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

send him red feathers in abundance. This in some measure satisfied him; but the youth was exceedinglydesirous of going; and if I had not come to a resolution to carry no one from the isles (except Oedidee if hechose to go), and but just refused Mr Forster the liberty of taking a boy, I believe I should have consented.Otoo remained alongside in his canoe till we were under sail, when we put off, and was saluted with threeguns.Our treatment here was such as had induced one of our gunner's mates to form a plan to remain at this isle.He knew he could not execute it with success while we lay in the bay, therefore took the opportunity, assoon as we were out, the boats in, and sails set, to slip overboard, being a good swimmer. But he wasdiscovered before he got clear of the ship; and we presently hoisted a boat out, and took him up. A canoewas observed about half-way between us and the shore, seemingly coming after us. She was intended totake him up; but as soon as the people in her saw our boat, they kept at a distance. This was a preconcertedplan between the man and them, which Otoo was acquainted with, and had encouraged. When Iconsidered this man's situation in life, I did not think him so culpable, nor the resolution he had taken ofstaying here so extraordinary, as it may at first appear. He was an Irishman by birth, and had sailed in theDutch service. I picked him up at Batavia on my return from my former voyage, and he had been with meever since. I never learnt that he had either friends or connections, to confine him to any particular part ofthe world. All nations were alike to him. Where then could such a man be more happy than at one of theseisles? where, in one of the finest climates in the world, he could enjoy not only the necessaries, but theluxuries of life, in ease and plenty. I know not if he might not have obtained my consent, if he had appliedfor it in a proper time.[3] As soon as we had got him on board, and the boat in, I steered for Huaheine, inorder to pay a visit to our friends there. But before we leave Otaheite, it will be necessary to give someaccount of the present state of that island; especially as it differs very much from what it was eight monthsbefore.[3] The poor fellow, Mr G.F. informs us, paid a fortnight's confinement in irons for his frolic, agreater price, perhaps, the reader will think, than the matter deserved. One shudders to imagine whatwould be his anguish at the simple disappointment of his purpose; but that it is possible might renderhim less sensible to the weight of his bonds. That a solitary hopeless wretch, who had not a friend orrelative in any other region of the globe, should form an attachment to these affectionate islanders,and attempt to settle in the midst of their proffered enjoyments, was so imperatively natural, that onecannot help feeling indignation at the mercilessness of an artificial discipline, which exerted sorigorous a retribution. The advantages of this penal system must be great and obvious indeed, thatcan compensate for such enormous outrage on suffering humanity. G.F. has allowed himself toreason on this subject, in a way not much calculated to ease the mind of his reader: a short specimenmay suffice. "The most favourable prospects of future success in England, which this man mightform in idea, could never be so flattering to his senses, as the lowly hope of living like the meanestOtaheitan. It was highly probable that immediately on his return home, instead of indulging inrepose those limbs which had been tossed from pole to pole, he would be placed in another ship,where the same fatigues, nocturnal watches, and unwholesome food, would still fall to his share; orthough he were allowed to solace himself for a few days, after a long series of hardships, he mustexpect to be seized in the midst of his enjoyments, and to be dragged an unwilling champion to thedefence of his country: to be cut off in the flower of his age, or to remain miserably crippled withonly half his limbs, might be the alternatives to which he would be reduced." But we forbear thedistressing theme, and would willingly direct the reader's eye and hopes, to that most beneficentprovision for the repose and comfort of our meritorious sailors, which the wisdom of the legislature,too tardily it must be confessed, has lately contemplated.--E.I have already mentioned the improvements we found in the plains of Oparree and Matavai. The same wasobservable in every other part into which we came. It seemed to us almost incredible, that so many large