A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

their stupidity, were in high favour with all the women, who could not have nursed them with a moreridiculous affection, if they had really been ladies of fashion in Europe. We were witnesses of aremarkable instance of kindness, when we saw a middle-aged woman, whose breasts were full ofmilk, offering them to a little puppy, which had been trained up to suck them. We were so muchsurprised at this sight, that we could not help expressing our dislike of it; but she smiled at ourobservation, and added, that she suffered little pigs to do the same service. Upon enquiry, however,we found that she had lost her child, and did her the justice amongst ourselves to acknowledge, thatthis expedient was very innocent, and formerly practised in Europe."--G.F.He might have added, and still is. It is quite usual in this country to use puppies in order to draw thebreasts, when distended with milk, from the want or inability of a child to suck them. But it is,perhaps, quite erroneous to ascribe the practice to affection or kindness, in either Europe orOtaheite.--E.This good old chief made me a visit early in the morning on the 5th, together with some of his friends,bringing me a hog and some fruit, for which I made him a suitable return. He carried his kindness so far, asnot to fail to send me every day, for my table, the very best of ready dressed fruit and roots, and in greatplenty. Lieutenant Pickersgill being again sent with the two boats, in search of hogs, returned in theevening with twenty-eight; and about four times that number were purchased on shore, and along-side theships.Next morning the trading party, consisting of only two or three people, were sent on shore as usual; and,after breakfast, I went to the place myself, when I learnt that one of the inhabitants had been verytroublesome and insolent. This man being pointed out to me, completely equipped in the war habit, with aclub in each hand, as he seemed bent on mischief, I took these from him, broke them before his eyes, and,with some difficulty, forced him to retire from the place. As they told me that he was a chief, this made methe more suspicious of him, and occasioned me to send for a guard, which till now I had thoughtunnecessary. About this time, Mr Sparrman, having imprudently gone out alone botanizing, was set uponby two men, who stripped him of every thing he had about him, except his trowsers, and struck him severaltimes with his own hanger, but happily did him no harm. As soon as they had accomplished their end, theymade off; after which another of the natives brought a piece of cloth to cover him, and conducted him tothe trading place, where were a great number of the inhabitants. The very instant Mr Sparrman appeared inthe condition I have just mentioned, they all fled with the utmost precipitation. I at first conjectured theyhad stolen something; but we were soon undeceived upon Mr Sparrman's relating the affair to us. As soonas I could recal a few of the natives, and had made them sensible that I should take no step to injure thosewho were innocent, I went to Oree to complain of this outrage, taking with us the man who came back withMr Sparrman, to confirm the complaint. As soon as the chief heard the whole affair related, he wept aloud,as did many others. After the first transports of his grief were over, he began to expostulate with hispeople, telling them (as far as we could understand) how well I had treated them, both in this and myformer voyage, and how base it was in them to commit such actions. He then took a very minute accountof the things Mr Sparrman had been robbed of, promised to do all in his power to recover them, and, risingup, desired me to follow him to my boat. When the people saw this, being, as I supposed, apprehensive ofhis safety, they used every argument to dissuade him from what they, no doubt, thought a rash step. Hehastened into the boat, notwithstanding all they could do or say. As soon as they saw their beloved chiefwholly in my power, they set up a great outcry. The grief they shewed was inexpressible; every face wasbedewed with tears; they prayed, entreated, nay, attempted to pull him out of the boat. I even joined myentreaties to theirs; for I could not bear to see them in such distress. All that could be said, or done, availednothing. He insisted on my coming into the boat, which was no sooner done than he ordered it to be putoff. His sister, with a spirit equal to that of her royal brother, was the only person who did not oppose his