinsect。Hewillperchupononeofyoureye-lashes，andgotoroostthere，ifyoudonotdisturbhim，orforcehiswaythroughyourhair，oralongthecavityofthenostril，tillyoualmostfancyheisresolvedtoexploretheverybrainitself。OnoneoccasionIwassoinconsiderateastoyawnwhileanumberofthemwerehoveringaroundme。Ineverrepeatedtheact。Somehalf-dozendartedintotheopenapartment，andbeganwalkingaboutitsceiling；thesensationwasdreadful。Iinvoluntarilyclosedmymouth，andthepoorcreatures，beingenvelopedininnerdarkness，mustintheirconsternationhavestumbledovermypalate，andbeenprecipitatedintothegulfbeneath。Atanyrate，thoughIafterwardscharitablyheldmymouthopenforatleastfiveminutes，withaviewofaffordingegresstothestragglers，ofthemeveravailedthemselvesoftheopportunity。
Therearenowildanimalsofanykindontheisland，unlessitbedecidedthatthenativesthemselvesaresuch。Themountainsandtheinteriorpresenttotheeyenothingbutsilentsolitudes，unbrokenbytheroarofbeastsofprey，andenlivenedbyfewtokensevenofminuteanimatedexistence。Therearenovenomousreptiles，andnosnakesofanydescriptiontobefoundinanyofthevalleys。
InacompanyofMarquesannativestheweatheraffordsnotopicofconversation。Itcanhardlybesaidtohaveanyvicissitudes。Therainyseason，itistrue，bringsfrequentshowers，buttheyareintermittingandrefreshing。Whenanislander，boundonsomeexpedition，risesfromhiscouchinthemorning，heisneversolicitoustopeepoutandseehowtheskylooks，orascertainfromwhatquarterthewindblows。Heisalwayssureofa“fineday，“andthepromiseofafewgenialshowershehailswithpleasure。Thereisneveranyofthat“remarkableweather“ontheislandswhichfromtimeimmemorialhasbeenexperiencedinAmerica，andstillcontinuestocallforththewonderingconversationalexclamationsofitselderlycitizens。Nordothereevenoccuranyofthoseeccentricmeteorologicalchangeswhichelsewheresurpriseus。InthevalleyofTypeeice-creamswouldneverberenderedlessacceptablebysuddenfrosts，norwouldpicnicpartiesbedeferredonaccountofinauspicioussnowstorms:fortheredayfollowsdayinoneunvaryingroundofsummerandsunshine，andthewholeyearisonelongtropicalmonthofJunejustmeltingintoJuly。