LIBRARY 
 
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 Theologieal-s4 m'i nary, 
 
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 Book, Ivi,-, 
 
 *•*■•-* r •*•*•» . .>•«•••« --••• 
 

A N 
 
 
 
 account 
 
 O F T H E 
 
 PELEW ISLANDS, 
 
 SITUATED IN THE 
 
 Weftern Part of the Pacific Ocean. 
 
 COMPOSED FROM 
 
 I'HE JOURNALS AND COMMUNICATIONS 
 
 O F 
 
 CAPTAIN HENRY WILSON, 
 
 ANDi SOME OF HIS OFFICERS, 
 
 I WHO, IN AUGUST 1 783, WERE THERE SHIPWRECKED^ 
 
 IN 
 
 I THE ANTELOPE, 
 
 A Packet belonging to the Hon. Ead India Co'.npan;-. 
 
 m IW^I II !■ 
 
 Bt GEORGE KEATE, Es<;. F. R.. S. and S. A. ' 
 
 *' — — C— — 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY JOSEPH CRUKS HANK, IN MARKET-STREET, 
 BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD-STREETS. 
 
 M DCC LESAIZ, 
 
 % 
 
V 
 
 T O 
 
 the chair m a n, 
 
 I> E P U T Y C II A I R ]\I A N, 
 
 AND 
 
 director s, 
 
 0 F 
 
 THE HONORABLE 
 
 EAST INDIA COMPANY, 
 
 \ 
 
 THIS ACCOUNT OF 
 
 T li E P E L E W ISLANDS, 
 
 I S, 
 
 BY THEIR PERMISSION 
 AND AT» THE PARTICULAR DESIRE OF 
 
 C A P T A I N V/ I L S O N, 
 
 RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY THEIR MOST OBEDIENT, 
 HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 GEORGE KEATE. 
 
 I ONDON, 
 
 fjn:; 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 N othing hath more diftinguifhed the reign of 
 his prefent Majelly, than the liberality with which 
 he hath encouraged the ardor of nautical difcoverj’’. — 
 Although the voyages of other European nations have 
 greatly increafed our knowledge of the globe, yet as 
 thefe were generally undertaken (fome late voyages of 
 the French excepted) from views either of ambition or 
 avarice, the improvement of fcience, and of geography, 
 was bat a fecondary confideration ; — it is not, therefore, 
 to be wondered that the fubje£l ftill remained imperfeft, 
 overclouded by doubt and uncertainty. — To diflipate 
 thefe clouds, to remove exifting errors, and to render 
 what was dubious, demonftrably clear, became highly in- 
 terelling toalmoft every nation ; and Europe, with eyes 
 of admiration, beheld this important objetl not only un- 
 dertaken, but to a furpriling degree executed, by the 
 fpirit and abilities of Great Britaix. 
 
 The exploring untraverfed oceans, in fpite of every 
 danger that could menace or difmay — the difeovering 
 multitudes of iflands, and of people, whofe exiftence 
 was not known before — and the fame of fixing the geogra- 
 phy of the Southern World, were the noble fruits of this 
 bold and hazardous enterprife ; which will remain to fuc- 
 ceeding ages a monument of the zeal and patronage of 
 George the Third. 
 
 Under fuch aufpices, and under fuch navigators as 
 this buiinefs was confided to, with each fuperadded af- 
 fiilance in the various fciences, what was there not to 
 he hoped? — And it certainly, in no fmall degree, ad- 
 ded to the fpirit of the undertaking, that fuch an i:n- 
 examplcd charafter as Mr. (now Sir Joseph) Basks 
 voluntarily accompanied Captain Ccox, — ^.‘Islong as the 
 2- hiilory 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 liiilory of that time fhall cxift, it will (lamp the liighefl 
 honor on his name, to have, in the prime of youth, fa- 
 c-.iliced the blandiflrments of a noble fortune, to his ar- 
 dor for information and fcience, without Ihrinliing at 
 ihc perils he might encounter from untried feaa, and 
 coalU that liad never been explored. — And it equally re- 
 lieves the highc.! credit on his difeerning country ; who, 
 
 I mulous to acknowledge the debt Ihe owed his merit, 
 Irized the carlidl opportunity, after Ins return, to make 
 him Presieent of the Royal Society ^ a fituation 
 ilie moft h.onorable and dillinguilhed Ihe could offer a 
 ptrfcn of his genius and purfuits; where Hill, with 
 I .he fame aidor, he promotes her Fame, tlie zealous 
 i;:id liberal Patron of learning and of fcience. 
 
 The rcLitions of thel'e feveral voyages having excited 
 it ;;r:at fpirit of inquiry, and awakened an eager curiofity 
 to evc ;7 thing that can elucidate the hiftory of man- 
 1 flatter nivfelf, that no apology is necefiary for 
 ir y bringing forward the following Work, whofe Novelty. 
 .'lull jhdjintuUy will, I tvuil, infure it a favorable recep- 
 
 t;i t). 
 
 'i he iflrmds which I am about to deferibe, were not 
 • ii'eovered in coiifcqucnce of any premeditated defign ; 
 ihe Inei'. packet, which Captain Wilsoh commanded, 
 ii iag in a temped wrecked on their coad ; and it is 
 fcl. Iv to the benevolent character of their inhabitants, 
 v.e owe the fafe return of our countrymen, that com- 
 ' ji'cd ihe crew of the ANTEuopE't — by the means of 
 '«■. hem I am enabled to lay before the Public an account 
 of i'nis Angular people. 
 
 iioihing can be more intcreftiug to Man than tlie 
 hihoiy of Mon. Ihe navigators of the different ages 
 h ■ ■ pidtured to us our own fpecies in a variety of ligiits. 
 — 'J’hc niannei'S of civilized nations bear a llrong refem- 
 ida-ice to each other ; it is the vices or virtues of indi- 
 vidnr.lq that create any general dillinVtion whereas 
 ill cx^untries, which fcience, or the gentler arts, have 
 jieviT reached, we obferve a wonderful difparity ; fame 
 ar-c found under that darknefs and abfolutc bavbarifm, 
 uam ti:c fight of which humanity gladly turns afide ; 
 
 — whillb 
 
I N- T R O D U C T I O N. vm 
 
 — wliilit others, unaided, unafliiled, but by mere natural 
 good fenfe, have not only emerged from this gloomy 
 lliadc, but nearly attained that order, propriety, and 
 good condudl, which conftitute the effence of real civili- 
 zation It is-by very flow degrees, and through long 
 
 periods of intervening ages, that nations, now the moll 
 poliflied, have arrived at their prefent ftate. — The mind 
 of inquilitive man, too eager after knowledge which his 
 limited faculties can never reach, often idly afks — Where^ 
 fore all thefe 'varied gradations in human exijlence? But his 
 quellion will remain for ever unanfwered, and he mull 
 content himfelf with being fatisned that the ways of 
 Providence are conduced with unerring wifdom, to 
 anfwer purpofes beyond mortal comprehenfion. — He 
 will be far more wifely employed in feeling with becom- 
 ing gratitude, that he was not deftined himfelf to be an 
 inhabitant of Terra del Fuego, or to add one to the 
 number of the forlorn favages of the Northern Pole. 
 
 There is one queftion, indeed, aad a very important 
 one, which poflibly may, at fame future period, be fuc- 
 cefsfully inveftigated ; — how all the numerous iflands, 
 lately difeovered, as well as the multitude of others, that 
 are Icattered through various parts of the vaft ocean, 
 were originally peopled; — This fubjeft, which opens a 
 wide field for conjecture to range over, hath already ex- 
 ercifed the abilities of the ingenious — and, if ever fatis- 
 faclorily afeertained, cannot fail to throw many intereft- 
 ing lights on the hiftory of mankind. 
 
 The prefent account of the Pelew Iflands, I have al- 
 ready obferved, was offered to the Public under the dou- 
 ble claim of Novelty and Authenticity. It is therefore in- 
 cumbent on me to mention on what ground thefe claims 
 are fuppovted. 
 
 The iflands in quellion were probably firft noticed by 
 forae of the Spaniards of the Philippines,, and by them 
 named tlie Palos Islands; the tall, palm-trees, which 
 grow there in great abundance, having at a dlllance the 
 appearance of malls of fiiips.''* — That this was the origin 
 
 of 
 
 ^ P.’los, in the Spsnfi hnjnirge, nautically applied, denoting 
 a mail. 
 
vili INTRODUCTION.' 
 
 of their name is rendered flill more probable, as the' 
 Spaniards gave the fame appellation to all the numerous 
 iflands of this Archipelago, the far greater part of which 
 are now known by the name of the New Carolines. 
 
 In the Lettres Edifiantes et Curieufes, written bv the 
 yefuit Myfionaries, may be found feveral letters, which, 
 from their titles, fcem to have a reference to, and which 
 might be thought to relate to the duller of iflands which 
 are the fubje6t of the prefent Work ; but whoever pe- 
 rufesthem with attention, will inftantly. fee that they re- 
 late folely to the New Carolines, which were difeo- 
 vered about the year 1 696, as may be fecn by the letter 
 ef Father Paul Clain, dated from Manilla, loth of 
 fune 1697.* — But even the accounts given by of 
 the New Carolines, were not in confequence of any 
 Spaniards having been there, but merely fuch as he had 
 received from fome of their inhabitants, who, ventur- 
 ing too far to fea, had been driven by a ftorm to one 
 of the Philippines. In confequence of this knowledge 
 of the Nev/^ Carolines, a Ihip, called the Holy Tri- 
 N'lTY, was, in i7io,f fitted out at Manilla, by order of 
 Philip V. to carry two Miflionaries, les Pdes Dube- 
 RON andCoRTiL, thither; who arriving off Sonsorol, 
 one of the Carolines, the two Miflionaries would go 
 on Ihore in the chaloupe, to fix the Crofs, againll the 
 opinion of Don Padilla, the Captain, who, as he could 
 find no anchorage, difluaded them ilrongiy from the 
 attempt. — As the veflel then, after cruizing about for 
 feveral days, to wait their return, could not, on account 
 of the -winds and currents, remain any longeron the fta- 
 tlon, the reverend Fathers were never heard of more. 
 Another veflel was fent from the fame place, fome time 
 after, to further the miflion, which it was fiippofed the 
 two former Jefuits had begun ; but it foundered at fea, 
 and all on board perifhed,J except one Indian, who at 
 iaft got back to Manilla with the melancholy news. 
 
 * Zcttrei EdiJijntes et Curieufes, vol. i. psge III. 
 
 Do. vol. xi. page 75. 
 
 } Do. vol. xvi. page 368. 
 
INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 In 1721, another boat, belonging to one of the Ca- 
 rolines, with twenty-four people in it, was driven by 
 force of winds to Guahan, one of the Mariannes,* 
 as appears by the letter of Pere Jean Antoine Can- 
 TOVA, dated Aganda, in March 1722. — Thefe (Iran- 
 gers being detained a confiderable time, Le Pere Can- 
 TovA tells us that be endeavoured to acquire fome know- 
 ledge of their language, that he might the better inform 
 himfelf of their country. 
 
 In this letter, which contains fuller information than 
 any of the others, ■ he tells us, he underflood from the 
 natives that this Archipelago was divided into Jime pro- 
 vinces; and that the Pelew Islands conftituted the 
 fifth province, or divifion ; but thefe ftrangers, who gave 
 him this intelllgenGe, faid, they had no communication 
 with the people of this province, adding, that they ivere 
 inhuman and favage; that both men and women were entire- 
 ly naked, and fed upon human fifh; thnt the inhabitants cf 
 the Carolines looked on them with horror, as the enemies cf 
 mankind, and with whom they held it dangerous to have any 
 inlercourje. 
 
 This is the only mention I find of the Pelew peo- 
 ple, and a dreadful picture it is of barbarous life ; but 
 the natives of the Carolines evidently knew nothing 
 of them, but that they exifted at a confiderable dillance 
 from themfelves ; and probably the notion which they 
 entertained, of their being cannibals, prevented their 
 ever having any communication with them.f 
 
 Tlo four fifths of thefe Iflands, which accident had now 
 brought the Sj>amards acquainted with, they foon gave 
 the name of the New Carolines ; but as the Miffion- 
 aries had unquellionably been well informed of the po- 
 verty 
 
 * Lettret Edif antes cf Curieufes, vol. xviii page l88; 
 
 "I Ee Peri Cavtova fays, that this account is conformable, ta 
 tlic relation of Father Bernard Messia (probably another Mif- 
 fionary ;) but where tliis relation is to be found, I know not, hav- 
 fearched for it. I tlierefore fuppofe it has not been 
 pubijined, though poluLIyntay bepreferv’cd amoug tlie nianufcript 
 lecords cf the PiiopACANOA at Rome. — Wherever it be, it could 
 ciiiy be collected from .uth VL.gue evidence as Cantova’s; who 
 was himfelf, a lb;rt t.i-.n -ftcr, liil. J by the pewle of the Caro- 
 
 LIN... 
 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 verty and nakednefs of them, apprehended that they 
 were never likely to become an objeft worthy of the 
 attention of the Sparujh monarch, they were therefore, 
 nearly from this period, negledled; and even totbiiday 
 little more is known of them, than that they occupy a 
 certain fpace on the fiuface of the globe. — But the fifth 
 divifion of them, far diftant from the reft, and inhabit- 
 ed by people who were branded with the imputation of 
 being inhuman, favagc, and enemies of mankind, were, in 
 confequence, never fince inquired after ; and, though 
 laid down in fome late charts, under their original Spa~ 
 nifls appellation of the Palos idands, have continued 
 till now in total obfcurity. — They have, it is true, been 
 feen, at different times, by (hips making the Eafiern paf- 
 fage to and from China againft the monfoons; yet no 
 one appears to have ever landed there, or to have had 
 any intercourfe with the inhabitants ; nor have they lain 
 in the track of any of the circumnavigators ; Captain 
 Carteret, in his courfe, approached them the neareft. 
 
 from the above obfervations, and the great aftonilh- 
 tnent which the natives of Pelew difcovered on feeing 
 ‘white people, it feems beyond a doubt that the crew of 
 the Antelope were the lirft Europeans who had ever 
 landed on thefe iflands ; and it feems equally certain, that 
 t’leir neareft neighbours In the adjoining Archipelagoknew 
 nothing of them. — I therefore feel forae fatisfaftion In 
 being^the inftrument of introducing to the world a new 
 people; — and a far greater one, , in having the means in 
 my power, of vindicating their injured charafters from 
 the imputation of thofe favage manners which ignorance 
 alone had aferibed to them ; for I am confident that eve- 
 ry Reader, when he has gone through the prefent ac- 
 count of them with attention, will be convinced that 
 thefe unknown natives of Pelew, fo far from difgracing, 
 live an ornament to human nature. 
 
 The p?rt I have taken in this Work originated from 
 my knowledge of Captain Wilson’s veracity, and from 
 my being highly interefted with the account he gave of 
 the inhabitants of thefe Iflands, which was fo happily il- 
 luftrated by the good fenfe and amiable manners of the 
 young Prince Lee Boo, w'hom, at the King his father’s 
 n-quelt, he had brought with him to England. i 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 I frequently mentioned to my valuable friend, Mr. 
 Brooke Watson (through whom I had firft been ac- 
 quainted with Captain Wilson) that I thought the 
 whole chain of events, following the lofs of the Ante- 
 lope, well merited the public eye, wilhing him to fub- 
 mit the matter to his friend’s confideration ; — but, after 
 three quarters of a year, I perceived that the Captain’s 
 own affairs, his natural diffidence, and- probably his in- 
 experience in preparing properly fuch a work, rendered 
 him little difpofed to the undertaking — and, as he was 
 then preparing to go out again to India, the account 
 was in danger of being totally loft. 
 
 Struck as I was with the relation of the virtues and 
 charadler of the natives of thefe iflands — fenfible how 
 foon oral teftimony is beyond recovei-y, and the records 
 of memory effaced by the events or cafualties of life — 
 I felt anxious to refeue thefe difeoveries from Aiding in- 
 to oblivion, and to preferve them to the curiofity and in- 
 formation of the Public ; I therefore engaged a volun- 
 teer in the bufinefs, propofing to Mr. Watson, that, 
 if his friend Captain Wilson w'ould give me his jour- 
 nals and papers, and procure me all the living teftimonies 
 then in England, I w'ould myfelf undertake the work; 
 — on this condition, that the labor (hould be mine, the 
 advantage Captain Wilson’s. 
 
 After I had, with great attention, gone over aH the 
 journals and papers, and tranferibed them, the better to 
 iix them in my memory, and to direft my future inqui- 
 ries, I had the benefit of a reference, both to Captain 
 Wilson and his fon, during their ftay in England, 
 for what further or fuller information I required ; and, 
 after the Captain’s departure, I had alio, in the begin- 
 ning of 1786, whim the fafts were recent, the affift- 
 ance and information of fuch of his officers as remained 
 in this country ; who, for many weeks, were fo good 
 as to devote themfelves, as it individually fuited them, 
 to this bufinefs. The tranfadfions of every day, as re- 
 corded in the journals, were minutely gone through ; and 
 it w'as a great pleafure to me, in taking their feparate 
 relations, to find no material difference in their accounts 
 
 of 
 
5t:i INTRODUCTION, 
 
 of fa£ts or occurrences, but on the contrary, the mofi; 
 perfeft agreement. Thus, eiilarged by the additions of 
 the Gentlemen (who were themfelves in fome fcenes the 
 foie adors) the Work, for a year and a half, lay dor- 
 omiit, waiting Captain Wilson’s return from Besgal, 
 who arrived the latter end of laft fummer : lince that 
 time every pait of it hath been revifed, and gone over, 
 with the moft /crapulous exaftnefs and attention ; and 
 I am myfelf firmly perfuaded, no work of this nature 
 was ever prefented to the Public, in every refpcft better 
 authenticated. 
 
 I Ihould not have thought it necelTary to have menti- 
 oned the manner in which I have conduced this publi- 
 cation, had I not been aware of there being fcenes and 
 fituations in it which might ftartle many of my readers; 
 but, as the truth of them can be fully eftablilhed, they 
 will ferve to prove that good fenfe, and moral refti- 
 tude, may exift in many uncivilized regions, where the 
 prejudices and arrogance of polilhed life are not always 
 difpofed to admit them. 
 
 Thofe who are acquainted with the voyages to the 
 South Seas, muft have remarked a great fimilitude 
 in the manners of the iflands fcattered over that im- 
 menfe ocean ; at the fame time it cannot have efcaped 
 their notice, that there are cuftoms and charafters pe- 
 culiar to almoft every particular group. — The fame ob- 
 fervation is applicable to the inhabitants of the Pelew 
 Islands; who, though in many refpefts refembling 
 their Southern neighbours, muft'be allowed to have many 
 charafteriftical features of their own — ^which an intelli- 
 gent reader will eafily difcover. 
 
 To the late difcoveries, which have fo greatly In- 
 creafed our knowledge of the globe, and of the human 
 race, if the little duller of iflands I am now unveiling to 
 the world (which may truly be legardcd as a rich jewel, 
 fparkling on thebofom of the ocean) ftiall be deemed by 
 the Public an interelling acquifition. Captain Wilson 
 will not have been fliipwrecked in vain ; and I fliall ever 
 think that the time I have bellowed on this Work hath 
 been ufefuUy employed. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
T S. 
 
 c O. N T E N 
 
 ncCCZ&EaiKXi 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 j'\EP AR TURE of the Antelope from Macoa . — Lif 
 of the Ship's Company. — Route and Tranfacllens prior 
 to the Lofs of the V ffel. ■ - • P^ge I 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Lofs of the Antelope, and the immediate Dijlrejfes ari/tng 
 from the Accident. - - - - 7 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Firjl Appearance of the Natives. — The curious and friendly 
 Intervic’w between them and the Englilh . — Captain ,Wil- 
 fon’s Brother fent to the King of Pelew, the King's Bro- 
 ther remaining with our People. • - i J 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Pinnace goes to the Ship, and fads it had been vifted by 
 fame of the Natives. — The Behaviour of Raa Kook, the 
 
 King's 
 
XIV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 King's Brotlser, on being informed of it. — The friendly 
 CondnEl of this Chief ’■juhilJ} he remained alone with the 
 Eiiglifh. — A Council held, and all the Cajls of Liquor 
 remaining in the Antelope ordered to be Jtaved, Page 22 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Arra Kooker, the King's Brother, returns from Pelew, and 
 is foon after followed by Mr. Matthias Wilfon, who 
 gives a very favorable Account of the Manner in which he 
 had been received, — Regulations made by the Englifh for 
 fabiyhing a Nightly Guard. — The General and Arra 
 Kooker informed of it. — They approve the Scheme, 
 which is immediately put in Execution. — Some Charader 
 of A.n-a Kooker. - - - 28 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 The King of Pelew pays his frfl Vft to the Englifh. — His 
 Arrival deferibeJ, and the Ceremony with which he is re- 
 ceived; after which he is conduced by his two Brothers 
 md Captain AVilfon round the Spot whereon they had 
 ireSed their ttmporary Habitation, and fhewn whatever^ 
 might engage his Curiqftty. — After fveral Hours Stay he 
 dparts, plcafed with his Reception, and takes his Riiinue 
 with him to the back Part of the JJland. - ' 36 
 
 • CHAPTER VII. 
 
 A Coolnefs ctrifes on the Part of the Natives, which much 
 alarms the Englifh.— T/w cleared up, acid Friendjhip re- 
 fl^red. — The King requfs fve of Captain Wilfon’s Men 
 ' tp attend him to a IVar he was going to male cga'.njl a 
 neighbouring If md.— This is ajfenhd to, and he departs 
 
CONTENTS. ::v 
 ■with the Men.— The Englilh plan their intended VefeU 
 form a D^ck-Tard, unanimoujiy choofe Captain Wilion 
 to be their Commander, and each engages in the Department 
 he is nominated to, in order to ajfjl the Confrvriinn of 
 their future Vejfel. — The ftjl Sunday after the Shipwreck 
 duly commemorated. - - " 4 ^ 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Our- People continue almofl every Day to fend to the Wreck, 
 and recover a great W ariety oj Stores. — They form u Bar- 
 ricade round the Tents, — complete it, — and continue their 
 Work with the utmojl gljf.duity in the Dock-Yard, and in 
 advancing the Vejfel . - - - 54 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The five Men, with the Interpreter, who went with the 
 King on his Expedition, return fife, accompanied by R.r .1 
 Kook . — The Account of the Succefs of that Expedition. 
 — Raa Koo.k in the King's Name, gives the IJland cj 
 
 Oroolong to the Englifn Captain Wilfon invited by 
 
 the King to Pelew; excufes hhrfelf for the prefent, hit fends 
 Mr. Benger, and Mr. M. Wilfon, his Brother, with 
 the Lingutfl, to compliment Abba Thulle on his late Vic- 
 tory. — Captain Wilfon in his Boat round the IJland. 
 — The V jfel continues to get advanced. — Meffrs. Bengu" 
 aW Wilfon Pelew. - - 57 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A Pajfage is difeevered through the Coral Reef, fujjicicnt, to 
 carry out ths V efftl when completed . — Captain Wilfon, 
 Mr. Sharp, Mr. Devis, and Mr. Henry Wilfon, go 
 to Pelew to vif.t the Kin^. — An Account of the Hofpitality 
 
 wi.h 
 
XVI 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 'Uiith which thsy were received. — Some Defcription of the 
 . Manners of the. Aatives, and their Mode of lAvin^.-^ 
 Mr. Sharp is requcjlcd to go into the Country to fee a 
 fick Child of one of the Rupacks, which he does, and re- 
 turns to Peiew. ... Page 55 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Further Account of the Natives of Peiew J Council of 
 
 Stale is held, at the Breaking up of which the King requejls 
 of Captain Wllfon ten Men to go with him on a fecond 
 Expedition againf the fame Enemy — which is agreed to . — 
 Defcription of the Dance of the Warriors. — Our People 
 return to Oroolong, fnd their Countrymen well, and in 
 great Unanimity advancing the Vejfel, — The ten Men fe- 
 leded who were to attend the King to Battle. - 77 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The King comes to Oroolong . — Is much fruch with the ap- 
 pearance of the Vejfel, which he -had not feen before.— Is 
 Jhcwn the Barricade and the' Six-pounder ; which is after- 
 wards, at his Dcftre, fired off.— Views the deferent Ar- 
 tificers employed in the Dock-Tard.—The imprjfion all 
 thefe new Sights make on him.— After pcjfng feveral 
 Hours with our People, he goes to the Back of the IJland . — 
 The King returns next Day — wijhes to take a Swivel Gun 
 on the Expedition.— This objcQed to.— He departs for Pe- 
 iew, carrying with him the ten Men allotedfor the War. 82 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 TranfaBions at Oroolong . — The ten Men return from the 
 War. — A particular Account of the fecond Battle of Ax - 
 iingall . — Progrefs of the new V effcl, idc. - 89 
 
 C H P T E R 
 
CONTENTS. xvli 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Frogreft of the Fejfel, and other Occurrences . — Raa Kook 
 comes from Pelevv to folicit more Men, and a Swivel Gun, 
 to attend the King on a grand Expedition.— lifter fame Ex- 
 planation between Captain Wilfon and the General, the 
 Requefl is granted, and the allotted Men return with Raa 
 Kook. — Mr. Sharp goes fome Days after to Pelew, to 
 fee the General’s Son, who had been wounded in the fecond 
 Battle. — Arrives jujl after his Countrymen had returned 
 from the grand Expedition, in which this young Man, 
 whom he went to vi/it, had been killed. — Attends Raa 
 Kook to his Son’s Funeral, of which an Account is 
 given. - Page 98 
 
 chapter XV. 
 
 7 he Men who had been on the third Expedition to Artlngall 
 return — an Account of it given.— Captain Wilfon invited 
 by the King to vi/it the Rupacks, who had attended as 
 Allies in the la/l Battle. — Accompanies the King and his 
 Brother to fome Iflands to the Northward, where there 
 was much Fejlivity on the Occafon. — Is riceived with 
 great Hofpitality, and after fve Days Abfence returns to 
 Oroolong. - - - - 1 1 2 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Proceedings at Oroolong.— 7 ”,^^ General remains with the 
 Englifh. — Intelligence is brought to him that the People oj 
 Artingall were come to fue for Peace. — I he King ar- 
 rives the next Day, and for the frjl Fime brings one of his 
 fPives, his favorite Daughter, and feveral of their Female 
 
 Attendants He caritinues at the Back of the ijland three 
 
 or 
 
xvlli CONTENTS. 
 
 or four Days, during 'which Time the General, <who 'went 
 •with him, 'was much indifpofed — Mr. Sharp vi/its him, 
 and relieves his Complaint . — The King, 'with Raa Kook, 
 
 and his Retinue, return to Pelew. He fends the Englifli 
 
 fome Colors to paint their VeJfeU Mr. Shai"p goes to 
 
 Pelew to inquire after Raa Kook’s Health, 'whom he finds 
 getting ‘well. ... Page 123 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 The King comes for the ten Men 'who 'were to go •with him 
 againjl Pelelew.- —A great Storm at Oroolong. Intel- 
 
 ligence arrives that the Expedition to Pelelew had ended 
 
 peaceably. The Englifh return, and give an Account of 
 
 the Manner of its Progrefs and Termination. Rejoicings 
 
 on the Occafion at Pelew . — The King notifes an intended 
 Vifit to the Euglifli before their Departure. - 134 
 
 l 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Preparclums made for the Completion of the V tjfel, and fe- 
 curing her being fafely launched. Great Sufpicions enter- 
 
 tained on the King’s Mejfage, •winch Captain Wilfon en- 
 deavours to quiet.— -Steps taken by our People to make Re- 
 
 JiJlance, in Cafe their Departure Jhould be impeded. The 
 
 Captain fends Mr. Sliarp and Mr. M. Wilfon to Pelew, 
 •with all the Tools and Iron they could fpare, •with AJfu- 
 rances of the ref, as foon as the Vejfel •was launched; 
 and to notify to the King that he purpofed to fail in fix or 
 
 feven Days. They meet the King and his Retinue on their 
 
 IVay to Oroolong . — Go back •with him to the Ifland of 
 Pethoull, •where they pafs the Night . — Abba Thulle re- 
 ceives the Prefents gracioufy. — A great Supper of the 
 King’s defcribed. — They all come next Day to Oroolong. 
 
 Madan Blanchard informs Captain Wilfon of a Re- 
 
 folution he had tahen'io remain behind •with the Natives ; — 
 
 after 
 
CONTENTS. XIX 
 after jlrguments ufed in vain to dtjfuade httny he is propofed 
 to the King to be left at Pclcvv, auho, pleafed with the 
 Circumflance, tales him under his Proiettion. Page 143 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 7 he Fejfel fuccefsfuUy launched. — The great Satisfaction ex~ 
 
 preyed by the Natives on the Occafiuii Our People give 
 
 the King the Runaind.r of the Pooh. — Captain Willon 
 fni for by the King to the Watering-place, who prepofes to 
 make him a Rupack of the f.rjt Rank.—-Invefls him with 
 the highifl Order of the Bone.— -y/ Deferipiion of the Ce- 
 remony. - - - - 15^ 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Phe good ConduB of the Natives, not to diflurh or impede the 
 Operations of our People. — Phe King informs Captain 
 Wilfon of his Intention to fend his fcccr.d Son, Lee Boo, 
 under his Carf, to England, — Raa Kook having alfo 
 foUcited Abba Thulle’s Permiffion to accompany the Eng- 
 lifh, is refvfed by his Brother, on very prudential Mo~ 
 tives. — A fingular Occurrence refpeiiing one of the King’s 
 Nephews. — Phe Pime of the Vtffci’s Departure noticed— 
 and, preparatory to it, an Infcripticn, cut on a Plate of 
 Copper, is fxed to a large P ree, to record the Lofs of the 
 Antdope. .... 160. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 Lee Boo aimives, and is introduced to Captain Wilfon, who, 
 at the King’s Difirc, remains all Night on Shore. — Phe 
 inter efting Manner in which he delivers his Son to his Care. 
 — Phe Captain gives Blanchard Advice how to conduit 
 himfelf. — In the Morning Signals for failing reared. — A 
 Boat fent to bring the Captain on board. — Phe King and 
 his Brothers, accompany them to the Ref. — Alultitudes of 
 the Natives, in their Canoes, furround the Veffel to tflify 
 their Regard. — Phe King tales an ajfcclionctte Leave of the 
 
 Euglilh. 
 
XX 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 Ensflifh. — Charaflsr of Abba TluiUe. — Raa Kook 
 crojfes the Reef, and goes a good PV ay to Sea before he quits 
 them. — His Charadler. — The Englifh proceed on their 
 V oyage to China. - - - Page 1 70 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 The Englifh, in the Oroolong, quit the Pelew Iflands . — 
 Hn Account of their Pajfage from thence to Macoa. — 
 
 Their Arrival there. They difpofe of their Vejfel aud 
 
 proceed to Canton, inhere they embark for England. i?o 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 General Idea of the Iflands. — Of the King. — Of the Gene- 
 ral. — Of the Chief Miniiler. — Of the Rupacks. — Of 
 the Nature of Property at Pelew. 1 94 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Of the Produce of Pelew, and of the PVay of Life of the 
 Natives. - - - - 201 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Of their Hoifes. — Their domeflic Implements. — Their Wea~ 
 pons of War. — Their Canoes. - - 208 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Of the People and their Cufioms. — Of their Marriages . — 
 Of their Funerals. — Of their Religion. — General Charac- 
 ter of the Natives. - - - 214 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Anecdotes of Lee Boo, fecond Son of Abba Thulle, from 
 the Time of leaving Canton to his Death. - 228 
 
 AN 
 

 
 A N 
 
 account 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PELEW ISLANDS. 
 
 C H A *P T E R I. 
 
 Departure of the Antelope from Macoa. — Ltjl of the 
 Ship’s Company. — Route and ‘Tranfadions prior to the 
 Lofs of the Veffel. ^ 
 
 T H E Antehfej a packet of near 300 tons burthen, 
 in the fervice of the Honorable Engl'fh Eafl India 
 Company, under the command of Captain Henry hVilfouy 
 having arrived at Macoa in the month of June 1783, 
 the Captain received orders from the Company’s fu- 
 percargoes to refit his Ihip with all pofiible fpeed ; 
 which being completed, on Sunday the 20th of July, 
 about eleven o’clock in the forenoon, he received his 
 difpatches, and the fhip being ready for fea, he took 
 leave of the Council ; and about half paft three o’clock 
 went on board, accompanied by Meffrs. Brotun, Lane, 
 Bruce, and Peach, as alfo Mr. Mvrga^ furgeon ; and 
 A . • after 
 
2 
 
 AN account of 
 after the Captain had paid the fixteen Chinefe men 
 (with which they had been allowed to augment their 
 Ihip’s company) the advance-money ufual on thefe occa- 
 fions, they weighed anchor, and their friends went on 
 Ihore, whom they faluted at going away, with nine guns. 
 The weather becoming unfettled and hazy, at nine 
 o’clock in the evening they anchored in 7 fathom wa- 
 ter. And as in the courfe of this narrative we lliall find 
 the fhip’s company at times colletlively and feparately en- 
 gaged, it will not be improper in the outlet to mention 
 the names of the Europeans who were in the Antelope^ 
 with their particular diftindlion and fituation on board. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Henry Wilson 
 Philip Benger * - - 
 
 Peter Barker - - - 
 
 John Cummin - 
 John Sharp - 
 Arthur William Devis 
 John Blanch - 
 William Harvey - 
 John Polkjnghorn 
 John Meale 
 Richard Jenkins - 
 James Swift - 
 Richard Sharp 
 Henry Wilson, Jun. 
 
 John Wedgebrough 
 
 Robert White 
 
 Albert Pierson 
 Godfrey Minks * - 
 Thomas Dulton - 
 John Cooper - 
 \\'’iLLiAM Roberts - 
 
 ‘ The names thus marked, 
 vvhh certainty to bdfcead. 
 
 Stations. 
 
 Commander. 
 
 Chief Mate. 
 
 Second Mate. 
 
 Third Mate. 
 
 Surgeon. 
 
 Pafl'enger. 
 
 Gunner. 
 
 Boatfwain. 
 
 Carpenter. 
 
 Cooper and Steward. 
 Carpenter’s Mate. 
 Cook. 
 
 Midfhipman. 
 
 Do. fon to the Captain, 
 r 2 youths from ChrifPs 
 J Hofpital, appren- 
 
 J tices, and afting as 
 
 (_ midfhipmen. 
 
 Quarter Matter, 
 
 mto. 
 
 Captain’s Steward. 
 Seaman. 
 
 Ditto. 
 
 James 
 
 are the only men at this tlmcliHOWn 
 
3 
 
 the P E L E 
 Names. 
 
 James Duncan 
 
 Matthias Wilson 
 
 Nicholas Tyacke - 
 James Bluitt - - 
 
 Thomas Wilson * 
 
 William Stewart 
 Madan Blanchard 
 Thomas Whitfield 
 William Cobblf.dick 
 Zachariah Allen 
 Thomas Castles - 
 Dedrick Windler 
 
 Thomas Rose * 
 
 July 21. At five o’clock in the morniuj they cgr.;!i 
 weighed anchor, and fet fail, having a viAC breer.c 
 from the E. N. E. end between fix and f-.Tcn o’clock 
 their pilot left them. About nine o’clock, being got to 
 foj|*dHlance from the land, they met with a very high 
 fe^^^hich obliged them to lay to, in order to fecure 
 their cattle, and other live ftock, as alfo th:ir anchors, 
 cables, and harbor-rigging. About eleven o’clock they 
 made fail again, and by a very good oirfervation, at 
 noon, were in latitude 21'’ 28' north ; at the fame time 
 could juft fee the land bearing north, at the diftance of 
 about eleven leagues, as near as they could Judge, the 
 weather being rather hazy. In tlie afternoon the la.li- 
 ings of the booms broke, and they fell to leeward, 
 which obliged them to keep tire ihip Irefore the wind 
 until they were replaced and fccured, which having 
 done, they refumed their courfe. In the evening, ob- 
 ferving it to lighten very ftrongly from the fouihward, 
 they clofe reefed their top-fails, expc(fi;ing it to blow 
 from that quarter. 
 
 Next day the weather continued moderate, but’ clou- 
 dy ; gjid they hud a great fea from the caftward, which 
 
 made 
 
 W I S L A N 
 Stations. 
 
 Seaman. 
 
 C Ditto, brother to the 
 ^ Captain. 
 
 . - Ditto. 
 
 - Ditto. 
 
 . - Ditto. 
 
 - Ditto. 
 
 - Ditto. 
 
 - Ditto. 
 
 - Ditto. 
 
 - - Ditto. 
 
 - - Ditto. 
 
 - Ditto. 
 
 f Linguift, a native of 
 B EN GAL, calling him- 
 (_ fell a Psriu^nife. 
 
4 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 made the fiiip labor, fo as to oblige them to pump ere* 
 ry two hours. The boatfwain and carpenter were both 
 t^'.ken ill in the night with a cold and a flight fever. In 
 the afternoon a fail was feen to the S. E. which they 
 took to be a Pvrtugueje vefliel bound to Macoa. The 
 wind veered round to the fouthward this day ; no obfer- 
 vaticn of latitude. 
 
 July 23. The wind foutherly, with cloudy wea- 
 ther and fame light fqualls and rain. They noticed 
 this forenoon feveral ripplings in the water, as if in a 
 tide or current ; the fea was fomewhat fallen, and the 
 fliip made lefs water. No obfervation of latitude this 
 day, the fun being in the zenith. 
 
 July 24. The weather was very fqually, with rain 
 and a great fwell. The boatfwain and carpenter were 
 much recovered, fo as to be able to go about their 
 duty, in fecuring the ports and preparing the (hip for 
 bad weather. By an indifferent obfervation at noon, 
 tney found themfclves in latitude 19° 29' north. 
 
 jijy 25. The weather continued very dark and 
 r’oudy, with thunder, Iiglitnliig', aud hard rain, fo that 
 the fln'p w'as in a manner deluged, and every one w'et 
 ar.d uncomfortable. About three o’clock in tli^dkr- 
 noon they faw the appearance of' land from the ofclc, 
 being the BaJ!:ee Iflands, bearing from S. E. to E. N. 
 E. At fix o’clock the northernmoll ifland bore N. E. 
 by E. At night the weather being but indifferent and 
 liazy, fo that they could not keep light of the land, 
 they (hortened fail and lay to till the morning. 
 
 When at day -break they again faw the land to lee- 
 ward of them, being the fame they had feen the night 
 before ; from this clrcumftance they concluded there was 
 no current ; and as foon as the light opened a little 
 more upon them, they made fail and bore away before 
 the wind, to go round the northernmoll ifland, which 
 they did at about four or five miles diftance. d he wea- 
 ther being hazy when they firft faw tlie land, they had 
 but a ver)' irriperfeft view of the iflands. The firft ap- 
 peared to.be long, and tolerably even. The fccond was 
 likewife long, of a pretty equal height, except ni two 
 
the TELEW islands. 5 
 
 or three plnces> where it lecmed to rile into lulls: near 
 the middle of it was one verj" remarkable, from Its being 
 in fliape like a Chintje or Tartar woman’s hat. The 
 third ifland (liewed like two rugged-t'opped mountains, 
 joined together by low land. The fourth was a high, 
 large, double-peaked rock, appearing to have little toil 
 or wood upon it. The lifth was vei"y high and uneven, 
 devoid of wood, except a tew green bulhes towards its 
 fummit. There were no figns of iulubitants upon any 
 of thcll- illands, a:id the weather being fqually, our peo- 
 ple foon loll fight of them ; at noon they were ;n lati- 
 tude 21° 14' north, by obfervation, when, having run 
 about fifteen leagues to the eaftward of the idands, they 
 hauled up more to the foiithward. In hopes to get into 
 fmoother water, and better weather than they had hi-- 
 therto met with fince leaving Macoa. Soon after noon, 
 the man at the mall-head difeovered the fore-top-maft to 
 be fprung ; they immediately took In the fails, and got 
 down the top-gallant-mall', and prepared to get down the 
 top-mad, but were obliged to dedd on account of the 
 weather, until the next morning, when it proving fair, 
 with tolerable fmooth water, all hands went bulily to 
 wQik to get up a new fore-top-mad, and to diy and air 
 dlHllip, as alfo to fecure what cattle and dock remain- 
 ed, much having perlfhed in the rains and bad weather. 
 The next morning alfo being fine and fair ; this oppor- 
 tunity was embraced to open the ports, and walh and 
 cleanfe the Ihip belovv, as well as to overhaul and clean 
 tlieir fmall arms, and give the officers indrutllons for 
 the voyage. In the evening there was very hard rain, 
 with variable winds. 
 
 July 29. But the fucceeding day, the wind being fa- 
 vorable, gave them an opportunity of examining and dry- 
 ing fome of their provifion, particularly fome Chiricf: 
 hams and dry filh, which condituted part of their vitlu- ' 
 ailing, and had got damp in the exceffive rains. They 
 faw a great quantity of filh fwimming about the Ihip, 
 but could not catch any, as they would not take the 
 baits. No rains during the lad twenty-four hours, but 
 the next morning the weather became overcad and they 
 A 2 were 
 
6 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 were again viOted with rain in the evening, which con- 
 tinued very hard all night and the fucceeding day, with 
 variable winds, fo that they made very little progrefs on 
 their voyage. The next morning was more moderate, 
 and towards noon the weather cleared up and they got 
 an obfervation, by which they found their latitude was 
 16'^ 2j' north. In the afternoon it fell calm, which 
 gave them the means of trying the current, which they 
 found to fet to the E. N. E. at the rate of half a 
 mile an hour. In the evening Captain Wiljon exercifed 
 fome of the Chinefe men with rowing in the jolly-boat 
 for an hour or two, to teach them to ufc an oar when 
 needful. The following day being fair, and the wind 
 moderate, all were again employed in clearing and clean- 
 ing the fnip and fetting up the rigging. In the after- 
 noon they had an obfervation for the longitude, by the 
 diftance- of the fun and moon, by which they found 
 themfelves in 126 degrees and a half call of Greenwich. 
 The following morning being alfo fair, divine fervice 
 was performed upon deck ; a ceremony never omitted 
 on Sundays when the weather would allow of it. In 
 the afternoon they got another obfervation for the lon- 
 gitude, which confirmed that taken the preceding day. 
 At night they met w'ith frefii gales of wind, fquall]^|^^- 
 ther, and much rain, whiqh continued moft part o^lie 
 next day ; towards the evening of wliich they faw num- 
 bers of birds and filh, likewife fome drifts of pieces of 
 wood or bamboo, they therefore altered their courfe 
 ntore to the fouthward, and went under an eafy fail, 
 keeping a good look out, until morning, when it being 
 very tempeituous they brought to, and handed their top- 
 fuils, which before had been clofe reeft. The weather 
 continuing to blow a llonn, they could (how but very 
 liitle fail, being obliged to lay to under the llorm Hay- 
 fails, which continued till neai' noon on .the 7th ; the 
 ftorm then abating, and the weather clearing up, they 
 got an obfervation for the latitude, by which they found 
 tiicmfelves in 10° 16' north. The afternoon the wind 
 ^ was fouthcrly, with frelh gales, but dr)-, fo that they 
 were able the following morning to clean between decks, 
 
 and 
 
 > 
 
the PELEW islands. 7 
 
 and alfo to fumigate the fhip with gunpowder. The 
 cattle had all pcrillied in the laft ftonn, except one bul- 
 lock ; the llie-goat alfo, having kidded in this bad wea- 
 ther, died together with her young. In the afternoon 
 the weather became more moderate, fo that they w'ere 
 able to make fall and to proceed on their voyage ; and 
 the next day the weather was fo fine tney were enabled 
 to open their ports to air and dry the fhip below, as al- 
 fo again to examine their provlhons and Itores, and get 
 every thing into order. They were now proceeding 
 chefflfully on their voyage, fondlj flattering thcmfelves 
 the adverfe weather, and the a.ixieties it had awakened, 
 were all at an end, when they were fuddenly overwhelm- 
 ed with thofe misfortunes which are related in the fol- 
 lowing narrative. 
 
 .CHAPTER II. 
 
 Lofs of the Antelope, and the immediate Dflreffts artfing 
 from the Accident. 
 
 Aug.'" I ■’ HE wind having ‘frefliened after midnight, 
 lo. JL the fky became overcatt, with much light- 
 ning, thunder, and rain. The chief mate having the 
 watch upon deck, had low'ered the top-fails, and was 
 going to reef them with the people upon duty, not 
 thinking it neceflary to call the hands out or acquaint 
 the Captain, who had only quitted the deck at twelve 
 o’clock; Mr. Benger judging from the thunder that 
 the weather would break and clear up, and only 
 prove a flight fquall. The people being upon tnc yards 
 reefing the fails, the man who was on the look-out called 
 Breakers! yet fo fhort was the notice, that the call of 
 Breakers had fcar’ce reached the officer upon the deck* 
 before the fliip llruck. ' The horror and difmay this 
 unhappy event threw- every body into was dreadful; the 
 Captain and all thofe who were below in their beds. 
 
55 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 fprang upon the deck in an inftant, anxious fo know 
 the caufe of this fudden fliock to the fliip, and the 
 confufion above; a moment convinced them, of tlicii dif- 
 treffed fituation ; tlic breahers along-lide, through which 
 the rocks made their appearance, prefented the moft 
 dreadful fcene, and left no room for douot. The Ihip 
 taking a heel, in lefs than an hour filled with water as 
 high as the lower deck hatchways; during this tremen- 
 dous interval, the people thronged round ihe Captain, 
 and earnellly requefted to be direeled wl'.at tc do, be- 
 feeching him to give orders and they would immediate- 
 ly execute them. — Order s were in cor fequence iriftantly 
 given to fecure the gunpowder, arnmui.ition, ai.d fmall 
 arms, and that the bread, and fitch other nrovifioirs as 
 would fpoil by wet, fhould be brought upon deck and 
 fecured by fome covering from the raiir ; while others 
 w'ere direfted to cut a. ay th.- mizen-maft, the main 
 and fore-top-mafts, .'iij 1o\. -r yards, to eafe the Ihip and 
 prevent her overi’etting, oi wtiich they ’thought there 
 was fome hazard, and rhut every thing Ihould be done 
 to preferve her as Jong as polLblc (the fails having all 
 been clewed up as foon as the I'irip ftruek.) The boats 
 were hoifted out, and filled with piovifion and water, 
 together with a compafs in each, fome fmali arms, and 
 ammunition ; and two men were placed in eadi boat, 
 with direftiotts to keep them under the lee of the Ihip, 
 and be careful they were not ftaved, and to be ready, 
 to receive tucrr fliip-mates in cafe the velfel fhould break 
 to pieces b/ the tiling of the waves and the violence 
 of the wind, it Tnen blowing a llorm. Every thing 
 that could be thought expedient in fo diftrefsful and 
 trying an occafion was executed with a readinefs and 
 obedience hardly ever exceeded. The people all now 
 aflembled aft, the quarter-deck lying higheft out of the 
 water, the quarter-boards afforded fome little fhelter 
 from the lea and rain j here, after contemplating a few 
 moments their wretched fituation, the Captain endea- 
 voured to revive their drooping fpirlts, which began to 
 fink through anxiety and fatigue, by reminding them 
 that fhipwreck was a misfortune to which thofe who 
 
 navigated; 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 9 
 navigated the Ocean were always liable; that theirs indeed 
 was more difficult, from happening in an unknown and un- 
 frequented fea, but that this confideratlon (hould roufe 
 their moft aftive attention, as much muft depend on 
 themfelves to be extricated from their diftrefs; that when 
 thefe misfortunes happened, they were often rendered 
 more dreadful than they otherwife would be by the 
 defpair and difagreement of the crew; to avoid which, 
 it was ftrongly recommended to every' individual not to 
 drink any fpirltuous liquor. A ready confent w’as given 
 to this advice; and, they' being all wet and fatigued with 
 cxceffive labor, it was thought advifable to take fome 
 refrefhrtient, which to each perfon was a glafs of w'Ine 
 and fome bifeuit; after eating, a fecond glafs of w'ine 
 was given them, and they now w'aited with the utmoft. 
 anxiety the return of day, ;n hope of feeing land, for 
 as yet they had not difeovered any ; the third mate and 
 one of the quarter- mailers only, in the momentary in- 
 terval of a dreadful flafh of lightning, imagined they had 
 feen the appearance of land ahead of the Ihip. During thefe 
 aaxicus moment^ •’•.ey e^yirs'-ored to confole and cheer 
 one another, and each w’as advifed to clothe and prepare 
 himfelf to quit the Ihip when neceffity lliould make that 
 ftep inevitable; and herein the utmoft good order and 
 regularity were obferved, not a man offering to take any 
 thing but what truly belonged to himfelf, nor did any 
 one of them either alk for, or attempt to take a dram, 
 or complain of negligence or mifcondudl againft the 
 watch or any particular perfon. The dawn of day dif- 
 eovered to their view a fmall ifiand to the fouthward, 
 abput th.ree or four leagues diftant, and foon after fome 
 other iilands were feen to the eaftward. They now felt 
 apprehenfive on account of the inhabitants, of w'hofe 
 dlfpofitions they were Itrangers; howeve.-, after manning 
 the boats, and loading them in the heft manner they 
 could for the general good, they departed from the lliip 
 under the care of Mr. Benger, who, together with the 
 people in them, were eameftly requefted to endeavor to 
 obtain a friendly intercourfe with the inhabitants if they 
 found any', and carefully to avoid any difagreement un- 
 
lo ANACCbUNTOF 
 
 lefs reduced to the laft neceflity, as the fate of all might 
 depend upon the firft interview. As foon as the boats 
 were gone, thofe who remained went immediately to 
 work to get the booms overboard, in order to make a 
 raft to fecure themfelves, as the Antelope was hourly ex- 
 pefted to go to pieces, and the utmoft difquietude was 
 entertained for the fafety of the boats, not only on 
 account of the natives, but alfo of the weather, it con- 
 tinuing to blow very hard. — But in the afternoon they 
 perceived with inexpreffible joy the boats coming off; a 
 fight the more welcome, as they were fearful from their 
 long flay, they might have met with fome difafter, either 
 from the inhabitants, or the ftorm ; they were however 
 happily relieved from this anxiety by their getting fafe 
 to the fhip about four o’clock, having left the ftores and 
 five men on fhore. They brought the welcome news 
 that there was no appearance of inhabitants on the iiland 
 where they had landed ; that they liad found a fecure 
 harbor well fheltered from the weather, and alfo fome 
 frefh water. Every one now purfued their labor with 
 renovated fpirits to complete the raft, which was in 
 great fortvardnefs when the boats returned; this being 
 completed, they took a fecond refrefhment of bread 
 and wine, each individual having ftriftly conformed to 
 the promife made to Captain Wilfon, not to drink any 
 ftrong liquor. We mull not omit here mentioning a 
 melancholy accident which happened among the events 
 of this difaflrous morning; foon after day -break the 
 mizen-maft being found near the fliip’s flern, and fome 
 of the rigging entangled in the mizen-chains, Godfrey 
 Minis went to cut it adrift, in doing which he unfor- 
 tunately flipped and fell overboard, and although the 
 boats, which were not then gone, went inftantly to 
 his afliftance, he was unfortunately drowned, owing, as 
 was fuppofed, to having encumbered himfelf with too 
 many clothes, when he prepared himfelf, as before re- 
 lated, to be ready to quit the (hip. 
 
 The raft being now completed, was loaded with as 
 much provlfion and ftores as it could carry, confiftently 
 with the fafety of the people who were to go on it. 
 
 The 
 
THE PEI. EW ISLANDS. ii 
 
 The pinnace and jolly-boat were likewife filled with pro- 
 vifion, ammunition, and fmall arms, in which was placed 
 their greateft fecurity. The people being ftill anxioufiy 
 employed in faving whatever they could, and the (hip 
 beginning to have a little motion from the rifing of the 
 tide, there was great apprehenfion that the main-mad 
 would fall over the fide, in which cafe it mud have dropt 
 on the raft, and dedroyed it, and have rendered all their 
 labors fruitlefs. The raft and pinnace being ready to 
 depart, and the evening advancing, the boatfwain was 
 defired to go into the (hip, and to wind his call, in or- 
 der to alarm thofe who were bufily employed below 
 (and whom Captain IVilfon had repeatedly entreated to 
 defid) to go into the boats and raft, that they might 
 endeavor to get on (hore before night, and feciire what 
 they had already got out of the (hip. And here it may 
 be worth noticing, the great care and attention of the 
 carpenter, who was fo intent on faving what tools and 
 dores he could, that he remained below after the pin- 
 nace and raft were departed, and Captain Wilfon was 
 obliged to compel him to go into the jolly-boat, fo 
 anxious was he to provide and take with him whatever 
 he thought might contribute to their future relief. 
 
 Thus with aching hearts, and deep melancholy, they 
 quitted the . Antelope, totally ignorant of their future 
 dediny. The pinnace, with fome of the douted of the 
 (hip’s crew, took the raft in tow; the jolly-boat alfo 
 alfided, by towing the pinnace till they had cleared the 
 reef; after which, being too heavily laden to be of 
 much further aid, thofe in the pinnace cad loofe their 
 rope, and the jolly-boat proceeded alone to the (hore, 
 where they arrived about eight o’clock at night, and 
 found their companions who had been left in the morn- 
 ing. Thefe few men had not been idle, or unmindful 
 of their fellow -fufferers; having employed themfelves in 
 clearing away a fpot of ground, and had eredled a fmall 
 tent with a fail, in readinefs for their reception. The 
 fituation both of thofe on the raft, as well as thofe in 
 the pinnace, was truly dreadful till they had cleared the 
 reef (which was more than half an hour;) by the great 
 
IZ ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 fxirf and fpray of the fea, the pinnace and raft were 
 often out of fight of each other; thofe on the latter 
 were obliged to tie themfelves, and cling to it with all 
 their llrength, to prevent being wafhed off; and the 
 fhrieks of the Chhiefe, Icfs inured to the perils of an ele- 
 ment they were then conflicting with, did not a little 
 aggravate the horror of the fcene. 
 
 Having cleared the reef, and got into the channel 
 which flows between that and the iflands, they found 
 themfelves in deep water, and a lefs difturbed fea; they 
 hoifted the fails of the pinnace, and got on ; but as they 
 approached the land, perceiving a ftrong current, which 
 fet them much to leeward of the ifland where they had 
 left the {lores and people in the morning, they dropped 
 their fails and rowed. They found the current Hill 
 much ftronger as they got nearer the fhore, and though 
 every man exerted his utmoft; llrength they ftill continu- 
 ed to drop to leeward. Feeling now their inability to 
 refill the current, and the llrength of the rowers h^ing 
 almoft exhaulled, it was judged for the fafety of a!!, 
 that the pinnace Ihould take the people from off the raft, 
 and bring the raft to a grapnel during the night. Thefe 
 addition^ men from the raft double banked the oars of 
 the pinnace, and relieved the rowers, but at the fame 
 time they fo crowded her, that (he could barely keep 
 herfelf above water, being then clofe under a rocky 
 coall, in about fixteen fathom water (as they afterw'ards 
 better knew.) They were only able to advance flowly; 
 but as they drew nearer to the ifland whither the others 
 w'cre gone before, the jolly boat having unladen her car- 
 go, Captain Wilfon, with four people, was returning i 
 
 in her, to lighten the raft and pinnace, and give them i 
 
 full afliftance, and it being dark, hailed the pinnace at 
 a dillance. Whether it w'as from the great fatigue the 
 people had fullained while on the raft, or from their 
 voice and fpirits being exhaulled, or from the fudden 
 joy of perceiving they were fo near again to their com- i 
 rades, but the halloo was anfw'ered in fo Ihrill and un- 
 accuftomed a manner, that thofe who were in the jolly- | 
 boat, who had previoufly heard the paddling of oars, 
 
 fuppoftd 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 13 
 
 fuppofed they were natives ; as the people tvho had Re- 
 mained on (hore in the moriiing witli the ftorcs, had dif- 
 coveredj after the boats had left them, tiaces of fome 
 people having been latdy upon the illand, by feeing 
 places where there had been iires, with fome filh bones 
 and pieces of cocoa-nut (hells fcattered about, that had 
 not the appearance of having lain long there ; thefe cir- 
 c’unttances inducing the jolly-boat’s crew to conclude, 
 that the return of the halloo came from a party of the 
 natives, they precipitately returned back into the cove. 
 The pinnace arriving foon after, all thefe alarms were 
 dillipated, and an uiiiverfal joy fpread itfelf over eveiy 
 countenance on feeing one another again on dry land. 
 They (hook hands together with the utmoft cordiality, 
 evert' one feeling thole emotions that could 111 be exprclT- 
 ed by the moft forcible language. They got part of a 
 checfe, fome blfcuit, and a little water, for their fupper ; 
 and by means of difcharglng a pKlol, loaded with pow- 
 der, into fome match which they picked loofe to ferve 
 as tinder, they kindled a fire in tire cove, where they dri- 
 ed their clothes, which were thoroughly wet, and llept 
 on the ground alternately, under the covering of the 
 tent w'hich had been raifed. The night proved very un- 
 comfortable on many accounts ; the rain and wind were 
 heavy, and the diftrefs of (ituatlon not a little incrcafed 
 by the fear of the (hip going to pieces, from the tem- 
 peftuous weather, before they (hould be able to fave from 
 her fuch neceffaries as might be ufeful to them. They 
 hauled tlieir boats on (hore, and fet a watch, .left they 
 might happen to be furprifed by any of the natives. 
 
 Auguft 1 1 . The conftant perfpiration the people 
 had been in, added to their being perpetually wet with 
 the fait water, had produced an Irritation on their (Icins, 
 which, with the added fridfion of their clothes from 
 fcvere labour, had excoriated them in a manner to make 
 them moft miferably fore. At dawn of day both the 
 pinnace and jolly-boat were fent to the raft, to try and 
 bring it up ; but tjie wind blowing veiy hard, they were 
 afraid to attempt moving it ; they were, however, for- 
 B tunnte 
 
14 anaccountof 
 
 tunate enough to get the remainder of the provifion and 
 fails from it, and returned about noon. 
 
 1 lie weather proving more moderate in the afternoon, 
 ihe boats were fcnt to the wreck to bring away fome 
 rice, and other provifion, as alfo to procure what necef- 
 farlcs they could for the people, who, fiom what has 
 been before faid, ftood in great need of them. 
 
 Thofe who remained on fliore were employed In dry- 
 ing their powder, and cleaning and fitting their arms for 
 ufe, in cafe of need ; and as the boats did not return 
 till ten o’clock in the evening, it fpread amongft their 
 xiornpanions much alarm for their fafety, as the night 
 came on with very heavy weather ; nor indeed were 
 their fpliits rendered tranquil by their arrival, for the 
 chief mate and crew, who returned with the pinnace, 
 brought the melancholy intelligence, that they did not 
 conceive, from the baclnefs of the weather, that the 
 lliip could hold together till morning, as ftie was begin- 
 ning to part, the lends or tvales being ftarted out of 
 their places. The ideas which had been fondly nurfed,' 
 that when a calm fucceeded there was a poflibility fhe 
 might be floated and repaired, fo as to return to Ma- 
 coA, or fome part of China, were by this account to- 
 tally extinguifhed. The profpect now darkened round 
 them, fear pictured ftrongly every danger, and hope 
 could hardly find an inlet through which one ray of con- 
 folation might fhoot. They knew nothing of the in- 
 habitants of that country were fate had thrown them ; 
 ignorant of their manners and difpofitions, as well as of 
 the hoftile feenes they might have to encounter for their 
 fafety ; they found themfelves, by this hidden accident, 
 cut off at once frorn the reft of the world, with little 
 probability of their ever again getting away. Each in- 
 dividual threw back his remembrance to feme dear object 
 that affeflioir had rivetted to his heart, who might be in 
 vain looking out anxioufly for the return of the father, 
 the hulband, or the friend, whom there was fcarcely the 
 rnoft diftant chance of their ever feeing any more. Thefe 
 refled^ons did not contribute to make the night comfort- 
 fible ; the weather was far more tempeftuous than in the 
 
 preceding 
 
T HE PE L E W ISLAND S. i$ 
 
 preceding one ; but the clothes wliich the people had 
 procured from tlie wreck proved a great comfort to 
 them all, wlio were thereby enabled to have a change.. 
 
 C II A P T E II III. 
 
 J^lr/I Appeiirar.ee of the Natives. — ^he curious atul frleuj.y 
 Jnlerview lei’U’een iheai and the Enghlh . — Captain v/il- 
 fon’s Brotber fent to the Ktnp oj Pelcw, the Kino's Bru~ 
 thcr remaining oxiith ous' People, 
 
 Aug. A T day-break every one went to work, to d.y 
 12. the ftores and provilions between the (bow- 
 
 ers, as it blew exceedingly hard, fo that the boats could 
 not venture to fea ; and many were buhed to form bet- 
 ter tents with fuch materials as they had faved. About 
 eight o’clock in the inoni'ng Captain U'llfon and Tom 
 Rofe being on the beach collccUng water which dropped 
 from the rocks, the people who were employed In cleai"^ 
 ing away the ground, in the wood behind them, gave 
 notice that fome of the natives were approaching, as 
 they perceived a canoe coming round the point into the 
 bay ; this gave fo much alarm that tire people all (lew 
 to the arms; however, as there w. re only two canoes, 
 and thofe having but few men in them, the people were 
 defned to remain ilill, and out of fight, until they 
 Ihould perceive what reception the Captain and Tom 
 Rofe met with, whom they were convinced the natives 
 had difeovered, as they converled together, and kept 
 ftedfaftly looking towards that part of the (Irore where 
 they were ; our people w’ere ddired to be prepared for 
 the word, but by no means to appear for the prefent, 
 or (hew any figns of diilrud when tiicy did, unlefs the 
 behaviour of the natives to them (liould render it abfo- 
 lutcly ncccf.hsry. In this fnort interval of tiu-e the ca- 
 noes liad advanced cautioufly towa-ds the ihore, where 
 they dood, when Captain IVilfon ddired Tom Rofe to 
 
i6 
 
 AN ACCO UNT O F 
 fpeak to them in the Malay language, which they did 
 not feem to underftand, but Hopped their canoes ; yet 
 fo -n after one of them fpoke in the Malay tongue, and 
 a/l;cd who they were ? and whether they were friends or 
 enemies? To thefe qiieftions Tom Rofe was diiecfed to 
 reply, “ That they were unfoitunate EngTtJljmen, who 
 “ liad loft their ftiip upon the reef, and had faved their 
 “ lives, and were their friends.” Upon this they fpoke 
 a few words together (which was fince fuppofed to have 
 been the Malay man explaining to them what had been 
 faid ;) and prefently they ftepped out of the canoes in- 
 to the water, and came towards the fhore, on which 
 Captain IV'ilfon waded into the water to meet them, and 
 embracing them in a friendly manner, conduced them 
 to the fnore, and introduced them to his officers and 
 unfortunate companions ; they were eight in number, 
 two of whom it was afterwards known were brothers 
 to the King. They left one man in each canoe ; and, 
 as they were coming into the cove, feemed to look round 
 with great v.'atchfulnefs, as if fearful of being betrayed ; 
 nor would they feat themfelves near the tents, but kept 
 clofe to the beach, that in cafe of danger they might 
 immediately regain their canoes. Our people now going 
 to breakfaft, they were prefei^d with fome tea, and 
 fome fweet bifeuits, made at ^hhia, of which two or 
 three jars had been faved. Only Captain IVllfon, and 
 one or two more, with Tom Rcfe the interpreter, break- 
 fafted with them ; for, as they would probably have en- 
 tertained doubts of our people, had the Englljh fur- 
 rounded them to gratify curiofity, they might, from 
 their apprehenfions, have haftily departed. In the lit- 
 tle coiiverfatitn which during the breakfaft coul‘ b: ob- 
 tained, a wifli was exprefted to the I latay they brought 
 with them, of knowing by what event he chanced to be 
 there. This fellow, belide his own and the Peh'U) lan- 
 guage, fpoke a little Dutch, and fome words of Engli/h : 
 he gave the following account of liimfelf,* viz.. — I'hat 
 he coii:manded a trading velfcl belonging to a China man 
 
 at 
 
 Tlie future condudl and behavi.wr of this rave reafon 
 
 to fufpeet tlitrc was little truth in the ac:ount he gave tihiMfelf. 
 
17 
 
 T H E P E L E ISLAND S. 
 
 at Ternate, had been on a trading voyage to /Imhoyna 
 and Banian:, and had been caft away, about ten months- 
 before, upon an idand to the fouthward, which was with- 
 in figlit ot where he then was ; that he efcaprd from 
 thence to PehzL>, and had been kindly received by the 
 king, who, he told them, was a very good man, and 
 that his people alfo were courteous. 
 
 He further acquainted them, that a canoe having been 
 out fiihing, had feen the fiiijj’s mad lying down ; and 
 that the king being infonned of it, fent olT thefe two 
 canoes, at four o’clock that morning, to Inquire what 
 was become of the people ; that tliey knoee iug w'ell this 
 harbour, had come to it fiift, being a place where the 
 canoes, when fiiliiug, 'often ihclter themfelves in hard 
 weather. — They fat about an hour with Captain WHfcn, 
 tafted the tea, but h cmed to like the bifenits better, and 
 appeared now to feel themfelves relieved from every ap- 
 prchenfion. They w ifaed that one of our people might be 
 fent in their canoes to the Rup ick, or King, that he might 
 fee what fort of people they were ; which was agreed to 
 by Captain IVUjlr:, who, after breakfad was ended, intro- 
 duced to them fcvcral of his officers ; theft, as they came 
 up, diook hands with the natives, who being informed 
 by the Malay that this was the mode of falutation 
 amongd the Engiijh, ^ey went to every man prefent, 
 and took him by the hand, nor ever after omitted this 
 token of regai'd, as often as they met our countiymen. 
 
 It often pleafes Providence, in the mod trying hours 
 of difficulty and diltrefs, to throw open fame unlooked 
 for fource of confoktion to the fpirits of the unfortu- 
 nate ! — It was a Angular accident, that Captain Rees 
 of the Norlhumherland fhould, at Macoa, have recom- 
 mended to Captain Wilfon, Tom Rofe as a fenant, who 
 fpoke tiie Malay language perfeftly well. 
 
 It was a dill more Angular circumdance, that a tem- 
 ped ffiould have thiown a Malay on this fpot, who had 
 as a dranger been noticed and favored by the kingj and 
 having been near a year on the iAand previous to the 
 lofs of the Antelope, was become acquainted with the 
 language of the country ; by this extraordinary event 
 B z both 
 
AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 both the Engiyh and the inhabitants of Pelew had each, 
 a.i interpreter who could converfe freely together in the 
 Malay tongue, and Tom Rofe fpeakiiig Engli/h, an eafy 
 iatercourfe was immediately opened on both fides, and 
 all thofe impediments removed at once, which would 
 have arifen among people who had no means of convey- 
 ing their thoughts to one another by language, but mull 
 have tnifted to ligns and geftures, which, te thofe born 
 in climates fo rem.otely fepai'ated, might have given rife 
 to a thoufand mifconceptions. The natives perceiving 
 the boats preparing to be launched, imagined it was for 
 departure ; but being told our men were only going off 
 to the wreck to fetch more ftores and neceflaries on 
 fhore, they faid they would fend one of their people 
 w'ith them, to pnvent any canoes from molefling them. 
 
 The natives wvre of a deep copper color, perfedUy 
 naked, having no kind of covering whatfoever; their 
 fl'.ins very foft and gloFy, owing, as was known after- 
 wards, to the external ufe of cocoa-nut oil. Each chief 
 had in his hand a bafeet of beetle-nut, and a bamboo fine- 
 ly poli.uied and inlaid at each end, in which they car- 
 ry their Chincm; this is coral burnt to a lime, which 
 they fliake out through one end of the bamboo where 
 they carry it, on the leaf of the beetle-nut, before they 
 chew it, to render it more ufeful, or palatable. It was 
 obferved that all their teeth were black, and that the 
 Beetle-nut and Chtnam, of which they had always a quid 
 in their mouths, rendered the faliva red, which, toge- 
 ther with their black teeth, gave their mouths a very 
 difgufling appearance. — They were of a middling fta- 
 ture, very flraight and mufcular, their limbs well form- 
 ed, and had a particular majellic manner in walking ; 
 but their legs, from a little above' their ancles to the mid- 
 dle of their thighs, were tatooed fo very thick, as to 
 appear dy'ed of a far deeper color than their lltin : their 
 hair was of a fine black, long, and rolled up behind in 
 a fimple manner clofe to the back of their heads, and 
 appeared both neat and becoming. — None of them, ex- 
 cept the younger of the King’s two brothers, had a 
 beard; and it was afterwards obferved, in the courfe of 
 
 a 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 19 
 
 a longer acquaintance 'A-ith them, that they in general 
 plucked out their beards by the root ; a \ery few only, 
 who had ftrong, thick beards, cherifhed them and let 
 them grow. — As they now feemed to feel no longer 
 any rcliraint, they were conducted round the cove ; the 
 ground was as yet but llightly and partially cleared, 
 much broken fiiells and rock, together with thorny plants 
 and fhrubs remaining over it, nor could our people help 
 being furprifed at feeing them, barefooted as they were, 
 walk over all this rough way as perfeftly at eafe as if it 
 had been the fmootheft ground. But if the uncommon' 
 appearance of the natives of Pelew excited furprife in 
 the Englijh, their appearance, in return, awakened in 
 their vifitors a far greater degree of aftoniihment. — Our 
 countrymen, during all the time they remained in thefe 
 iflands, were perfedly convinced, tliat the inhabitants 
 had never before feen a white man, it was therefore lit- 
 tle to be wondered that they viewed them as a new and 
 a very extraordinary race of beings : all they obferved, 
 and all they touched, made them exclaim weelJ weel! 
 and fometimes iveel a trecoy! which the Malay informed 
 them was a declaration of being well pleafed. — 1 hey be- 
 gan with ftroking the bodies and arms of the Englt/h, 
 or rather their waift coats and coat fleeves, as if they 
 doubted whether the garment and the man were not of 
 the fame fubllance ; but were told by the Malay, that 
 the Engl'ifb in their own climate being expofed to far 
 greater cold, were accuftomed always to be covered, and 
 had coverings of different kinds to put on as occafion 
 required, fo that they could be always dry and warm. 
 Our people plainly perceived, by the geftures of the Ma~ 
 lay and the natives, that this was what they were con- 
 verfing about ; nor could they avoid obferving, by the 
 countenances of the latter, the quicknefs with which 
 they feemed to comprehend whatever information the 
 Malay gave them. The next thing they noticed was our 
 people’s hands, and the blue veins of their wriils ; and 
 they probably confidered the wdiite flein of the hands and 
 face as artificial, and the veins as the Englijh manner of 
 tatooing, for they immediately requefted, that the jacket- 
 
 fleeves 
 
20 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 ileevcs of the men might be drawn up, to fee if their 
 arms were of the fame color as their hands and faces : 
 fatisfied in this particular, they expreffed a further wifli 
 to fee their bodies ; upon which fome of the men open- 
 ed their bofoms, and gave them to underftand that all 
 the reft of their body was the fame. — They feemed much 
 aftoniftied at finding hair on their breafts, it being con- 
 fidered with them as a great mark of indelicacy; info- 
 much that they eradicate it from every part of the body 
 in both fexes. 
 
 They afterwards walked about, teftifyiug great curi- 
 ofity, but at the fame time exprcffing a fear that they 
 intruded too much. As they had come on ftiore unarm- 
 ed, this confideration induced Captain IVUfon, before he 
 ftiewed them the tents, to order that all the fire-arms 
 fliould be put out of fight, by covering them with a fail, 
 that the mutual confidence, which had fo happily fprung 
 up on both fides, might not be chilled or overlhadowed 
 by the flighteft miftruft ; but this well-conceived inten ■ 
 tion was fruftrated by an accident. — As our people were 
 conducing them to the tents, clofe by the entrance, one 
 of the natives picked up a bullet, which had been cafual- 
 ly dropped on the ground, and immediately expreffed his 
 fui-prife, that a fubftance fo fmall to the eye ftiould be 
 fo very ponderous to the touch ; he fhevved it diredfly to 
 the Malay, who defcribed to him the ufe of it, and feem- 
 ed to be expatiating on the nature of fire-arms, for when 
 he had done he wifncd that one of our mulkets might be 
 ftiewn them, that they might better comprehend their 
 power and ufe. 
 
 Our people had in the tents two dogs, who were con- 
 fined clofe to the place wdrere their arms were depofit- 
 ed ; one of them was a large Newfoundlander, who had 
 been brought up at fea from a puppy, the other a fpani- 
 el ; the Newfoundland dog had been the favorite of eve- 
 ry one on board, being a moft excellent guard, and had 
 been taught, during the voyage, an infinite number of 
 tricks, by which he aft'orded fo much amufement to the 
 whole crew, that there was not a fallor belonging to the 
 Antelope who would not have rilked his life for the dog. 
 
 On 
 
2.1 
 
 THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
 
 On entering the tent with their new friends, one of our 
 people went before to the dogs, to fee they were ti- 
 ed up, and to prevent any furprife to their vifitors ; no 
 fooner had they entered the tent, than the two dogs fet 
 up a moll violent barking, and the natives a noife but 
 little kfs loud ; our people fcarcely at firll knew whether 
 it arofe from fear, or W'as expreflive of aftonilhraent ; 
 they ran in and out of the tent, and appeared to wifli 
 they might be made to bark again ; but the Malr.y foon 
 explained this to be the effefts of joy and furprife, thefe 
 animals being the firft of the kind they had ever fees, 
 they having no quadrupeds of any fpecies on thefe if- 
 lands, except a very few grey rats in the woods. — I 
 was agreed on by Captain Wilfon and his people, that 
 the w’ilh which the natives had exprelfed refpejiling the 
 fending one of them to Peleiv, that the King might fee 
 what kind of Beings white men w-ere, Ihould be comph- 
 ed with, and fome difficulty arifing who fliould be the 
 perfon, the Captain requefted his brother, Mr. Matthias 
 IVilfon, to go, which requell he readily complied w'ith, 
 and agreed to depart with them in their canoes. 
 
 The Jolly-boat w’cnt out of the cove this forenoon, 
 but the badnefs of the weather obliged her to put back, 
 as did alfo the canoe that was returning to the King, in 
 which was Mr. M. IVilfotiy but about noon the canoe 
 fet out again and proceeded on her vovage. Captain 
 Wilfon was much affedled at his brother’s departure, but 
 hoped the embaffy might prove the means of alleviating 
 their forlorn fituation. He inftrufted his brother to in- 
 form the King who they were, to acquaint him w'ith 
 their misfortunes, and to folicit his friendlhip, as alfo 
 his permiffion to build a veffel to carry them back to 
 their own country. He fent by Mr. M. Wilfon a pre- 
 fent to the King of a fmall remnant of blue broad cloth, 
 a caniller of tea, a caniller of ffigar-candy, and a jar of 
 rulk. The lall article was added at the particular re- 
 quefl of the King’s two brotheis, the younger of w'hom 
 returned with Mr. M. Wilfon. 
 
 The weather being rough, our people employed thcra- 
 felves in diying their clothes, and making their tents' 
 
 more 
 
22 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 more commodious, ^'he natives condiifted our people 
 to a well of frerti water ; the path leading to this well, 
 lying acrofs fteep and rugged rocks, rendered the track 
 hazardous and difficult. Richard Sharp, a midlhipman, 
 a lad about fifteen, being on this duty, the natives took 
 him in their arms when the path was rugged, and they 
 were very careful in thefe places to affift the men, who f 
 returned with two jars filled. i 
 
 One canoe and three men remained with our people, 
 as did one of the King's brothers, called Rati Kooi, 
 commander in chief of the King’s forces, and the Malay j 
 interpreter; they eat of fome fowl ftc^^'ed with bread, 
 which was prepared for dinner, but would not eat fome 
 dices of ham which Captain JVilfon had drefled for them, t 
 
 difliking the tafte of fait, of which they had no know- ' 
 
 ledge. It continuing to rain and blow exceffively hard [ 
 all the afternoon, they could not go away, but pafled 
 the night with our people, and appeared to be perfeftly 
 cafy and contented with their reception. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The pinnace goes to the Ship, and Jinds it had been niftfidly 
 fome of the Natives. — The Behaviour of Raa Kook, the 
 King’s Brother, on being informed of it. — The friendly 
 ConduB of this Chief <whiljl he remained alone with the 
 Englifli. — A Council held, and all the Cafhs of Idquor 
 remaining in the Antelope ordered to be faved. 
 
 Aug. r I ’ H E wind and rain this night proved far 
 13. _L heavier than any lince th.e wreck ; but at 
 day-break it became more moderate, and the boatfwain 
 called all hands out to work by v/inding his pipe, the 
 found of which much plealcd and furprifed the natives. 
 Raa Kook informed Captain JVHfqn, that his brother 
 would n^'be able to return, on account of the wea- 
 ther. — About ten o’clock the pinnace was fent off to 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 23 
 
 the fhip; the people who remained on fliore employed 
 themfelves in clearing the ground and drying their pro- 
 viiion. 1 he pinnace did not get hack till after dark ; 
 their long day awakened- uneafinefs: they brought word 
 that fome canoes had been at the Ihip, and had carried 
 off fome iron and other things, and it was fufpefted that 
 among thefe was the canoe and the three men that were 
 left to attend the King’s brother, as they had put oft 
 foon after the pinnace, and, as our people thought, were 
 only gone out to fHh. They, alfo reported, that it being 
 low-water, the pinnace could not reach the fliip, hut 
 the men were compelled to wade over part of the reef 
 to get to her, and were now able to fee her fituation, 
 having difeovered that a large part of the rock had made 
 its way through her bottom, and in two or tliree places 
 appeared dry infide her hold, fo that Hie remained fixed 
 on the reef. They difeovered that the natives had found 
 their way to the cockpit, had rummaged the medicine 
 cheft, tailed feveral of the medicines, which being pro- 
 bably not very palatable, they had thrown out the con- 
 tents, and hi|| carried off the bottles, fo that nothing 
 remained in the cheft that could be of any further ufe. 
 However, it fortunately happened, that Mr. Sharp, the 
 furgeon, at the time he quitted the Ihip, conceiving he 
 never (hould get back to her any more, had providenti- 
 ally brought away fome of the moft ufeful medicines. 
 
 When thofe who returned with the pinnace brought 
 this intelligence, and had informed our people that t’nef^ 
 canoes were gone up to Pekiu, Captain Wilfon made 
 this tranfatlion known to Raa Kook, not fo much as a 
 matter of complaint, as to exprefs to him his uneafi- 
 nefs for the confequences which might arife to the na- 
 tives from their tailing or drinking fuch a variety of 
 medicines. Raa Kook begged Captain JVilfon would en- 
 tertain no uneafinefs whatever on their account; that 
 if they fuffered it would be owing entirely to their own 
 mifeonduft, for which he faid he felt himfelf truly con- 
 cerned. This converfation pafling at fupper, where the 
 General and linguift'vvere eating with our peafple, feem- 
 cd greatly to difturb Raa Kook ; lus countenance fully 
 
 deferibed 
 
ii AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 defcnbcd the Indignation he felt at the treacherous be- 
 haviour of his own men, and alked, why our people 
 did not fnootthem? begging, that if they, or any others, 
 Ihoiild dare again to attempt plundering the veffel, they 
 would, and he fhould take upon himfelf to juftify their 
 conduft to the King. — Fie this night flept in the fame 
 tent with our people, who all redoubled their attention 
 to him, perfeflly ptrfuaded from the generofity of his 
 behaviour, that the difpleafure he had teftified at this 
 injuftice done to the Engiyk, did not arife from any 
 apprehenfion he felt in being at that moment abfolutely 
 in their power, but that his mind poffelTed fo nice a 
 fenfe of honor as to make him feel unhappy at what 
 appeared to him to be a breach of hofpitality in his 
 countrymen ; which he declared Ihould be fully dated to 
 to the King, who would prevent its happening in future. 
 This amiable Chief (for amiable, he feemed from fird 
 fight) flicwed a perfeth fatisfafkion with what our peo- 
 ple could do for him ; he endeavoured to accommodate 
 himfelf to their manners, would lit at table as they did, 
 indead of fquatting on his hams; and tlij^leafing dif- 
 pofition of his induced every one to refpedl him as a man 
 of an upright charafter, and fuch they in truth found 
 him to be in every tranfailion they afterwards had with 
 hint. 
 
 At their lird coming, the Malay, who was quite naked, 
 had requeded a pair of trowfers and a jacket, which 
 were given him ; and a pair of trowfers, together with 
 an uniform coat, tvere at the fame time prefented to 
 Raa Kook, who diredlly put thenj on, not a little pleaf- 
 ed in appearing like his new friends, often looking at 
 himfelf, and faying, “ Raa Kook Englees;” but it was 
 fuppofed he found the heat and confinement of drefs 
 very inconvenient,' for after this vifit he never wore them ; 
 and when Captain W'tifon was at his houfe at Pelewo, he 
 perceived he had put them up carefully among w'hat he 
 deemed his valuables He podelfed naturally fo un- 
 bounded a curiofity, that not the fmalled circumdance 
 which o^tirred eicaped his notice ; he widied to have 
 an explanation of every thing he faw, to imitate what- 
 ever 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. aj 
 
 €Ysr our people did, and to inquire into the principles 
 and caufes of all he obferved brought about by them, 
 lending his perfonal afliftancc in every thing that was 
 doing, and even defined to aid the cook, in blowing the 
 fire. 
 
 Our people finding themfelves now on a perfect good 
 underflanding with tliis friendly Chief, did not hefitate 
 to afle with freedom, by tlicir interpreter, whatever 
 their own cuviofity fuggelled. Obferving that he wore 
 round his wrift a poliihed bone of fome creature, in the 
 form of a bracelet, and having noticed that his brother, 
 who was returned to Pelew with Mr. M. JVilfon, had a 
 fimilar ornament, they wifhed to know on what accounf 
 it was worn. The Malay explained this to the Gene- 
 ral, who, through him, informed our people that it was 
 a mark of great diftinilion, conferred by the King ore 
 his own family, and oa officers of ftate,' and command- 
 ers, and that he wore it, botlr as brother to the King, 
 and as Commander in chief of his army, both by fea 
 arid land. This new intelligence which our p<:ople had 
 obtained, excited them ftill more to cultivate the friend- 
 ffiip of a Chief, who though fo high both in rank and 
 office, had with fo much condefeenfion and attentive 
 politenefs /hewed himfelf attached to them. 
 
 The preceding evening, at fupper, a propofitiou had 
 been made by Captain V/tIfon to his officers, which as 
 It did not take place till this day, will more properly 
 be introduced here ; a propofition founded in the kigheit 
 prudence and wifdom, and executed with fuch .refoluti- 
 on and firmnefs of mind, that it re/lecis the greatefe 
 credit on the Commander, as well as the officers and 
 men who ferved under him, and hath a jull claim to be 
 faithfully recorded. The day after the Jlatehpe v/as 
 wrecked, when the pinnace had been font abomd her, 
 to fecure whatever /lores could be faved, the men 
 baving^ for many hours endured the fcvere/l toil, the 
 the chief ofticer thought proper to ferve them out fome 
 ftrong liquor; but as they were unable to find any 
 thing to cat, their emptinefs and hard fatigue had made 
 the liquor operate on their heads, fo that on their re- 
 C tun 
 
26 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 turn back tl»ey were very noify and elated ; Captain 
 IVilJon therefore now fiibmitted to his officers, whether 
 it would not be advifable to Rave all the liquor that re- 
 mained aboard the vefTel, left our people, becoming ui- 
 advertently intoxicated, might be difpofed to quarrel 
 among thcmfelves, or engage in difputes with tlie na- 
 tives; or from another motive, equally important to the 
 common fafety, left the natives themfelves, having alrea- 
 dy found their way to the fliip, might difeover the ftrong 
 liquors, which they would be tempted to drink of too 
 freely, and, from never having before tafted of fpirits, 
 raight grow Infuriated, and induced to commit fome 
 outrage with our people, and thereby draw on a gene- 
 ral conteft and difunion. The officers univerfally ap- 
 proved the propofition, and defired Captain WilJ'on 
 would the next morning make their wifhes on this mat- 
 ter known to all the ffiip’s company; which was done 
 very early, at the lime the boatfwain called all hands to 
 work. The Captain told them he had fomething to 
 lay befo.^e them, in which their future welftire, nay, 
 perhaps their future prefervation, was moft materially 
 involved ; he then fubmitted to their ji;dgment the mea- 
 furc upon which he and his officers had deliberated the 
 .preceding evening ; urged the propriety of it to them 
 in very' forcible terms, as a ftep that would beft autho- 
 rize the hope of getting away from their prefent fitua- 
 tlon, and feeing once more their own country, and thofe 
 who were dear to them ; and endeavoured to convince 
 them, that however reluftantly they might yield to the 
 propofition, yet he was fatisfied -that the underftanding 
 of every individual among them mull, on refledlion, 
 perceive it was a meafure abfojutely necelfary to be 
 adopted. Upon which all the failors, with the utmoft 
 unanimity, and with one voice, declared, that however 
 they might fuffer. from the deprivation of the accuftom- 
 ed recruit of ftrong liquor, yet, being fenfible that 
 having accefs to it, they might not at all times ufe It 
 with diferetion, they, to their lading honor as men, 
 gave their full alTent to the Captain’s propofal, and faid, 
 they were ready to go immediately to the ftiip, and 
 
 ftave 
 
the p e l e w islands. 27 
 
 Have every veflel of liquor on board ; whicb, on tin’s 
 day, they confcientioufly performed ; every caflc was 
 flaved, and fo fcrupuloufly did they execute their trull, 
 that there was not a fingle man amongll them who would 
 take or tafte a farewell glafs of any liquor. — Circum- 
 llanced as thefe poor fellows were, nothing but a long 
 and well-trained difciplinc, and the real arfeiftion they 
 bore their Commander, could have produced the forti- 
 tude antj Heady firmnefs which they tellificd on tliis 
 occalion; and certainly nothing could more exhilarate 
 the fpirits of their officers, or more endc^f the men to 
 them, than this conqueft they Ihewcd over themfelves. — 
 What indeed was there not to be hoped from fucli ;i. 
 band of brave fellows, whom unanimity, affeflion, and 
 mutual confidence, had united in one unremitting plan 
 of exertion, for the prefervation of the whole ! — The 
 intelligence of this bufinefs being fo faithfully perform- 
 ed, was brought this evening by the officer who attend- 
 ed the men, and who came back with the pinnace af- 
 ter dark, as before mentioned, and was confirmed by all 
 the others who alfillcd ; and if any thing could add tr> 
 the fatisfadlory manner in which it had been executed, 
 it was to perceive, that, when they all fat down to flip- 
 per, the event did not produce a fingle difeontented 
 countenance. 
 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 
zS 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 chapter V. 
 
 Arra Kooker, the ICmg^s Brother, returns from Pelew» 
 and is foon after followed by Mr. Matthias Wilfon, 
 who gives a very favorable Account of the Manner in 
 . which he had been received. — Regulatiotu made by the 
 Eiigliln for flablijhhig a Nightly Guard. — The General 
 and Arra Kooker informed of it. — They approve tint 
 Scheme, which is immediately put in Execution. — Some 
 CharaSer of Arra Kooker. 
 
 Aug. * H ^ H E next morning two canoes arrived with 
 14* JL yams, ready boiled, and forae cocoa-nuts, 
 which were prefented to Captain Wilfon. In one of thefc 
 viKAiArra Kooker, the King’s brother, returned back, who 
 brought with him one of the King’s fons ; Raa Kook 
 went immediately to receive his nephew, and much con- 
 verfation feemed to pafs between them. Arra Kooker 
 infonned his brother, that three men had died of the 
 things they' had taken and drank out of the medicine- 
 chell ; the General replied, that the EngHJb had told 
 him this might be the confequence, and he was glad they 
 had fufiered for their bad cor.du.ft. The meffage which 
 tlie King’s fon had brought from his father was deliver- 
 ed to the General, and from him interpreted to our peo- 
 ple, th.rongh the Malay the puiport of it was, to bid 
 the Englifc welcome into his country, and to inform them, 
 that they had his full leave and permiflion to build a 
 vclfel on the ifland on which they then were, or that 
 they might remove to, and build it on the ifland where 
 he lived himfclf, and be under his own more immediate 
 jircteftion. This being communicated, he introduced 
 the young Prince to all our people, and then walked 
 about with him, and fiiewed and explained to lilm every 
 thing which he liad made himlelf acquainted with re- 
 lative to o’.ur mr.uaers- tiis nephew, who appeared to 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 29 
 
 be about-twenty one, was as full of altonifinnent at what 
 lie faw, as the uncle himfelf had been before ; and R^t 
 Kook difcovered no ftnall degree of pleafure in percciv- 
 ing the eager delight with which his young relation 
 noticed every thing which his attention was diredled 
 to. 
 
 Whilft this engaged the General and the Prince, our 
 people were quehioning /Irra Koakcr, with anxious con- 
 cern, about Mr. IVilfun, whom he had conveyed to 
 Pelew, and whom they did not fee return with him; 
 Arya Kookir alfured them they would fee him very foon ; 
 that he had only been detained by the wind, and was 
 actually on his way. He then deferibed by figns and 
 geftures (for he had a very particular turn for mimlciy 
 and humor) the apprehenlions Mr. M, lyUfon had been 
 under, when he was at Pelcw, which he endeavoured 
 to convince them he had veiy unneceflarily entertained. 
 It was not long before our people were made happy 
 by his fafe return; who had, as he told them, under- 
 gone no fmall degree of alarm, though it turned out 
 to be more founded In irnaglnaiy fear, than In any real 
 danger. He made a very favorable rqiort of the people 
 of Pelew, that they feemed to be friendly in their dif- 
 pofition, and had treated him with much civility and 
 kindnefs: — The account of his expedition, as related to 
 me by himfelf, was as follows : 
 
 “ When the canoe in which I went away came near 
 “ the ifland where the King lived, a vaft concourfe 
 “ of the natives ran out of their honfes to fee me come 
 “ on fliore ; the King’s brother, who accompanied me, 
 “ took me by the hand, and conduded me from the 
 “ landing-place up to the town, where there was a mat 
 “ fpread upon a fquare pavement, on which he by figns 
 “ direded me to fit down. I obeyed, and in a little time 
 “ the King appeared, which being notified to me by his 
 “ brother, I arofe, and made my obeifar.ee after the 
 “ manner of caftern nations, lifting up my hands to my 
 “ head, and inclining my body forward; to which he 
 “ did net feem to pay ady attention. After this cere- 
 
 raony, I offered the King the prefents my brother 
 i C 2 •< had 
 
30 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 had font by me, which he received in a very graci- 
 ous .'.lanner. His brother, yirra Kooher, now talked 
 “ a good deal with him, which I conceived was to ac- 
 “ f)iiaint him with our difafter, and our numbers; after 
 which the King eat fome of the fugar-candy, feemed 
 “ to rclilh it, and diftributed a little of it to feveral 
 “ of his Chiefs, and then direfted all the things to be 
 taken away and carried to his own houfe ; which be- 
 “ ing done, he ordered refrefliments to be brought, 
 which confifted of a cocoa-nut filled with warm 
 “ water, and fweetened with molalTes; after tailing it, 
 “ he commanded a little boy who was near him to climb 
 “ a cocoa-tree and gather frelh nuts, he cleared one 
 “ from the hulks, and tailing the milk thereof, bade 
 “ the little boy prefent it to me, making figns to me 
 “ to fend it back when I had drank; ho afterwards 
 broke the nut in two, eat a little, and returned it to 
 “ me to cat of it. 
 
 “ I now found myfelf furrounded bjr a vail con- 
 “ courfe of bo.h fexes; much converfation took place 
 between the King, his brother, and the’Chiefs who 
 “ were with him. As their eyes were repeatedly di- 
 “ rented to me, I concluded I was the fubjedl of it. 
 
 Taking off my hat by accident, all who were pre- 
 “ font firemed ftruck with allonilhment, which I perceiv- 
 “ ing, unbuttcr ed my waillcoat, and took my Ihoes from 
 “ my feet, in order that they might fee they were no 
 “ part of my body ; being of opinion, that at firft. 
 “ fight of me, they entertained a notion that my clothes 
 conlliiutcd a part of my perfon; for, when undeceived 
 “ in this, they came nearer to me, llroked me, and put 
 “ their hands into my bofom to feel my Ikin. 
 
 “ It being now grown rather dark, the King, his 
 “ brother, feveral others, and myfelf, retired into a houfe, 
 “ where there was a fupper brought in of yams boiled 
 “ whole, on a Hand or llool with a rim or edge round' 
 “ It o( tliree or four inches high ; in a dllli or wooden 
 “ bowl was a kind of pudding made alfo of yarns boil- 
 “ ed and beat together, juil as w'e malli potatoes, of 
 “ wluch they put three or four" in a bowl or dlllr. 'i'bey 
 
 “ had 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 31 
 
 had likewife fome (hell-fifh, but of what kind I could 
 “ not make out. They conduced me after fupper to 
 “ another houfe at fome dillance from the lirft, where 
 “ I found at leaft forty or fifty men and women ; I was 
 “ kd thither by a female, who, when I h^d entered the 
 “ houfe, made figns to me to fit, or lie down on a mat 
 “ that was fpread, as 1 underftood, on the floor for me 
 “ to fleep on. After the reft of the company had all 
 “ fatisfled their curiofity by viewing me very accurate- 
 “ ly, they all went to deep, and I laid myftlf down 011 
 “ the mat, drawing another mat over me, which I fup- 
 “ pofed was placed there for that purpofe, refting my 
 “ head on a block of wood, which ferves the people 
 “ here as a pillow. Unable to flumber, I lay perfe6lly 
 “ ftill; and fome confiderable time after, when all feem- 
 “ ed quiet, about eight men arofe, and began to make 
 “ two great fires at each end of the houfe (which was 
 “ not divided by partitions, but formed one large habi- 
 “ tation.) This operation of theirs, I confefs, alarmed 
 “ me very much indeed ; I thought of nothing lefs thaa 
 “ that the natives were going to roaft me, and that 
 “ they had only laid themfelves down that I might 
 “ alfo drop afleep, and Intended to feize me in that 
 “ fituation. — However, being furrounded by a danger 
 “ which there was no pofllbility of efftiplng, I colledl- 
 “ ed all my fortitude, and, recommending myfelf to 
 “ the Supreme Difpofer of all events, I expefted eve- 
 “ ry moment to nreet my fate; when, to my great fur- 
 “ prife, after fitting a little w’hile and waiming them- 
 “ lelves, I perceived they- all retired again to their mats, 
 “ nor got up any more till day-break, when I arofe and 
 “ walked about, encircled by great numbers of men, 
 “ w'omen, and children. It was not long before the 
 “ King’s brother joined me, and w'cnt with me to fe- 
 “ veral houfes, where I was entertained w'ith yams, 
 “ cocoa-nuts, and fvveetmeats. — Being after this con- 
 dufted to the King, I fignified to him by geftures 
 “ that I much wiilied to go back to my brother; he 
 “ pcrfeftly underftood me, and explained to me by figns 
 tkat the canoes could uot go out, there being too 
 
 “ muoli 
 
32 A N AC C O UNT Q F 
 
 “ much wind and fea. To defcribe the firft he poi'itted 
 “ up to the trees, and blew ttrongly with his mouth; 
 “ and, to mark the too great force of the fea on the ca- 
 “ noes, he joined his two hands together with the palms 
 “ upwards, then lifted them up, and turned them the 
 t< reverfe v/ay, to exprefs to me that the canoes would 
 “ overfet. - The remainder of the day I fpent in walk- 
 “ Ing about the ifland and obferving its produce. I 
 “ found it confided diiefly of yams and cocoa-nuts; 
 “ the former they cultivate with great care in large 
 “ plantations, in fwampy watery ground, like the rice 
 “ in India. The cocoa-nut trees grow very near to their 
 “ houfes, as does alfo the beetle-jiut, which they chew 
 “ as tobacco.” The favorable account brought by 
 Mr. M. IVilfon, and the meflage which the King had 
 fo gracioufly fent to Captain tVHfon by his fon> could 
 not fail of giving fpirits to all our people. 
 
 Captain Wilfon drelTed the King’s fon in a filk coat 
 and a pair of blue trowfers ; he was a young man ex- 
 tremely well made, but had loll his nofe. This might 
 accidentally have been torn off by a fpear in battle, or it 
 might have been the effe£t of a fcrophulous habit, which 
 Mr. Sharp the furgeon found afterwards prevailed much 
 among the natives. 
 
 Before noon the two boats were fent off to the wreck, 
 but the bad weatlier compelled Mr. Barker to come back 
 with the jolly-boat. The pinnace returned before even- 
 ing, with fome iron, one bag of rice, and fundry other 
 llores ; our people brought intelligence that they found 
 upwards of twenty canoes bulled about the veffel, and 
 that fome of the natives had been very angry at having 
 feme iron and a cutlafs, which they had got out of her, 
 taken from them. Raa Kook immediately fent his bro- 
 ther and nephew off in a canoe, who returned at night 
 with the information that they had been totally driven 
 away ; fo affured were our people now of Raa Kook's 
 friendflilp and proteclion, though but three days ac- 
 quainted with him, that even when feparated from the 
 reft, and on the reef at the wreck, they ventured to 
 
 difpute 
 
THE PELEW ISLAN.DS. 35 
 tlifpute with the natives, and obliged them to give up 
 what they had taken. 
 
 Finding the numbers of natives who vifited them at 
 their illand increafe, and having dried their powder and 
 repaired their fire-arms, our people thought their fafety 
 required that they fnould appoint a regular guard every 
 night, to be relieved every two hours. 'Fhe (hip’s com- 
 pany was divided into five guards, each guard having 
 an officer to give the watch-word, which was caUed and 
 anfwered from the different pofts every five minutes, 
 there being nine men always upon guard. — This arrange- 
 ment being to take place for tlie firft time on the even- 
 ing of this day. Captain IVilfon judged it advifable that 
 his gueils Ihould be apprized of his intention, left the 
 turning out fuddenly with arms might awaken ferious 
 apprehenfions in them. 
 
 The hour of eight having been appointed for fetting 
 the guard, the Captain previoufly communicated to them 
 the refolution they had formed, explaining at the fame 
 time that it was cuftomary for tire Engtjh to have a 
 night-watch whenever they were from home ; and that 
 liere it might be particularly ufeful, as it would prevent 
 the inhabitants of the oilier iflands from coming by night 
 to attack them. This being explained. Captain Wilfon 
 invited them, before fupper, to fee the guard turn out ; 
 they feemed highly delighted to obferve our men go 
 through their exercife before they parted for their re- 
 fpeftive pofts, each man having a muffiet and cartouch- 
 box, &c. and indeed all the men on board the Antelopey 
 from the time that the veffel quitted Ew^hmd, were fo 
 conftantly kept in the exercife of fmall arms, that they 
 were fufficiently expert to have made a refpeftahle ap*. 
 pearance ; and on the people before whom they now 
 (hewed themfclves, their lldll and readinefs muff have 
 made a formidable impreffion. The novelty of the fight 
 had forcibly worked on the imaginations of their new 
 triends . — Arra Kooler having lent a molt fteady atten- 
 tion to the explanation that had been given of tlie ufc 
 of thefc military weapons (about which he had probably 
 been talking with his brother the General) feemed as 
 
34 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 if fom^fudden thought had at the moment ftarted in hi9 
 mindjj^iling out eagerly to Raa Kook, in thefe words, 
 Englees rivora (or go) ylrtingall, PeVle, Ltrjj, pointing to 
 the northward and fouthward ; then cried Poo, imitat- 
 ing the found which our guns had been reprefcnted to 
 him to make when fired. They returned to the tents 
 where they were to fieep, and appeared to be quite at 
 eafe and contented. — They kept convei-fing together a 
 great part of the night ; and the bufmefs of this even- 
 ing proved a very favorable circumftance, as from that 
 time they feemed to confider the Engll/h as poflefling 
 fuch power and abilities as they could have no concepti- 
 on of before. 
 
 Sentiments nearly fimilar have imprefied the minds of 
 all people who live fccluded from an acquaintance with 
 mankind, whenever accident or curiofity has carried the 
 inhabitants of remote parts of the globe to vifit their 
 unfrequented regions. But the natives of Pehiv, who, 
 as far as one is authorized to judge, not conceiving the 
 globe as extending beyond the horizon that bounded 
 then), had none but the idc;;,; of nature to guide them ; 
 they had feen no other people to difturb their fimplicity, 
 whatever they were (hewn they confidered and examined 
 as uleful ; they looked up with admiration to the people 
 who could with fo little trouble produce effedls, which 
 they had never difeovered ; and to their admiration they 
 added a reverential efteem, as poflefling talents they ne- 
 ver could attain themfelves.; of which we lhall, in the 
 courfe of this narrative, give fome extraordinary proofs. 
 
 ^rra Kool-r could by no means relilh the wearing of 
 trowfers, but he had conceived a paflion to have a white 
 fniit, aud one was immediately given him, which he had 
 no foone' put on -than he began to dance and jump 
 about witir fo much joy, that all were diverted by his 
 ridiculous geftures, and the contrail which the Hnen form- 
 ed with his fldn. This Prince appeared to be verging to- 
 wards forty ; he was in ftature ihort, but fo plump and 
 fat that he was almoll as broad as he was long ; he poC* 
 fefled an abundant (hare of good-humor, and a wonder- 
 ful turn for mimicry ; and had befides, a countenance fij 
 
the P E L E W islands. 35 
 
 lively and fo expreflive, that though our people were 
 llrangers at this time to ahneft all he laid, yet his face 
 and gelluies made them pretty accurately comprehend 
 whatever he was dcfcribing. In order to amufc them, 
 he would frequently try to take off ever^’’ one of our peo- 
 ple in any particularity he had noticed, and this with 
 fuch greait good-humor, that evei^ one who faw him was 
 pleafed with his pleafantry. Sometimes he would take 
 up a hat, put it on his head, and imitate the man- 
 ner of our people walking in their militaiy exercife ; 
 would recolleft every occurrence that happened, and no- 
 thing that he obferved done by the Englijh efcaped him; 
 in Ihort, on every occafioq his manner was lively and en- 
 gaging tQ a degree. From the firft time of his having leen 
 the great Kevi^oundland dog, as before mentioned, he felt 
 delight in going to him frequently, and in carrying him 
 vicluals ; and by noticing him fo much, the dog natu- 
 rally exprelTed great joy whenever he went to him. 
 When he was brought on board the jintelope, in Eng- 
 land, the dog was named Sailor, and now, familiarized 
 to ^rra Kooker, would, whfenever he appeared, bark, 
 jump, leap, and play his tricks ; and his new acquaint- 
 ance, when he wilhed to be amufmg, would imitate 
 wonderfully well the barking, howling, jumping, and all 
 the various demonftrations of joy of this poor animal. 
 
 The Engti/h, as far as they collecfled from Mr. M, 
 Wdfon’s account, and from the urbanity and attention 
 fhewn them by the two dignified Chiefs, who had now 
 been their guells for fome days. In happier moments, 
 with the certainty before them of getting away whene- 
 ver they pleafed, would have enjoyed the fociety of their 
 new friends; but the doubt of what they might further 
 get from the fhip to aid the building of another, and 
 the uncertainty whether they might ever fee again their 
 country and families, conllantly preffed on their minds 
 fuch a weight of anxiety, that the refleftions of fenfi- 
 bility were often wringing their hearts, when the forti- 
 tude their prudence affumed, and the attention due to 
 their hofpitable protedlors, compelled them to fubdue 
 their natural feelings, and nialli their countenances with 
 acquiefeent fmiles. 
 
 chapter 
 
36 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 7he King of pays his jirjl vifit to the EngUfli. — His 
 
 Arrival defcribed, and the Ceremony tuith aohich he is re- 
 ceived; after 'which he is conduEted by his two Brothers 
 and Captain Wilfon round the Spot 'whereon they had 
 ereSed their temporary Habitation, and Jhe<wn 'whatever 
 might engage his Curufity. — After fevtral Hours’ Stay he 
 departs, pleafed 'with his Reception, and takes bis Rcliuus 
 • avith him to the back Part of the Jfland. 
 
 Aug. A T day-break the King’s fon, accompanied by 
 ij. xX one of his uncles, launched their canoe and 
 ■went off to the Ihip ; Mr. Barker alfo got off with the 
 jolly-boat ; the pinnace wanting fome little repairs, 
 could not be fent till about an hour after ; they both 
 returned about noon, btlnging with them fome rice and 
 other ftores, and were going to make a fecond trip, but 
 put back on feeing a number of canoes approaching the 
 harbour, and our people were informed that the King 
 was coming. — Soon after feveral canoes appeared round 
 the point at the entrance of the harbour, and then lay 
 to ; the King’s canoe having flopped whilfl he was giv- 
 ing orders to another fquadron of canoes (that were 
 armed, and formed his rear) to detach themfelves to 
 the back of the ifland. — The King’s canoe then came 
 forward between four others, two on each fide of it, the 
 rowers of which fplafhed the water about with their pad- 
 dles, and flourilhed them over their heads in a very dex- 
 terous manner ; and as the King paffed, the firfl canoes 
 that had lain to clofed his train, and followed him into 
 the cove, founding their conch fhells. When they had 
 come in as far as the tide would permit, it was fignified 
 to Captain Wilfon that he Ihoidd go out and meet the 
 King ; on which two of his own men took him up in 
 their arms and carried him through the flmliow water 
 
 to 
 
 I 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 37 
 
 to the canoe, where the King was fitting on a ftagc 
 built in the middle of it. He defircd Captain JVilfon to 
 come into the canoe, which he did, and embraced him, 
 informing him, through the interprctci’s, that he and his 
 friends were Engljhnun, who had unfortunately loll their 
 Ihip, but having faved their lives by landing on his ter- 
 ritory, fupplicated his permiflion to build a veflcl to 
 convey them back to their own country. 
 
 After a little paufe, and fpeaking with a Chief in a 
 canoe next to him (who we after learnt was the Chief 
 Minijler) he replied, in the moil courteous manner, that 
 he was welcome to build, either at the place where he 
 then wasj or at his own ifland ; told Captain J-Vilfony 
 that the iiland he was then on was thought to be un- 
 healthy ; that he feared his people might be fickly if 
 they Hayed on it before another wind fet in, which he 
 faid would be in two moons ; and that he might poilibly 
 be moleftcd by the inhabitants of fome of the neigh- 
 bouring iflands, •who were at that time at war with 
 him. 
 
 Captain JVilfon exprefled his acknowledgments for 
 the condefcenfion, the care, and goodnefs which the 
 King had teftified toward him and his people ; inform- 
 ing him at the fame time, that as the ifland he was then 
 on was far nearer to the wreck, from whence he had al- 
 ready got fome ftores on fliore, and hoped Hill to get 
 more, it would take much more time fliould he remove 
 them farther ; therefore he would, with his permiflion, 
 prefer remaining where he was, as his people could fear 
 no enemies whilll they enjoyed his proteftidn and frlend- 
 fliip : — that he had a perfon with him very fleilful in 
 curing ficknefs, w'hich made him very eafy ’on that ac- 
 count ; but in cafe any of his people, durinj^eir flay 
 there, fliould happen to fall ill, he would then avail 
 himfelf of hie goodnefs, and convey them for recovery 
 to the better air of his own ifland. With this anfw’er 
 the King feemed to be pleafed and fatisfied. Captain 
 IVilfon then made him a prefent of a fcarlet coat ; and, 
 after fome difeourfe, he made figns to go on fliore ; the 
 D _ men 
 
j3 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 r.'.en ag:iin took the Captain up, as before, whilil the 
 King Hepped into the water, and waded to land. 
 
 The Ki ng %vas perfeftly naked, nor had he any bone 
 on -his wrift, or any ornament of diftinftion. He bore 
 a hatchet on his fhoulder, the head of which was made 
 of iron, a circumftance which much fui-prifed our peo- 
 ple, as all the other hatchets they had feen were of 
 Hiell ; the handle being formed in a lharp angle, ftuck 
 clofe to the fhoulder, lying before and behind, and want- 
 ed no tying to keep it fteady in walking. The King, 
 on landing, looked about with the fame kind of caution 
 as his brothers, and thofe who came with them, had 
 before done, on their fidt vifit. Raa Kook met him on 
 the fhore, and, as he declined going into the tents, the 
 Englifh fpread a fail for him to fit on, which he did, and 
 clearly took and underftood it as a mark of refpeft j 
 the Chitf Mirtijler placing himfelf oppofite to him, at 
 the extremity of the canvafs, whilft his two brothers, 
 Raa Kook and Krra Kooler, fat on eacli fide, at the ex- 
 tent alfo of the fail, forming, when thus arranged, a 
 iquare. The principal chiefs and officers of ftate who 
 acCompauit'd him, feated themfelves near ; and behind 
 thefe chiefs the large retinue of his own people, which 
 filled his train, being about three hundred, formed a 
 circle, not ftanding but fquatting, in a pofition ready to 
 rife up in an inftant. — Some tea was made and offered 
 him ; he drank one cup, but did not feem to relifli it. 
 After fitting a little while, he was prefented with a rem- 
 nant of fcarlet cloth, and half a piece of long-cloth ; 
 and alfo had fome ribands of different colors given to 
 iiim, to dillribute among his attendants ; which he did 
 immediately, and they, on receiving them, rolled them 
 up very handily, for they had all been unrolled before 
 to dry. During the time that they were rolling up the 
 libands, our people obferved, by the geftures and looks 
 of the natives, that each Chief fixed his attention upon 
 fome particular perfon ; this at the time alarmed them, 
 apprehending that the individual each Chief had particu- 
 larly noticed, was fingled out as his devoted prifoner ; 
 buL they foon afterwards fouad the meaning to be quite 
 
 contrary, 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. ?9 
 
 contrary, and that the individual fo fdcfted was to be 
 that Chief’s particular friend or guefl. — ^Captain Wilfo’i 
 then Introduced his Chief Mate to the King, as the full 
 officer under him, whom Abhci Thulle filled the * Kickn- 
 ray Rupach, conceiving at that time that Captain IVhfon 
 was himfclf a prince of feme country ; but being af- 
 terwards informed by the Malay, that he ierved under 
 a far greater power at home, and was no fovereign, but 
 a Captain, he felzed the dilllndlion inllantly, and ever af- 
 ter addrefftd him by the appellation of Captain, and liis 
 Chief Mate, by that of Kickaray Captain, as fecond r.i 
 command. The reft of the officers were next introduced, 
 and Mr. Marp, the furgeon, was pointed out as the gen- 
 tleman of whom he had fpoken when in the King’s ca- 
 noe, who cured the difeafes which any of his people were 
 afflifted with, at which the King feemed wonderfully 
 furprifed, and kept his eyes fixed on him. Laflly, all 
 the private men were introduced In their turns, alfo. 
 After prefenting the officers, &c. the King inquired for 
 the mark of Captain IVHfon's rank or dignity a;; Ciiie;, 
 who was at a lofs how to anfwer ; but recct-edlng Usr.t a 
 ring was an ornamental mark of dlftmcrion, told, him I-,', 
 and Mr. Benger, the Firft Mate, having faved his, gave it 
 to Captain IVilfon, who put it on ; they appeared pleafid 
 with t’ne Idea that it was a kind of ornament whie'i had 
 a fimilarity of meaning to their own. 
 
 During the time that this bufinefs was tranfafling, 
 Raa Kook was converling with the King upon every 
 thing he had feen and obferved during his ftay with cur 
 people ; this his countenance and geflures fully demcn- 
 llrated, and they plainly noticed his defeription of their 
 fire-arms, and exercife, which the King feemed eagerly 
 to attend to, and then expreft’ed a wifh to fee them him- 
 felf-, whieh Captain IVilfon fuid fliould be dune Immedi- 
 ately. 
 
 He ordered ever\- man to be under arms, and drawn 
 up on the beach (the tide then being low) before the 
 King, who was placed with all his retinue juft above tlie 
 flow of the water, and that they fliould be exercil'ed by 
 
 the 
 
 * Kidjray mcsns liul :. — Ssi the annexed Vorahular)-. 
 
40 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 the Chief Mate, that he might not abfent himfelf from 
 the King ; they, without lofs of time, prepared them- 
 felves, marched on the (hore in the King’s prefence, and 
 fired three vollies in different pofitions. — The furprife of 
 the natives, their hooting, hallooing, jumping, and chat- 
 tering, produced a noife almoft equal to the report of 
 the mullcets. Though this exhibition was made at fome 
 expenfe of their powder, yet our people having fortu- 
 nately faved all they had on board, it was Judged pru- 
 dent on this oecafion to let the natives witnefs fome dif- 
 play of the effeft of their arms, that they might be im- 
 preffed at the firft fight of them with an enlarged idea 
 of the power and ftrength of the Englijb; and the more 
 fo as they had perceived, the preceding night, how much 
 higher they had rifen in the eftiraation of the King’s 
 brothers, by the mere exliibltion of their niulketry, 
 and giving an explanation of their ufe. 
 
 After this, one of the fowls that had been faved among 
 the little live flock from the Antelope, was purpofely dri- 
 ven acrcfs the cove, where Mr. Benger was prepared 
 with a fowling-piece, loaded with fliot, which he fired at 
 the I'i.d, to let the King fee the efle6f of their muikets; 
 the bird inftantly dropped, having its wing and leg bro- 
 J.en ; fome of the natives ran to it, took it up, and ear- 
 ned it to the King, who examined it with great atten- 
 tion, unable to comprehend how it could be wounded, 
 not liaving feen any tiling pafs out of the gun. This 
 created a vafl murmur and furprife amongft them. 
 
 Raa Kook expreffld much impatience to ll.cw the 
 King wliatever had impreffed I’.is own mind, and taking 
 Lis brother by the liand, kd him to a grir.d-flone, which 
 was placed behind one of tlic tents, and fixed on a block, 
 lie pat it in motion, which (Laving been fhewn the me- 
 tlicdj he had frequently done before ; the King remained 
 fixed in afloniffiment at the rapidity of its motion, and 
 at the explanation of the General, that jt would imme- 
 diately fiiarptn and poliflr iron. Captain Wilfon ordered 
 a hatchet to be brought, and ground, that they m.ght 
 move readily perceive its operation. Ran Kook eagerly 
 laid hold of the handle of the flone, and began turning 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 41 
 
 itj eippc^irinp^ liiglily dcli^litccl liirnfclf to let liis oiotHcr 
 fee how well ho undcrllood It ; he having the preceding 
 day anrnfed lunifeif for foine hours with this noveit^^ 
 and had fliarpened feveral pieces of iron, which he had 
 picked up about the tents. The circura dances which 
 mod in this fight bewildered all their ideas, were, how 
 the fparks of fire could come, and how a Hone, fo well 
 wetted, became fo focn dry. 
 
 The King then vifited the different tents, and in- 
 quired about every thing he faw ; all veas novelty, and of 
 couide intcrefted his attention. When he got to the tent 
 where the Chinefe men were, Raa Kooh, whofe retentive 
 mind never loft a fingle trace of any thing he had been 
 informed of during his ftay among them, acquainted tlic 
 King, that thefe were a people quite different from t'le 
 Engiyjj, and that they were China-men, a word he liad 
 readily caught. — He begged one of them v.-oukl allow 
 the King to examine his head, noticing the long, fin- 
 gle-bralded lock of hair hanging almoft down to the 
 calves of tlreir legs. 
 
 The King gave great attention to all that the Gene- 
 ral faid, and feemed to be, making many inquiries of 
 him ; by Raa Kook’s geftiires it was evident ttiat he 
 was conveying to his brother an Idea that there were 
 many different nations in different parts of the world, 
 foine of which were called French, with whom the Kng- 
 lijh themfelves were then at war (this ojir people, In 
 their many hours of converfatlon, had tcld the Gene- 
 ral of.) He alfo informed him that the China-men were 
 a different kind of men to the Fngli/h, an idea which 
 he had himfelf conceived, from obferving that tii6 nigiit 
 before, when the Enghjh turned out their nigiit-v.atc.h 
 for the firft time, the Chinefe had no muficcts, but o..iy 
 boarding-pikes, and having inquired the caufe, was told 
 that they w'-ere-not ufed to fight with guns as. the 
 lf .3 were, which induced him to hold them cheap. 
 
 VHieu t!;e King heard his brother difeouriing about 
 a variety of na’tions difperfed through the world,' who 
 all fp ke differently, and had before l;im an example 
 in the Chlnfe, who did not fneak in the fame tongue as 
 
42 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 tlie Etiilipj, he appeared Inflantly thoughtful and feii- 
 ous, as it itruck with conceptions that had never eroded 
 his mind before. He remained awhile penfive y.nd be- 
 wildered ; and this circumftance imprefl'ed on every one, 
 at the time, an idea, which will poiTibly now as forci- 
 bly iinprefs the reader, that there was every caufe to 
 fuppole there bad never been a communication between 
 thefe people and any other nation ; that they and their 
 anceftry, throwgh a line of ages too remote for human 
 conjedfure to fix a date, might have lived as fovereigns 
 of the world, unconfclous tliat it extended beyond the 
 horizon that bounded them ; unconfclous alfo that there 
 were any more inhabitants in it than themfelves ; and in i 
 this cafe, what might net be the fentiments that might 
 buill on a mind thus fuddenly awakened to a new and ^ 
 a more enlarged notion of nature and mankind ! * 
 
 As the King was going toward our tents, of which \ 
 tl’.ere were three, with a fcti.^ry Rationed at each, the day 
 being fine, and the fun in full power, he noticed the 
 bright glitter of ijie bayonet ; it of courfe aflonillied 
 him, who had never feen any polilhed body, or the afti- 
 on of light on it. He flepped haftily to the fentinel 
 and wifned to feel it, offering to take it out of the man’s 
 hand, who thereupon drew back ; Captain WilJ'on then 
 explained to him, that no Bnghjb fentinel would, or dar- 
 ed fuffer any one to touch his arms. — Upon this the 
 King feemed fat’sfied, and went on to view other things 
 in and about the cove. Ran Kook would now lliew his 
 brother the kitchen which was in the hollow of a rock, , 
 a little above the cove. It was the time when the cook 
 was preparing dinner ; the implements which furnifhed 
 the kitchen were fcanty Indeed, and could in no other 
 place but this have attradled any one’s attention ; but 
 here an iron j>ot, a tea-kettle, a tin fauce-pan, with a 
 poker, a pair of tongs, and frying-pan, became, from 
 
 their 
 
 • It is not improbable but that, from feeing tlie fume 
 
 notion of this kind might have been awakened before ; but now, 
 having -before lam a people of a dij^trent ccUr, and h eari."g of a 
 variety of nations who were of the Rme complexion, the imprefli- 
 «u would liitunliy operate ca Lis miiid widi redoubled llrergtli. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 43 
 
 tlieir peculiar fituation of fufH>ient confequcncc to excite 
 admiration ; nor were the bellows now forgotten by the 
 General (of which fome mention has before been made) 
 who taking them up, as he explained their ufe to the 
 King, feeined ambitious to let his brother fee what an 
 adept he was, and began to blow the fire. The bald 
 cook, who was always clofe fhaved, and never wore any 
 thing on his head, and was befide, a little, meagre fellow, 
 was alfo pointed out by him for the King’s notice ; for 
 the General’s vein of humor, as well as his wifii of in- 
 formation, made him attentive even to the moll trivial 
 circumllances. 
 
 He was alfo taken to fee the two dogs, which he was 
 ftruck and delighted with in full as great a degree as 
 his brother Arra Koohr had been before. But thefe ani- 
 mals, wltofe novelty equally imprelfed all the natives, ex- 
 cited them to take fo much pleafure in making them 
 bark, that our people were alter lome time compelled to 
 confine them out of fight. 
 
 Near to the kitchen was another hollow rock, where 
 were fufpended the hams which had been faved from the 
 111 ip, under which fires had been made, in order to fmoke- 
 dry them for future fea-llore. Raa Kook was now fo fa- 
 miliarized to our people’s methods, that he Informed the 
 King this was fome of their provifion ; he wilhed that 
 one of them lliould be offered his brother, which avas 
 immediately prefented, and accepted, as was alfo a live 
 goofe ; four or five (the remains of the live flock) jufl 
 at that moment waddling in fight. 
 
 The King being now returned to his former feat, 
 informed Captain IVilfon that he intended to go and 
 fleep at the back of the ifland ; and prefently a loud 
 fiiriek was given by one of the King’s officers, who 
 wore a thin, narrow bone on his wrill, which was after- 
 w'ards known to be an Order much inferior to what we 
 have fpoken of before. This, at the moment it was 
 heard, threw our people into fome alarm, but the caufe 
 of it was immediately evident, for all the King’s attend-, 
 ants, who it was conceived amounted at lead to three 
 hundred, though all differently difperfed, and engaged 
 
 in' 
 
4+ ANACCOUNTO^ 
 
 in looking- about at every thing that attrafted them, aS 
 if inftantaneoufly moved by the Ihriek, might be faid to 
 have rather darted than to have ran to their canoes. It 
 was a fignal obeyed more fuddenly than could have been 
 conceived, and no word of command was ever executed 
 with more promptitude. The King departed, in appear- 
 ance well pleafed with his vifit, and fatisfied with what 
 he had feen. 
 
 It hath been faid, in the beginning of this chapter, 
 that the canoes which preceded the King, were Hopped 
 a little before enteiing the cove, by his giving orders 
 to the fquadron of thofe which were armed to detach 
 themfelves, and go to the back of the ifland ; part of 
 this manoeuvre was vifible from the Ihore, and the reft 
 was obtained by intelligence from fome of our people 
 who had been fent over land to the watering-place, which 
 hiy at the back of the ifland, and who happened to be 
 on the fpot when the armed canoes arrived, which fo 
 alarmed them, that they came v/ith all poffible fpced to 
 give infoi mation of it. But the King being then with 
 the Englt/h, they were perfectly eafy, knowing that thefe 
 canoes mull be part of his retinue. The King being 
 then at W'ar, would not choofe, in vifiting our people, 
 to expofe himlelf to any infult from his enemies, the 
 palfage from PelfM to this ifland being about feven 
 leagues ; and coming w'ith all the fentlments of friend- 
 fhip, he- judged it indelicate to alarm thofe who had 
 fought his proteftion, by the formidable appearance of 
 ’ fuch numbers as accompanied him. 
 
 The King’s fon and Raa Kook flayed w'ith the Englj/h, 
 having canoes and about twenty people remaining with 
 them ; they llept in twm tents by themfelves, our people 
 ij'lng in the tent -where their arms and ftorcs were, two 
 tents having been erected, for the accommodation of the 
 King and ins retinue. One was prepared for the King 
 before he came, and the ether railed clofe to it, for his 
 attendants, after his arriral, when they law the number 
 of them. In the tent intended for the King, was Raa 
 Kook, the King’s fon, and feveral Chiefs ; Captain JVil- 
 Jon remained with them after the guard was fet, and fen- 
 
 tiaels 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 4J 
 
 tinels placed, to Ihew them refpedi, as well as to teftify 
 the confidence he placed in them. Soon after which the 
 following circumftance happened, which occafioned much 
 alarm. 
 
 After the guard was fet, and the fentinels placed, our 
 people were going to reft, v/hen, on a fudden the na- 
 tives began a fong, the ftirillnefs and manner of whidi 
 made them think it was their war-whoop, or the fignal 
 for the King and his party fix>m the back of the ifland 
 to come upon them ; the Englijh inftantly took to their 
 arms, and Meflrs. Barker and Sharp ran to the tent 
 where Captain Wllfon was, to fee if he was fafe ; judg- 
 ing, that if any harm was intended, the natives would 
 fecure him, who was alone with them. — Seeing him fafe 
 and quiet, they informed him of the apprehenfions of 
 our people, wdio were all under arms ; he requefted Mr. 
 Barker to return immediately to them, and defire them 
 to make no fiiew of being alarmed, but to keep upon 
 their guard until they ftrould' find what the meaning of 
 this might be, adding, that he would come to them as 
 foon as he could do it without being noticed ; he requeft- 
 ed Mr. Sharp to fit down by the King’s fon, and enter 
 into fome converfacion with him, by figns, whilft he 
 went himfelt to their tent, where he found the people 
 under arms ; after a little deliberation on w'hat this noife 
 might mean, it was thought beft to difeover no appear- 
 ance of uneafinefs, but to remain quiet in the tent, with 
 arms ready by them, and that he would return to the na- 
 tives, and wa.t the event ; when he was foon delivered 
 from every anxiety, by finding that they were only tun- 
 ing their voices, in order to begin a fong ; which as foon 
 as they had in their manner properly pitched, Raa Kook 
 gave out a line, or ftave, which v\'as taken up by ano- 
 ther Rupack, feated at a little diftance, who fang a verfe, 
 acconapanied by the reft of the natives prefent, except 
 himfcit anu the Prince. The laft line they fung twice 
 o\cr, wnich was taken up by the natives in the next 
 tent, iu chorus ; Raa Kook then gave out another line, 
 w h:cli was fung in the fame manner ; and this continu- 
 ed for ton or twelve verfes. They talked at times be- 
 tween 
 
^6 ANACCOUNTOP 
 
 tween the verfes, as if fetting fome of the fingers right 
 ■who had not been properly in tune. Their fong ended, 
 they requefted to liear fome Englifh fongs, which was 
 readily complied with,* and feveral fongs were fung by 
 one of our people, with which they were exceedingly 
 pleafed. This put an agreeable end to every apprehen- 
 fTon, as the Engiyh were now convinced their foie intent 
 ■was to amufe them. The natives went quietly to fleep, 
 foon after this, but there ■ivere few of the Engl'i/h able 
 to compofe themfelves this night ; the alarm had awak- 
 ened too many fufpicious ideas, to aUow their miads to 
 be fpeedily compofed. 
 
 chapter VII. 
 
 ■/I Coolnefs artfes on the Part of the Natives, <whlch much a- 
 larms the Englifh. — This cleared up,- and Fr'ieudJIdp rejlor- 
 ed. — The King requejls five : f Captain Wilfon’s Men to 
 attend him to a War he was going to make agalnfi a neigh- 
 bouring IJland. — This is ajj^nted to, and he departs with 
 the Men. — The Englifh plan their intended Vejfd, form a 
 Dock 7'ard, unanimoujly choofe Captain Wilfon to be their 
 Commander, and each engages in the Department he is no- 
 minated to, in order to cfiijl the ConJlruElion of their future 
 V fffel. — The firjl Sunday after the Shipwreck duly comme- 
 morated. 
 
 Aug. A S all our countrymen’s future hopes depend- 
 i6. Jf\. ed on their being able to build a fhip with 
 the few tools that had been faved from the jdntelope, fo, 
 being in expeftation of the King’s arrival, and well 
 aware how much thefe implements might be coveted by 
 the natives, and the difficulties they might be reduced to, 
 
 either 
 
 * Our fonjjs were fea fongs, and of battles ; and the King was 
 fo pleafed 4t the account he afterwards heard of them, diat when- 
 ever he met the young lad CniittBi l, v/lio fang them, he would 
 flo]) Itixn, and make him f;ng one or two fongs. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 47 
 
 eith’er to dc-prive themfclves of the ufe of them, or rilk 
 the dirpkufure of th(jr new friends, by refufing their 
 folicitatioiis, it was thought expedient to fecrcte them 
 from the public view ; a convenient place was found in 
 a rock, and the tools concealed ; and it was happily ef- 
 feded before the King arrived, by which our people 
 were relieved from thofe difficulties they would otherwile 
 have b:en under. 
 
 The morning being fine and calm, our people launch- 
 ed their boats, in order to go off to the ffiip, but miffed 
 the jolly-boat’s rudder, which had been ffolen for the 
 fake of the iron. Thofe on ffiore were employed in get- 
 ting ready the blocks and ways, in order to lay down 
 the intended veffel. They had already get a piece of 
 wood for a ftem, and another for a ftern-poff. About 
 ten o’clock the Chief Mtnijler came over land, from the 
 back of the ifland, which did not exceed the diffance 
 of half a mile from the cove, and after looking for fome 
 time at the operations then beginning, he took Captain 
 Wilfon by the hand, and led him to the tent where the 
 arms were kept ; after viewing wiffifully a cutlafs, he 
 alleed him for it. In the particular fituatiou in which 
 our people ftood. Captain IVilfon thought a refufal might 
 be imprudent, particularly to a Chief of his rank, and 
 therefore judged it wifer to make a virtue of neceffity. 
 But, on coming out of the tent, Raa Kook faw it in his 
 hand, feemed difpleafed, and made him return it. 
 
 The Malay fome time after coming on ffiore from a 
 canoe, faid there was bad news ; that he he had heard 
 “ that a cutlafs had been given to one who was almolt 
 “ a ftranger, whilll the King’s brothers, who had been 
 “ with the Englijh all the time on the the ifland, had 
 “ never had any thing of fuch confequence given them, 
 “ and that they muff make them fome prefents.” On 
 this hint Captain Wilfon offered each of t’ne King’s bro- 
 thers a remnant of cloth, which they both received very 
 coolly ; he prefented them afterwards with white long- 
 cloth and fome ribands, but ftill not a fmile appeared on 
 their faces ; by which the Captain perceived that this 
 was not what they lyanted.— The event diftreffed our 
 
 ' people 
 
45 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 people much ; they had doubts whether this apparent 
 coolnefs might arife from their having given the cutlafs 
 to the Chief Minifler, or whether they had been put out 
 of humor at the indelicacy of this perfon, in having im- 
 prudently laid the Engli/h under the ncceflity of grati- 
 fying him in a requeft, which, fituated as they were, 
 they muft have been under difficulties to refufe. 
 
 In the afternoon the Malay informed Captain JVUfon, 
 that the King was come round into the bay, being on 
 his return to Peleiv, and if he wanted to take leave of 
 him he muft go off to his canoe. The Captain accord- 
 ingly went in the jolly-boat, having with him Tom 
 Roje his linguift, and four other men. The meeting 
 was, to his great furprife, very cool on the King’s part, 
 of courfe referved on that of his own, far unlike, in- 
 iieed, that undifguifed opennefs which marked the in- 
 terview of the preceding day. — And I doubt nut but 
 by this time the reader will have ftiared a portion of 
 that concern, for his unfortunate countrj’-men, which 
 was awakened in their bofoms by this unexpecled al- 
 teration in the behaviour of the natives. What vsnll he 
 think of the hearts of thefe yet unlmiun inhabitants of 
 Pelew ? — He will have already loaded them with re- 
 proach, and judged, too hardly judged them to be an 
 inconfiftent, faitUefs people, on whom no reliance could 
 be placed, vvhom no profeflion could bind. — His imagi- 
 nation may have ftarted a multitiule of conjeAures, yet 
 at laft will probably fuppofe any thing fooner than the 
 leal caufe which fpread this vilible dejeftion over their 
 true charafter. — Never perhaps was exhibifa;d a nobler 
 ftruggle of native delicacy ; their hearts burnt within 
 them to afle a favor, which the generofity of their feel- 
 ings would not allow them to mention. — The Englifb 
 had been, and Hill were in their power ; they had fought 
 their protedlion as unfortunate ftrangers. — The natives 
 had already (hewn them, and ftill meant to fhew them, 
 every mark of hofpitality which their naked, unproduc- 
 tive country could afford. — They conceived that what 
 they wilhed to allc, as it might prove a temporary incon- 
 venience, would look ungenerous j and that which moft 
 
 checked 
 
THE PELEW- ISLANDS. 45 
 
 checked their fpeaking was, that, circumftanced as the 
 Engiyb were with refpeft to them, a reqiieft would have 
 the appearance of a command ; an idea this, which 
 ihocked their feniibility.— The matter they labored 
 with was, in their opinions, of the higheft imaginable 
 confeqiience to them. The King had probably talked 
 it over with his brothers the preceding day, had delibe- 
 rated on it in the evening at the back of the illand, 
 and came to the cove this day determined to propofe it, 
 blit when there, wanted refolution to make it known ; 
 yet the objeft being fo important, he felt unwilling to 
 leave it in filence, and perhaps conceived that he could 
 better difclofe it from his canoe, than when furrotinded 
 by fo many Erigli/]}. — After much apparent ftruggle in 
 the King’s mind, the requeft, with great difficulty, was 
 at la!l made, and proved to be this : — that the King 
 being in a few days going to battle againfl; an ifland 
 that had done him an injuiq’, he wifhed Captain IVUfon 
 w'ould permit four or five of his men to accompany him 
 to war with their mufkets. Captain WUfon inftantly 
 replied, that the Englifb were as his own people, and 
 that the enemies of the King were their enemies. — The 
 interpreter certainly verj' well tranflated this declarati- 
 on, for in an inftant every countenance, which was be- 
 fore overfliadowed, became brightened and gay. The 
 King faid he (honld w'ant the men in five days, by which 
 time his own people would be prepared for battle, and 
 that he would take them down to Pchiv with him the 
 next day. Thus was harmony reftored between our peo- 
 ple and the natives ; interrupted only for a few iiours, 
 from no other caufe than that extreme delicacy of 
 fentiment which no one would have expected to have 
 fomid in regions fo disjoined from the reil of the world. 
 
 The converfation being at an end. Captain J'/ilfon 
 taking leave returned to acquaint the officers and people 
 on fhore with wliat had paffed at this conference, w'.iich 
 he hoped would meet with their approbation. All unit- 
 ed in faying that he had adted with great propriety, ’ ">d 
 feemed happy to find that they were again on the fame 
 good fooling with the natives ; therefore, that the King 
 E might 
 
50 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 might fee they were ready, and wanted no preparation, 
 the Captain went off once more to inform him, that the 
 men would be at his orders whenever he pleafed. This 
 promptitude pleafed him much, and he in a veiy diftiniff, 
 pointed manner told Captain Wilfon that he was his 
 brother Rupack, and that he (hould regard the Englijb 
 officers and people as his own people ; and that the Cap- 
 tain muff fend his brother, Mr. M. IVilfon, again to 
 Pclczv, to fee what things were there for Englifbmen to 
 • eat, that they might be fent them ; adding, that he 
 would order fome of his carpenters to come and afiift 
 them in building their veffel ; but this offer the Captain 
 <leclined : and having fijiifhed what he had to fay, he 
 then departed with his attendants to the back of the if- 
 land, notifying that he ffiould return for the men the 
 next morning. Captain JVilfon, as before, informed his 
 •officers and men of all that had paffed with the King. — 
 In the afternoon the ways w'ere laid ; the keel, ftem, 
 and ftern-poff fquared, as alfo fome of the floor-tim- 
 bers, 
 
 Auguft 17. The King came in the forenoon of the 
 following day for the men he had been promifed ; Cap- 
 tain W'llfon, on offering to make one of the number, 
 was refufed by his own people, who declared that he 
 •muff not expofe himfelf, as all their fafeties depended on 
 him. Every one of the Englijh expreffed a readinefs to 
 go, but the five following being young men, and requeft- 
 ing their comrades with particular earneftnefs to be the 
 fir ft upon the lift, were thofe who were appointed, viz. 
 Mr. Cumminy the third mate, Nicholas Tyacke, 'James 
 JBluitt, Madan Elanchard, and Thomas Dulton; they alfo 
 took with them Tom Rofe as their interpreter ; the King 
 and the Chiefs taking each one of them in their canoes ; 
 ^ur men being dreffed in bluejackets, cocked hats, with 
 light blue cockades, and properly prepared with arms 
 ■and ammunition. The King made but a Ihort ftay ; he 
 faid he ftiould leave four of his own men with our peo- 
 ple, that they were fuch as might be trufted, that the 
 expedition would be over in four days, and that all ima- 
 ginable care ftiould be taken of the men whom he carri- 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
 
 ed away. He went away in great friendfiiip, fhaking 
 ail the £rto/^i hy the hand. Our people accompanied 
 their companions, when they departed,* to the ^^ater 
 edge, and as they moved from the firore in the cove, 
 gave them three cheers, the firft of which was only ic- 
 turned by the JLng!tfh; but the lingulll gi'i'ig ./.bba 
 ‘Thulle to iinderftand that this acclamation was ufed by 
 the Enghjh as a farewell, and wifh of fuccefs, the King 
 made all his men ftand up in their canoes and return the 
 fccond and third. 
 
 As foon as the natives were gone, the boats were fent 
 to the wreck, but our people did not think it faie to go 
 on board, as they perceived two canoes there oi a larger 
 conftriiftion, and feveral fmallcr ones in fight, \vir.cii 
 they fuppofed to come from the idand wnicn was then 
 at war with the King ; our boats were therefore cohg- 
 cd, very reluftaiitly, to return empty. During t;.!S oay 
 cur people felled feveral trees for a ftern, t .e one tney 
 before had proving rotten in the middle ; and 
 feat leifure-, added to the little profpccl of being inte. - 
 rupted by the natives for feme days, induced tnem to 
 embrace this opportunity to form the plan of tl-ew in- 
 tended veffel. Mr. Earhr, the fecond ofdccr, wlio'hac, 
 in the earlier part of life, been convevfant in the bu- 
 fmefs of a dock-yard, affifted Captain IV'ilfon and the car- 
 penters in defignir.g the vefft:, which was now deter-, 
 mined Ihoald be a Schccner, as eaCer worked. The plan 
 was fhewn to every body, and approved by all. The 
 petty officers and common men conlidering, that to pur- 
 fue this interclling bufinefs, every individual muft do 
 his part, and all concur in becom.ing obedient to the 
 command of one fuperior, who fhould conduct and regu- 
 late the whole operation, the affection each had born to 
 their Captain, and ftill bore him, though misfortune had 
 fevered the tie between them, made them unanimonfiy 
 t equeft Captain ll^tlfon to be that one Juperior, and that 
 he would take the command upon him, faithfully pro- 
 mifmg that they would, in all things, implicitly obey 
 
 his 
 
5 '^ anaccountof 
 
 his orders, equally as when the Antelope was on float ; ' 
 that flie now being a wreek, they would form themfelv«s 
 as a people of a dock-yard, and would confider Captain 
 Wi/fon (whofe fornaer conduft they faid they fhould ever 
 remember with the wannefl affection ) as the mafler, or 
 manager of the yard, and fabmit to fuch laws and re- 
 gulations as ufually govera places of that kind. Nothing 
 could more affc£t the fenfibility of fuch a charadter as 
 Captain IVilfon’s, to fee allthofe who had ferved un- 
 der him, voluntarily again fce;i hint as their Commander, 
 1.0 fliare flill far feverer toils. V/ith a degree of joy, on- 
 ly exceeded by his gratitude, he accepted the flattering 
 diflindllon their gcnercfity offered him, expreffing at the 
 fame time an eanicll wi^i, that in cafe any cenfure or 
 punifhment fliould hereafter be found neceflaiy to be 
 paffed on any individual, that this unpleafant office might 
 not reft with Inm, but be decided by the majority of 
 voices. This alio was aflented to, and ail joined in ac- 
 Jir.o..;^dgmentK tn Mr. Barker, whofe affiftance had been 
 io efieiitial in fonning the plan of the veflel, which their 
 own caipenters, however airiduous and ready, would not 
 have been equal to. The ci; cumftance of the ylnlclopc 
 being fixed, and ftuck to the coral reef, by the rock 
 having pierced through her bottom, gave all our picople 
 the moll flattering hope, that many ufeful and valuable 
 materials for the purpofe of the new veffel might yet 
 be faved from her, before any returning hard gales fhould 
 drive her to pieces. The fpirits of all our people were 
 renovated ; nothing prefented itfelf to them but the fu- 
 ture veffel whioli was to convey them home ; defponden- 
 cy was chafed from every mind, and each of the Eng- 
 iijh being appointed to his diftinfl ftation by their new 
 mafter, having dug up the tools which had been buried 
 previoufly to the King’s vifit, as before mentioned, they 
 all went to work with the utmoft alacrity ; each deter- 
 mined (however unfieilled he might be) to exert his abi- 
 lities 
 
 * As every reader may not be acquainted with maritime pro- 
 ceedings, to fuch it will not be improper to remark, that when a 
 merchant-fhip is wrecked, all authoiity immediately ccafes, and 
 every individual Is at full liberty to Ihift for himfelf. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 53 
 lilies and peifonal ftrength to promote and aid the ge- 
 neral plan. — Thofe who were appointed of the carpen- 
 ter’s crew were delired by Captain IVilfon to regard 
 Mr. Barker as their direftor, and to receive from him 
 fuch appointments and direftions in that department, as 
 he (liould judge moft convenient, after he had experi- 
 enced their feparatc abilities. Mr. Sharp, the furgeon, 
 and Mr. M. Wllfou, were appointed to faw down trees, 
 in which employment the Captain often worked h;m- 
 felf. The boatfwain, who had formerly ferved part of 
 an apprenticefhip to a blackfmith, now refumed his old 
 avocation, aflilled by a mate. The gunner was to fee 
 all the arms kept in good order, and occahonally to af- 
 fifl. the carpenter’s crew. The Chinefe were employed 
 as laborers, to bring the trees, when felled, out of the 
 wood ; to provide water for prefent ufe, and fea ftcre ; 
 and two of them appointed to walh the linen, rrhich, 
 though only rinfed in fait water, was a great refrefhment 
 to our people at the clofe of a fultry day, and after fuch 
 feverity of bodily toil as few of them before had ever ex- 
 perienced. 
 
 Notvvithftanding the above diftribution, they occafi- 
 onally changed their employments as circumftances arefe. 
 The getting things out of the (hip at the time fhe 
 ftruck, as well as the inattention every one had to him- 
 felf in that calamitous moment, as alfo the frequent vi- 
 fiting and getting materials from her after, had expofed 
 many of our people to great bruifes and wounds, on 
 which account Mr. Sharp was occafionally taken off from 
 his new em.ployment of fawing trees, to his more na- 
 tural one of adminiftering relief to thofe who Hood m 
 need of it. 
 
 All arrangements being now fettled, each went to his 
 new department, and worked till dark, at which time 
 all were fummoned to the great tent, where Captain 
 J'/ilfon read prayers ; it being the requeft of every one 
 to join in paying unitedly their thankfgivings to that 
 Supreme Being who had not only fo providentially pre-' 
 ferved them, but whofe goodnds now relieved their 
 dr-ooping fpiilts, by fpreading before them a hope of 
 E 2 ir.eir 
 
54 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 their being once more reftored to their country and fa- 
 milies. Each bringing with him a mind imprefled by 
 thefe refleftions, never were prayers more devoutly or 
 ardently offered up. And af^er they were over, it was 
 ordered, tliat public prayers iliould on no Sunday even- 
 ing be omitted. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Our People continue almojl every Day to fend to theWreci, and 
 . recover a great Variety of Stores, — They form a Bar- 
 ricade round the Tents, — complete it, — and continue their 
 Work nvith the utmojl Jljfiduity in the Dock-Yard, and in 
 advancing the Vijfel. 
 
 Aug. A G REE ABLE to the regulations made 
 i8. Jfx. the preceding day, the boatfwain called all 
 hands to their feparate labors, except fuch as were em- 
 ployed in the boats. — It was judged expedient now to 
 form a barricade in front of the tents towards the fca ; 
 this was done by driving a double row of ftrong polls, 
 interlaced with branches of trees, to form a thick fdnee, 
 the fpace between the two rows of flakes being filled 
 with logs of wood. Hones, and £and, to render It as folld 
 as pofhble. On the infide was raifed a foot-bank, on 
 which they could Hand and fire, In cafe of being attack- 
 ed, with an opening left for one of the fix-pounders, 
 which it was intended fhould be got from the fiiip the 
 firfl opportunity, and placed there. Th^y alfo mounted 
 two fwivels (wl’-ich were large ones) on the flumps of 
 two trees that had been fawed down, in a manner fo that 
 they might be pointed in every neceflaiy' direftion. 
 
 Augufl 19. The boats again vifited the wreck very 
 early, and returned at three o'clock in the afternoon, 
 bringing two hawfers and fome boards. Some of our 
 people emrlo3'ed in procuring. water, which was found 
 to be rather a fcarce article.— The barricade was alio 
 
 continued. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. Si 
 
 continued. — There was this day little wind, the weather 
 being overcaft, with fome loud claps of thunder.— One 
 of the natives having ilolen a fmall hatchet, that \yas 
 carried in the boat to the wreck, was getting off with 
 it in his canoe; but a mulket being fired, charged on- 
 ly with powder, in order to frighten him, one of the 
 people, whom the King left, went in the jolly-boat, and 
 made him rellore it. 
 
 Auguft 20. Though the morning was fliowery, the 
 boats returned again to the wreck. Thofe on land 
 employed thcmfelves in carrying on tlie bamcade on 
 the fide of the land, where they were ftill affailable. 
 The carpenters fitted the fcarf of the ftem and ftern- 
 poft. About one o’clock the jolly-boat returned with 
 the lower fhroud hawfer, fome plank, copper, and other 
 ftores. By her our people were informed, that the 
 King’s fon had been on board the wreck, and had fix- 
 ed a green branch at each maft-head. The Englj/}} were 
 impatient for the return of the pinnace, and about three 
 o’clock it arrived. Our people in the jolly-boat had 
 conceived, by the fignals put on the maft-heads, that 
 the King’s expedition againft his enemies was over; but 
 thofe in the pinnace rather fuppofed them to be placed 
 there either to deter any of the canoes of the neigh- 
 bouring iflands fiom coming abroad, or probably as a 
 fignal which might be underftood by the canoes, that 
 ought to have attended the King to battle, that he 
 was departed, and that they fhould follow him ( and this 
 was afterwards found to be the cafe;) but their inter- 
 preter being at that time gone with the expedition, they 
 had nothing but their own conjeftures to truft to. The 
 afternoon was employed in laying the blocks for the 
 keel; having fixed upon the ground where the veflel 
 fhould ba^built, which was juft without the barricade, 
 in front of the Cove. They had much rain and thun- 
 der this evening.'" 
 
 Auguft 21. The boats made one trip this day, and 
 brought a good quantity of plank, and fome junk for 
 oakum. They alfo difeovered a cafk of ylrrach belong- 
 ing to Mr. Barker^ it was half a leaguer, and having 
 
 beea 
 
56' AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 been covered by the ftores, had not been perceived %vhen 
 the reft of the liquors were ftaved. This was brought 
 on fhore, and given to Captain Wilfon, to ufe at his 
 difcretion; tlie people were apprehenfive it would be 
 ordered to he ftaved, which the Captain perceiving by 
 their whilpering ainonoft thejnfelves, propofed it ftiould' 
 be kept, and each perfoo have a pint of grog every 
 evening after work was over, until it (hould be expended. 
 This diftributioa wa: approved by all, and the caftt im- 
 mediately fecured in tent. 
 
 Auguft 22. All hands (the morning being fine) 
 were hard at work in the dock-yard; and at ten o’clock 
 they got the keel laid on the blocks, and the ftemand' 
 ftern-poft bolted. In the afternoon the boats, which had 
 departed early, returned from the wreck, bringing with 
 them a good deal more plank, two cafks of beef in cafle, 
 and more than that quantity loofe, bcfides fome empty 
 water-cafl<s, which our people were obliged to be at- 
 tentive to, in order to fecure enough for their future 
 voyage, the natives having deftroyed feveral of them 
 for the fake of the iron hoops. — Some little murmuring 
 having arofe among, thofe who were ftationed to the 
 carpenter’s work, the heat of the weather and their 
 new employment having terribly bliftered their hands, 
 and their bodily fatigue added to this, had given birth 
 to the difeontent ; in the evening, after fupper. Captain 
 Wilfon took occafion to notice the uneafinefs he had dif- 
 covered, and how blamable it was in thofe, who were 
 beft able to labor, to exprefs fach diftatisfadlic n, when 
 even the weakeft partook of their flrare in the general 
 toil; and thus, by a proper and well-timed reafoning, every 
 difquiet was fubdued, and perfeft harmony and good- 
 humor reftored. — It was propofed, that all Ihoidd drink 
 to the fuccefs of the Relief, which was the name intend- 
 ed to be given the veffel now begun ; and on this plea- 
 fant occafion the Captain allotted every man a double 
 allowance of grog. 
 
 Auguft 23. Squally weather; yet the boats brought 
 one of the fix-pounder? on ftiore. Our people were 
 
 bulled 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 57 
 buficd all day about the veffel. By fome canoes feen 
 to-day, it was underltood, that the King was returned 
 to PcUnu from the expedition. 
 
 Auguft 24. Our boats, in their feveral trips, ha\:ing 
 ] got as much plank and ftores as was judged would be 
 fufHcicnt for their prefent wants, all hands were em- 
 j ployed about the velTel, and in felling timber. The 
 j gunner, with other afliftants, got the fix-pounder mount- 
 ed on a carriage, and fponged’and fcaled, fit for fervicc, 
 
 , which was then fixed in the opening of the baimicade 
 I prepared for it, fo as to command the entrance of the 
 cove. This day a fmall fpring of water was difcovered 
 in the harbour. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 The Five Men, viith the Interpreter, <who went with the 
 King on his Expedition, return fafe, accompanied by Raa 
 Kook . — The Account of the Sticcefs of that Expedition . — 
 Raa Kook, in the King's Name, gives the IJland of 
 Oroolong to the Englifii. — Wilfon invited by 
 Use King to Pelcw; — exciifes himfelf for the prefent, but 
 fends Mr. Benger, and Mr. M. Wilfon, his Brother, 
 with the Linguljl, to compliment Abba Thulle on his late 
 Vidory. — Captain Wilfon goes in his Boat round the 
 Ifland. — The Veffel continues to get advanced. — Mejfrs. 
 Benger and Wilfon return from Pelew. 
 
 I ^ ^ whole attention of our people was be- 
 
 25. _L flowed on the variety of bufinefs neceifary 
 I to the advancement of the velfel. As the boats were 
 going off this day to the Ihip, they faw four canoes, 
 full of men, coming towards the harbour from the 
 fouthward; and as our people underllood thofe iflands 
 I were at variance with the King of Pelew, the boats re- 
 turned, and foon after tliefe canoes came afhore; thofe 
 who were in them landed, with great marks of timidi- 
 ty 
 
58 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 ty and caution ; they fecmed (as far as we could inter- 
 pret their figns) to intimate a defire to look round the 
 cove, and were probably induced to take a view of the 
 new-arrived creatures, whom accident and misfortune 
 had thrown upon this ifland. There was among them 
 a Rupack, who was judged, by the kind of bone on his 
 arm, to be of an inferior order; but the linguift being 
 abfent, it was impoflible to difeover who they were. 
 Captain Wilfon conduced' them round the cove, and 
 fhewed them the works which were begun. They re- 
 mained on (bore little more than an hour, and appear- 
 ed greatly fatisfied; departing full of acknowledgments 
 for the civilities which had been Ihewn them, neither 
 they or their attendants pilfering, or afking for any 
 thing. 
 
 Our people now^ opened a communication from one 
 tent to the other, through which they might retreat, 
 or join, in cafe of an attack; and they alfo fettled the 
 plan of defence within the barricade, and each man had 
 his poft alTigned him. The reafon of making thefe 
 preparations was, the long I': ;/ the people made who 
 were gone with the King to battle; they underftood 
 that they would be back in four or five days, and this 
 was the ninth morning they had been abfent. In the 
 afternoon four other canoes were perceived making into 
 the harbour; by the boatmen fplafliing and flouriflilng 
 their paddles, our people conceived the King was on 
 board one of them, but to their great fatisfadtion they 
 foon faw they were their counti-ymen returned. — They 
 were welcomed with every tellimony of joy ; and it was 
 no fmall pleafure to thofe left on the ifland, to fee them 
 all come back in health and fpirits. They reported they 
 had been very kindly treated ever fince their departure, 
 the natives behaving to them in the moll friendly, unre- 
 fevvcd'manner. The King’s brother, Raa Kook, came 
 back with them. The canoes brought great quantities 
 of yams and cocoa-nut- and the King had given to 
 each of the men who w. it on this - xpedition a bafket 
 of fweetmeats, and alfo fent forne o. ikets to the Cap- 
 tain ; this fweetmeat they diitributed very liberaUy 
 . amongft 
 
THE P E L E W I S I. A N D S. 59. 
 
 •amongtl their countiTmen, but it was not much relifhed, 
 being found diy and hard, infomuch that the failors gave 
 it the name of Choke Dog . — But of this I fliall have 
 occafion to fpeak again, when I come to defcribe the 
 ciiftoms and manners of the natives. 
 
 The following was the account our people gave of 
 their expedition, which was confirmed by Mr. Cummin’s 
 journal, who went with them. 
 
 Having departed the 1 7th, they went to one of the 
 King’s iflands, about fix leagues to the eaftvvard of the 
 cove, where they were received with great kindnefs, and 
 treated with much hofpitality ; after remaining there all 
 night, they fet off the next morning for Peiew, the 
 place of the King’s refidence, which was in an ifland 
 about three or four miles diftant : here they remained 
 till the 2 1 ft, the King not being till then able to get 
 together all his canoes; however, by day -light on the 
 2 1 ft, they muftered before the King’s houfe with their 
 arms, w'hich confifted of bamboo darts from five to 
 eight feet long, pointed with the wood of the beetle- 
 nut tree and bearded ; thefe they ufe for clofe quarters, 
 but they have fhort ones for diftance, which they throw 
 with a Ihort ftick of about two feet long, having a 
 jiotch cut in it to receive the point of the dart, and 
 place their hand at the other extremity of the^ dart, 
 which, being made of bamboo, is elaftic and compreffed 
 into a curve, proportioned to the diftance they aim at, 
 and being then fuffered to fpring, in general it comes 
 down pei-pendicular on the objeft, to which it is direft- 
 ed. 
 
 The Englijh eihbarked in five different canoes, and 
 went away to the eaftward about ten or twelve leagues, 
 . calling as they went along at feveral of the King’s vil. 
 lages to refrefti and reinforce; at half an hour paft two 
 in the afternoon, they got in fight of the enemy. The 
 j King had with him now a fleet of one hundred and 
 I fifty canoes, on board of w'hich were confiderably above 
 I one thoufand men. Of the enemy’s forces our people 
 I could form no certainty. Before the aftlon, Raa Kook 
 went in iis canoe dofe to the town, and fpoke to the 
 
 enemy 
 
Co ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 enemy for fome time, having Thomas Dullon in the boat 
 with him, who had dircftions not to lire till fuch time 
 as the fignal agreed on lliould be given him. What the 
 General faid, being received by the enemy with great 
 indifference, Raa Kook threw a fpear at them, which 
 they almoft immediately returned; this being the fignal 
 for firing, was inflantly obeyed; a man was feen to fall 
 dircftly, and this threw the enemy into great confufion. 
 ■ Such as were on lliorc ran away, and the greater part 
 of thofe in the canoes jumped into the water and made 
 foi land; a few more mullcets were fired, which dif- 
 perfed the enemy entirely : and our friends feemed per- 
 fedlly fatislicd with their putting them to flight, and in 
 this mark of vlftory, but made no other ufe of it than 
 to land, ftrip fome cocoa-nut trees of their fruit, and 
 cany off fome yams and other provifion. After this fight, 
 or more properly this attack, the fleet returned home- 
 ward, the King being highly pleafed with his triumph. 
 They flopped at feveral places in their way, where the 
 women brought out fweet liquor for the people to drink; 
 and it being too far to get home that night, the fleet 
 difperfed up feveral fmall creeks, about eight o’clock 
 in the evening, where they flept. The next morning 
 feafts were prepared in all the neighbouring houfes, and 
 at three in the afternoon the people re-embarked, and 
 fet off for Pelcav, where they arrived fafe about feven 
 the fame evening. — Here alfo they found the women rea- 
 dy to receive them, with cocoa-nut Ihells filled with 
 fweet liquor. On landing, the fired a volley, and 
 
 gave three cheers, with which the King appeared great- 
 ly pleafed. Here our people flept, and were told that 
 they muft flay and refl themfelves the next day, and 
 ft^ off for their ifland the day fucceedJng. There was 
 nothing but rejoicing and feflivity in the town the next 
 morning, and the refl of the day was pafftd with hilari- 
 ty, and celebrated with fongs and dances made on the 
 occafion. 
 
 Before our people embarked, the King took tl)cm tt> 
 his houfe, treated them with fome flewed turtle, ex- 
 preffed great fatisfadtion in their behaviour, and promif- 
 
 ed 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 6i 
 
 ed to fend to tlielriflands fuppllesof yams;_ aflcingthcm 
 if they thought Captain JVilfon would again fpare him 
 ten men to go againll the fame people, intimating alfo 
 a defign he had againit another illand; Mr. Cummin de- 
 clined giving an anfwer to this queftion, faying he could 
 undertake nothing without the Captain s orders. After 
 breakfail the King went down to the water-fide with 
 the Englijk, where he parted with them in a very kind 
 manner, fending two large canoes laden with yams for 
 the rell of their countrymen. They then pafled over 
 to the fmall illand where they had firft landed, and walk- 
 ed acrofs it with the General, who accompanied them, 
 and who ordered the canoes to go round to the other 
 fide; they were now conduced to their firft night’s habi- 
 tation, where their old friends received them (if pof- 
 fible) more hofpitably than before; both fexes flocking 
 about them, and making figns to exprefs their know- 
 ledge of the defeat of the King’s enemies. Here they 
 ftaid the night, and after a paffage this morning of five 
 hours, rejoined their lliipmates, to the mutual fatisfac- 
 tion of all. 
 
 The Arrack having been found during the time our 
 country-men had been abfent, at their return they were 
 ferved the liquor due to them, in the proportion that 
 it had been ufed at the tents in their abfence, which 
 they Invited their comrades to partake of in the even- 
 ing, and this, with the yams and cocoa-nuts they brought, 
 made a feaft. — Thofe who had been abfent were excced- 
 ingly rejoiced to fee the harbour and tents put in a 
 ftate of defence; but, above all, at the progrefs in the 
 veflcl, wherein all the future hopes of every individual 
 were already in imagination embarked. 
 
 Auguft 26. At day -break the boatfwair^ as ufual, 
 piped all out to their feparate departments; and thofe 
 who had been at the war, having depofited with the 
 "unner their military weapons, moft willingly joined in 
 the convention which had been made in their abfence,, 
 *and entered on their different talks. 
 
 Raa Kook having informed Captain IVilfon the pre- 
 ceding night, that his brother, Abba Thulle, had given 
 F to 
 
62 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 to hitn, for the E.ngl'Jh., the ifland he was then on, the 
 name of ^'hich they had not heard before, but now learnt 
 it was called Oroolong; after bieakfaft. Captain JVilfon, 
 in teftimony of the King’s donation, hoiiled the Brihjh 
 pendant, and fired three voUies of fmall arms, in token 
 of their taking pofleffion of it for the Engltfh . — Our 
 people faying, as they returned in the canoes from Pelew, 
 that the natives were conftantly pointing to the ifland, 
 calling it Engljjby and Engli/Imen’ s land, the King had 
 fent his brother to make known to Captain Wilfon this 
 grant of the ifland, as alfo to give the Captain an invi- 
 tation to Peleiv: excufed himfelf for the prefent, hav- 
 ing fo much to attend to at Oroolong ; but fent Mr. Ben- 
 ger, who had been Firft Mate of the Antelope, and his 
 brother, Mr. M. Wilfon, w'ith the linguift, ’Tom Rofe, 
 and one of the China-Men, who were accompanied by 
 the General, Raa Kouh, to compliment the King upon 
 his viftory, and to prefent the refpefts of himfelf and 
 all his countr)'men on the occafion. The reafon of Cap- 
 tain Wilfon’ s fending one of the China-men was this, that 
 he might notice more particularly the produce of the 
 country, and examine if there might not be vegetables 
 good to eat which the natives overlooked, or did not 
 attend to; he alfo gave him in charge to be very accu- 
 rate in obferving if they had not plants at Pelenu fimilar 
 to thofe in his own country. The Chinefe being all 
 tolerable Botanijls, and living fo much on vegetables, 
 that turn a China-man on any fpot, he would contrive 
 to pick a meal for himfelf from it. The truth of this 
 remark Captain Wilfon had experienced from repeated 
 voyages he had made to China, as well as from the gene- 
 ral charafter of thofe people. 
 
 This afternoon, after feeing one of the frame tim- 
 bers up, tRe Captai*! went round his new ifland in the 
 jolly-boat, in order to obferve its fhores, and its external 
 appearance. He found the fouth fide of it almoft a 
 perpendicular rock, covered with wood, among which 
 he obferved abundance of the cabbage-tree, but growing 
 in places inacceffible from the water. — The weft fide 
 Ixad a fair, fandy beach, and foine level ground between 
 i the 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. Ci 
 the fea and the hills. — It was here where the well was, 
 whence our people brought their water ; and many traces 
 of ancient plantations were found, fufficient to deinon- 
 flrate that the ifland had formerly been inhabited. — The 
 northern part is a ftcep rock covered with trees. As 
 the boat rowed along its fide they had often breezes 
 from it, wafting a moft fweet and agreeable fmell. On 
 the eaft fide was the bay and harbour, which lay caft 
 and well ; it was judged the whole circumference of the 
 ifland did not exceed three miles; the coming in from 
 the coral reef is to keep riglit for a fmall opening which 
 feparates the ifland of Oroo/ong from an uninhabited 
 ifland to the eall'.vard of it, until the bay opens, then 
 haul up well into the harbour; the courfe before will 
 have been about fouth. 
 
 Auguft 27. The morning being fine, the jolly-boat 
 was defpatched to the watering-place to fetch fome tim- 
 bers for futtocks, and to haul the feine ; but no fifli could 
 be caught. Some hands were fent to try to procure 
 fome cabbages, in which they fucceeded ; they were 
 drefled for fupper, and found to be very good. — Some 
 of our people, who had been cutting timber at the wa- 
 tering-place, inllead of coming back in the jolly-boat 
 with their companions, chofe to return home over land, 
 and the evening being far advanced, they narrowly efcap- 
 ed with their lives. — The jolly-boat returning to the 
 tents when it was dark, brought an account, that thefe 
 men (who intended to come over land) had let out fome 
 time before the boat ; and it being then late, and no 
 tidings of them, much uneafinefs was entertained on 
 their account. People were immediately fent out with 
 lanterns to go in quell of them, who as they went on, 
 eveiy now and then hallooed. — The voices being heard, 
 and known, the benighted travellers very prudently halt- 
 ed till the lights they had difeovered at a dillance came 
 up with them ; and moll fortunate it was that they did 
 fo, for when their Ihip-mates arrived they found them on 
 the edge of a dreadful precipice, where, had they ad- 
 vanced a few Heps further, they mull inevitably have 
 plunged to the bottom. All were happy to fee them 
 
 return 
 
^4 anaccountof 
 
 return after fo great an efcape. — This evening J!rra 
 arrived, and pafTcd the night with our people; 
 he brought with him all his fpirits and gaiety, and 
 entertained them woudei fully with the plcafaut dcfcrio- 
 tiou he gave of the late engagement, afting, with liis 
 accuftomed humor and geftures, the panic which felzed 
 the enemy the inilant they heard the report of the 
 
 Auguft 28. The pinnace was fent off to the wreck 
 to fearch if no further neceflaries could be flill recover- 
 ed. — Captain Wtlfon went to the top of the hill above 
 the tents, and had a fpot of ground cleared, in order 
 to ufe It as. a look-out or obfervatory, to fee if a paffage 
 could be difeovered in the reef. On examination, it 
 was thought that there was apparently a good one, right 
 out from the weft point of the iiland. — It had hitherto 
 been a great doubt among our people, whether a veffel 
 of the fize theirs muft be (though intended to be no 
 larger than was ncceffaiy to convey thcmfelves and pro- 
 viiions in fafety to China) wmuld be able to find a paf- 
 fage through the reef capable of allowing her to float 
 over. ^Irra Kookcr left the ifland this day, and another 
 frame timber was got up. — The Chinefe were bufied in 
 rva/hing the few' clothes that were faved. 
 
 Auguft 29. The weatlici cloudy ; no canoes at the 
 ifland. — The boatfwain employed in making a main- 
 fail for the veffel out of the remains of the fails that 
 ).ad been faved.— The jolly-boat made three trips for 
 timber to-day, which being cut-down at the back of 
 the Ifland and roughed ofi, they could eafily manage 
 to bnng^und. — It was found that the tides rofe about 
 nihewjt upon the fpring, and it was liigh-water about 
 nine o’clock upon the full and change of the moon. 
 About four P. M. Mr. Benger, Mr. JVilfon, and the 
 China-man, returned in a canoe, and foon after Raa 
 Kcok with the linguift in another. Mr. Benger brought 
 an account, that they were received and treated by the 
 King and his people with the moft perfeft friendfliip 
 and hofpitality ; that they were conftantly pralfing the 
 power and exploits of the Engli/h, to w'hom they af- 
 
 crlbed 
 
the PELEW islands. 65 
 
 cribed the fuccefs in the late battle; repeating the word 
 Engkes inceffantly in their longs, at their dances and 
 rejoicings, which he laid were not then over; and that 
 they were^ meditating another expedition, more formida- 
 ble than the lait, in which they meant to rely on the 
 alTiftance of the Englijh. — Mr. Benger faid their hoiifes- 
 were tolerably good, with plantations of yams and co- 
 coa-nuts about them ; that the foil appeared to be rich 
 and fertile; that they have neither corn, or cattle of any 
 kind, nor did he fee much fruit or produce of any great 
 ufe or value. — 'I'he China-man alfo added, “ that this 
 “ have very poor place., and very poor people ; no got clothes, 
 “ no got rice, no got hog, no got nothing, only yam, little JiJh, 
 “ and cocoa-nut ; no got nothing make trade, very little make 
 “ eatd^ This fellow’s defeription, which I have given 
 in his own words, fufficiently fliewed that he viewed 
 mankind with the eye of a Dutchman, only calculating 
 what was to be got from them. — The mind of a fpecu- 
 lative reader is far otherwife engaged; he, in the dif* 
 perfed families of the world, traces the hand of Provi- 
 dence guiding all things with unerring wifdom. — He 
 marks it balancing with equ:ik fcale its blcffings to the 
 children of men; and confiders human nature, however 
 unadorned, when dignified by virtuous fimplicitv, as. 
 enc of the nobleft objefts of contemplation. 
 
 / 
 
 CHAPTER' 
 
66 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ^ if difcovend through the Coml Reef, fujjicient to 
 
 carry out the Vejfel ’when completed. — Captain Wilfon,. 
 Mr. Sharp, Mr. Devis, and Henry Wilfon, go to 
 Pclew to ’ufit the King, — Jin Jccount of the Hofpitalily 
 ’with •which they 'were received. — Some Defeription of the 
 Manners of the Natives, and their Mode of Living . — 
 Mr. Sharp is requejled to go into the Country to fee a 
 Jich Child of one (f the Riipacks, 'which he does, and' 
 returns to Pelcw. 
 
 Aug. f I H E morning proved fo wet that our people 
 30. JL could not Hand out to work, but were em- 
 ployed in the tents. Raa Kook fent away fome of the ca- 
 noes which came with him, detaining only fuch as were 
 to carr)’ Captain Wilfon down to Pelcw. — TTie Malay, 
 who had been the interpreter to the natives, and whofe 
 name was Soogle, being on fhore, took a compafs, and 
 pointing to the S. S. W. faid that five days fail from 
 Oroolong, on that point of the compafs, was thfe place 
 he came from, which he called Monado ; that there 
 were about forty Dutch people there, abundance of pep- 
 per, and plenty of hogs and poultry. He faid Monado 
 was three days fail from Batavia; that when he left 
 Batavia they had three veffels or proas, that two of them 
 parted company, and that the one he was on board of^ 
 going from Monado to Tcrnate, was driven by a hard 
 gale of wind hither, w'here they were wrecked. Our 
 people fuppofed there was much falfehood in this fellow’s 
 account, and, from converlations their own linguift had 
 with him, they fufpefted thefe people had been Malay 
 pirates, which they afterwards had confirmed, by one of 
 them who was brought to England. — In the afternoon 
 Mr. Cummin was fent in the jolly-boat, to try for the 
 palTage through the reef wliich was thought to have 
 
the pelew islands. 6 ^ 
 
 been difcovered the day before, from the look-out above 
 the tents. Captain Wilfon took up fome men, and cleared 
 flill more the fpot intended for an obfervatory. — The 
 jolly-boat returned, after having been without the reef 
 through a narrow palTage, in which they found at low- 
 water three feet and a half of water, and, as it rofe 
 eight or nine feet upon a fpring-tide, it was judged 
 there muft be at thofe times twelve feet of water, which 
 would be almoft, double the draught of the Schooner 
 when finifhed — This was an information which revived 
 every one’s hopes, and made all our people look forward 
 with frefh fpirits. Intelligence was alfo brought, that 
 they had found feven fathom water immediately with- 
 out the reef, and three fathom within in the fhoaleft 
 part, which was a narrow bank of fand that formed a 
 bar. — -Thefe obfervations were taken at low-water, or 
 when very little flood was made. 
 
 Auguft 3 1 . The Captain having fixed this day for 
 his going to vifit the King at Pelew, as foon as all had 
 breakfafted, he read prayers In the tent ; Raa Kook, 
 with fuch of the natives as were waiting to accompany 
 him, attended divine fervice, and were moft exceedingly 
 attentive, following exaflly what they faw our people 
 did, in rifing or kneeling, except that inftead of kneel- 
 ing they would fquat down on their hams. After pray- 
 ers were ended. Captain Wilfon took leave of his peo- 
 ple, taking with him Mr. Sharp, Mr. Devis, and hi» 
 fon Mr. Henry Wilfon; they went in the jblly-boat ; the 
 General accompanying him In his canoe. They left the 
 tents about eight o’clock in the morning. At noon as 
 they approached the little ifland which h'es about three 
 or four miles in the fea off Pelew, they obferved Raa 
 KooPs canoe paddling away at a great rate to get a-head 
 of them ; he juft ftept on Ihore at a little town fituated 
 by the water edge, and foon returned to meet them, 
 dircfting their couiie to the leeward of the ifland, where 
 they were met by another canoe, laden with yams, co- 
 coa-nuts, and fweetmeats, to refrefli them on their paf- 
 fage. This explained immediately the reafon of the 
 general’s quitting them fi? fuddenly, which they now 
 
 perceived 
 
6S ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 perceived was merely to indulge his hofpitablc difpofiti* 
 on, and from his anxiety left our people fhould be fa- 
 tigued for want of refrelhment. . Every one partook of 
 this entertainment, and then proceeded ; and reached 
 the ifland of Peleiv about one o’clock in the afternoon. 
 
 As /*e/i?w_came in fight, the jolly-boat hoifted Eng- 
 Itfh colors, and fired three mufkets ; which were anfwer- 
 ed, as they approached nearer the fiiore, by a white 
 flag ftuck on a pole ; this was conceived to have been 
 fuggefted by the Malay, and proved to be fome of the 
 white cloth that had been given to the King. Raa Kook 
 having quitted his canoe, came into the jolly-boat ; and 
 our people, on landing, fired three muflrets more, after 
 having hoifted their colors, and fixed them, in the ground 
 oppofite a houfe clofe to the water-fide, at the end of 
 the caufeway where they came on fliore j to which houfe 
 our people were conduced by Raa Kook, to wait the 
 King’s coming, he having defpatched a meflenger to no- 
 tify the Captain’s arrival. 
 
 Before the King appeared, fome of the natives were 
 fent down with refrefhments ; they firft brought a large 
 tureen /nade of wood, in the fhape of a bird, and in- 
 laid with ftiell, this was full of fweet drink ; they alfo 
 brought a painted ftand, about two feet in height, inlaid 
 in the fame manner as the tureen, upon which were 
 fweetmeats garnilhed with Seville oranges ; next came a 
 baflcet of boiled yams, followed by another of young co- 
 coa-nuts ; thefe were all placed in a kind of order, pre- 
 paratory to the King’s coming.* On his arrival Cap- 
 tain Wilfon rofe, and embraced him, as he had done at 
 their firft interview. Jlbba Ehulle fat down by him, and 
 they were then ferved with the before-mentioned provi- 
 fions, by a man who feemed to aft as a butler, and gave 
 to each a portion, by the King’s dire^ions. After this 
 entertainment was over, Captain Wilfon offered him the 
 prefent he had brought, which confifted of fome iron 
 
 hoops, 
 
 * It was very remarkable, that, tlironged as the honfe was, and 
 every avenue to it, yet as foon as it was known that the King was 
 approaching, the raoft profound and reverential filence was pre- 
 ferved. 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 69 
 hoops, fonie necklaces made of gold and nlver lace, tied 
 with riband at each end ; to which he meant to have ad- 
 ded a few hies, but one of the natives purloined them 
 from the perfon who had them in charge. 
 
 The King came down without any Hate, and feemcd 
 only attended by thofc whom curiofity to fee the 
 had brought together ; the houfc, and ever^' pait about 
 it, was thronged witli the natives, to fee our Captain, 
 who had drefled himfelf in the Company’ s uniform. 
 
 After the repaft was ended, Mr. DeoPs, who was a 
 draughtfman, being llruck with the appearance of a wo- 
 man who was prefent, took out a piece of paper, and 
 was making a fketch of her figure ; which, before he 
 had completed, the lady noticing that he had repeated- 
 ly looked her eameftly in the face, and marked fome- 
 thing down, was diftrelTed at it, and rofe up to go away, 
 in appearance very much agitated ; nor could file be 
 perfuaded to flay, although fomc of the Rupach pre- 
 fent laughed heartily at her alarm ; which led our peo- 
 ple to conceive that fiie was the wife of one of them. 
 A Rupack looking over Mr. Dc-vis’s fiioulder, feemed 
 pleafed at the reprefentation, or likenefs, and wiflied to 
 hand it up to the King ; who fo readily entered into 
 a true idea of the art, that he immediately fent a mef- 
 fenger to order two of his women to come down to the 
 houfe where he was : they arrived very foon, and placed 
 themfelvcs at the window fronting where Mr. Devis was 
 feated, at which thefe ladies could (land without being 
 feen lower than the waifi: ; — perceiving, as they looked 
 into the houfe, a fmile on every countenance, they at 
 fiidl appeared pleafed themfelves, and the King told them 
 the reafon why he had fent for them ; but foon notic- 
 ing Mr. Devis fixing his eyes earneftly on them, they 
 did not know what to make of the bufinefs, and began 
 to look exceedingly grave. The King then feemed to 
 chide them, on which they Hood quiet, and rather af- 
 fumed an eafier air. Mr. Devis having finlfhed his fltetch- 
 es, prefented them to the King, he Ihewed them immedi- 
 ately to his women, who feemed pleafed in viewing on pa- 
 
 pe^ 
 
7® ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 per a fancied likenefs of themfelves, and appeared as if 
 a little afhamed at having been fo fooliflily and unnecelTa- 
 rlly dlftreffed. 
 
 The King then defired Mr. Devis to lend him a piece 
 of paper, and his pencil, on which he attempted to de- 
 lineate three or four figures, very rudely, without the 
 lead proportion ; their heads, Inllead of an oval, being 
 in a pointed form like a fugar-Ioaf. Nor Jet any one 
 conclude from this circumfiancc, that the King was 
 odcntatlous to exhibit the little knowledge he poirefled 
 of the art j I rather mention it as a proof of his open- 
 nefs of temper, to let Mr. Devh fee that he was riot to- 
 tally Ignorant of what was meant by it ; nor was it lefs 
 a mark of his condefcenfion, in {hewing he could very 
 imperfc611y trace what the artift was able more happily 
 to delineate. He approved in the ftranger thofe talents 
 he would himfelf have been ambitious to pofTefs, and in 
 his manner of tcftifying his approbation, exhibited in 
 captivating colors that which no pencil could difplay — 
 the urbanity of a noble mind. 
 
 The King now fignified to lus guefts, that he would 
 *condu£l them up to the town ; they exprelTed their rea- 
 dlnefs to attend him, and ordered their colors to be 
 raifed and carried before them, wilhing to imprefs on 
 the natives what little idea of ceremony their forlorn fi- 
 tuation could admit of. Peleiu is hardly more than a 
 quarter of a mile from the fhore ; they afcended a bank 
 into a wood, led by the King and Raa Kooh, and fol- 
 lowed by a great concourfe of people. Having paffed 
 the wood, they found themfelves on a fine, broad caufe- 
 way, or pavement, with rows of trees on each fide, 
 forming a grove ; this caufeway was raifed about two 
 feet above the level of the ground, and was about ten 
 feet in width, having a broad, flat ftone running along 
 the middle, for the greater convenlency of w’alking ; it 
 was paved on each fide with ftones of a fmaller fize, and 
 Icfs worked ; this caufeway led to the towm, and then 
 parted to the right and left ; the one conducing to 
 where fome of their boat-houfes were erefted, the other 
 to ■tHeir bathing-place. 
 
 Having 
 
the PELEW islands. 71 
 
 Having now reached Pehw, they came into a large, 
 fquare pavement, round which were feveral houfes ; our 
 people were conduced to one that ftood in the centre 
 of one of the fides. Out of this houfe iflued a num- 
 ber of women, who .were waiting to fee thefe new Be- 
 ings the Englifb, and whom they foon underftood were 
 the wives of fome of the Rupach, or great officers of 
 ftate ; thefe were rather fairer than the reft of the wo- 
 men, had fome little ornaments about them, and their 
 faces and breafts w'ere rubbed over with turmeric. 
 
 The King, and his brother Raa Kook, led his guefts 
 into this houfe, into which the women returned, and 
 received them with much joy, prefenting their company 
 with cocoa-nuts, and fweet drink, which all fat down 
 and partook of. The ladies alfo feated themfelves, and 
 taking a parcel of leaves, began making mats ; an em- 
 ployment in which they pafs a great part of their time. 
 The King informed his guefts that this houfe w'as to be 
 their abode as long as they remained at Pelew, and that 
 there they were to fleep. After which he rofe up, and 
 withdrew, previoufly apologizing to Captain W'tlfon for 
 retiring, faying he was going to bathe. Soon after a 
 meflage came to Raa Kook, from the Queen, to requeft: 
 fhe might fee the Englifb at her dwelling ; they attend- 
 ed the General thither, through a pathw'ay from the back 
 of the houfe where they were, w'hich led into a grove 
 of cocoa-nut trees ; having croffed the grove, they came 
 to a fmall retired habitation, in the front of which w’aa 
 a fquare, formed with paved ftone, furrounded alfo with 
 cocoa-nut trees. Immediately before this houfe was a 
 rail, on which were fome tame pigeons, tied by the leg. 
 This is a bird held in fuch eftimatioa in thefe iflands, 
 that none but the Rupacks, and their families, are allow- 
 ed to eat of them. As they approached, the Queen 
 opened her window', and fpoke to Raa Kook, to defire 
 the EngHfb would fit down on the pavement before her; 
 which being complied with, a number of attendants 
 brought out yams, cocoa-nuts, and fweet drink ; and 
 whilft they were partaking of thefe the Queen alked 
 JRaa Kook ni;iny queftions about our people, and then 
 
72 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 fcnt them one broiled pigeon (which they drefs without 
 drawing) that every one might have a bit to tafte ; giv- 
 ing them to underftand, that this was the greateft rari- 
 ty that the country produced. She took very great no- 
 tice of the Engli/h, and wifhed fome of them would 
 come clofe to the window, and draw up their coat* 
 fleeves, that Ihe might fee the color of their fkin ; af- 
 ter flie had viev.'ed them attentively, and aflced, through 
 the General, as many circumftances refpefting them as 
 ihe thought Ihe could with propriety obtrude, Ihe figni- 
 ficd that Ihe would not longer trefpafs on their lime by 
 detaining them ; fo they rofe and took leave of her. * 
 
 'rhe General now told them he wifhed to conduA 
 them to his own houfe, which was a little diftant from 
 the firll fquare, where the King had allotted them their 
 habitation. — At the houfe of this Chief they were re- 
 ceived quite in the family way, without any form ; they 
 svere obliged juil to tafte of what was fet before them, 
 though their appetites had been fufficiently taken away 
 by partaking of fo many entertainments before. Raa 
 Kook's wife brought them in a broiled pigeon, which 
 they, out of compliment, eat a bit of, for the honor 
 done them. — In this domeftic fcenc Raa Kook appeared 
 in a new and amiable light ; It was a fituation which 
 placed to their view that benevolent heart of liis they 
 Lad themfelves before frequently noticed. — Here he was 
 furrounded by feveral of his children, two of whom were 
 very young, and feemed almoft of the fame age ; they 
 were climbing up his knees and carelling him, whilft he 
 feemed to enjoy great pleafure in rolling and tolling 
 them about, handing them to our people, that they might 
 ttlfo notice and play with them. 
 
 Whilft the attention of Captain Wilfon and his com- 
 panions had been engaged by this interefting fcene, the 
 night had crept fall on them, and It being now quite 
 dark, they requefted leave to retire ; Raa Kock apolo- 
 gized 
 
 * This lady feemed to have a greater degree of refpedl and 
 attention paid her than any other of the King’s wives; never 
 went abroad, and her houfe was the King’s general rclidence. 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 73 
 
 gi/.ed for not waiting on them home, but ordered one 
 of his own people and the Malay to condudl them 
 back. 
 
 Being arrived at their allotted dwelling, they learnt 
 that the King had been there after his bathing, but un- 
 dcrftanding they were gone abroad with his brother, 
 he had retired to his own houfc, but had fent them fome 
 fifh for fupper. — After fupper Ran Kook fent mats for 
 them to fleep on, and called himfclf before he went to 
 reft, to fee if they were fupplied with every thing they 
 ftood in want of, and which it was in his power to of- 
 fer. — Our people repofed on thefe mats at one end of 
 the houfe, the King having ordered fome of his own 
 men to fleep at the other end, to protedl them from 
 any inconveniency which might arife from the curiofity 
 of the natives, as well as to watch the fires, made to 
 keep thfin from the dews and mofquitos. They all re- 
 pofed very well, in the fulleft degree fatisfied with the 
 
 great attention and kindnefs of their new friends, 
 
 The night proved both windy and wet, but they found 
 their habitation perfeftly dry; their houfes beino- fi> 
 well thatched, that the weather rarely is able to pene- 
 trate them. 
 
 September i. Raa Kook called on them very early 
 in the morning; in all his vifits he wove on hio counte- 
 nance fuch a look of good-humor and congratulation as 
 more than told our people he rejoiced to fee them. He 
 never feated himfelf clofe, but at fome fmall diftr.nce 
 from them, which is regarded in thefe parts as a mark 
 of refpedt. He told them he was going to bathe, and 
 they went down to the fliore to fee if their boat and 
 its iren-work was fafe — On their return, the Captain 
 and his companions received a mefiage to breakfaft witli 
 the King.— They were condnaed to the houfe where, 
 the preceding evening, th.ey had been to pr.v their rc- 
 fpefts to the Queen. It confifted of on^ great room, 
 not boarded on the floor, as is the ufiial cuftom there, 
 but covered with bamboos laid and fafccned down col- 
 laterally, with fcarce any fpace between— At one end 
 of thi.8 room was the kitchen, where the fervants were 
 ^ bufied 
 
74 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 bufied in preparing breakfaft, but without any partition 
 to feparate the kitchen. — At the oppofite end ran a high 
 rail, with a large matloofely laidoverit. — Some attendants 
 who were prefent, defired our people to feat themfelves; 
 which when they had done, the King pulled down the 
 mat, and difeovered himfelf and the Qheen feated be- 
 liind it. — As this trifling ceremony had lomewhat of an 
 air of Hate that had never been fliewn before, nor was 
 on any future occafion exercifed, they fufpefted that 
 this mode of the King’s receiving the Englijb was fome- 
 thing the Malay had put into his head, and which the 
 King probably found fo clumfy and fooliih that he never 
 adopted it again. — They had boiled fifh and yams placed 
 before them; and during breakfaft the King fhewed 
 Captain Wiljon a large piece of chintz, which the A^a- 
 lay had faved when he was wrecked, and had given him. — 
 He feemed to admire it much, and when it had been 
 looked at, he folded it up again very nicely in a mat; 
 liaving only produced it as being to him a great curio- 
 lity. 
 
 During the time of breakfaft the King talked much 
 with the Malay, who after it was over, told Mr. Sharp 
 that ^bba Thiille wifhed he would go a little way into 
 the country, without declaring for what purpofe. — Mr. 
 Sharp hefitated, till Mr. Devis offered to accompany 
 him ; the King faid a perfon would prefently be there 
 to condufl them, who, when he came, appeared to be 
 one of the Rupachs who had been with them at Oroo- 
 Img at the King’s firft coming, when they individually 
 fixed their notice on fome one of our people ; a circum- 
 ilance which then occafioned fome alarm, as has before 
 been- mentioned *. And this Chief proved to be the 
 perfon who had particularly noticed Mr.^ Sharp as his 
 f iend or Sucalic (a term the natives gave it.) 
 
 Mr. Sharp and Mr. Devis, accompanied by the inter- 
 preter, put themfelves cheerfully under the guidance of 
 this Rupach, whofe name was Arra Zook; they had not 
 proceeded far, after getting off the caufeway, before 
 they met with Captain Wllfon's fervant, who was ftrag- 
 
 See page 38. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 75 
 gling about with his gun to kill fome fowl for dinner. 
 The Rupack made figns to him to join company, which 
 he did, on being informed by Mr. Sharp that he was 
 going where the Eing had fent him. As they went 
 over the hills, they pafTed feveral pleafant village, and 
 a valley beautifully cultivated with plantations ot cocoa- 
 nuts and yams, forming from the fummit a rich and 
 delicious profpeft. ^Vhen they had got nearly three 
 miles from Peleiv, the heat was fo opprelTivc, that Mr. 
 Sharp and his companions exprefled an inclination to re- 
 turn back; but the difappointment which appeared in 
 the countenance of the Rupach who hadcondudled them, 
 rr.adc both gentlemen judge it advilable not to crofj 
 his wifhes. — 'i'hey tlierefore proceeded about a mile and 
 a lialf further, when they arrived at a plantation, at the 
 end of which ftood his houfe. He folicited them to 
 enter, when various refrefiiments were placed before 
 them. He then introduced his wife and his childrer. ; 
 and Ihcwcd Mr. Sharp a child that was aiTildled witir 
 fome bad ulcers, from a kind of boils, a diiurdcr wliich 
 he faid was common to the people there; and informed 
 Mr. Sharp what applications he had himfelf ufed to his 
 child, which were chiefly fomentations, made with, cer- 
 tain leaves; and that occahonally, after the inflammatory 
 fymptoms were abated, he had put a little of their chi- 
 nam into the wound to cat the proud fleflu- — I'lr. Sharp, 
 who, fituated as he was, could not undertake to repeat 
 his attendance, thought it bell to advjfe the Rapach to 
 tlie continuance of the remedy the child had hcoa 
 ci'.Ilomcd to ; and now perceiving the reafcir why this 
 vil’it was folicited, after remaining there a proper time, 
 he and Mr. Drvts intimated their wifh to return bad: ; 
 but the Rupacl told them that his people were at wc.'-: 
 f(>r them, and that they mull not depart till the bunuds 
 they were about was done. They now perceived the 
 liofpitality of ylrra Zook was not confined to the tr.:r.i.- 
 eiit entertainment he had already fpread before; their. 
 His people prcfently appeared, loaded wit’u yams md 
 ovoa-mits, packed up in large baficets; and alio l;a;1:ets 
 of fweetmeat which they had made fre.fli for thert 
 
 while 
 
75 A N A C C O U N T O F 
 
 while they had be.cn in Iiis houfe. The Rupach told 
 them tliat his people fhould carry all thefe balkets to the 
 King’s town, that they might there be put into a boat 
 to be given to their friends at Oroolong . — Charmed with 
 the charadher of their liberal hoft, Mr. Sharp and his 
 companions took their leave, teilifying their thankful- 
 nefs for the kindnefs he had fltewn them ; whilft the good 
 man ftoed affuring them of the joy they had afforded 
 him and his family in coming to his houfe, and how tru- 
 ly they had obliged him by looking at his poor fick 
 < l\ild. As the Rupach accompanied them to the door» 
 oppofite to it, on a rail (as before deferibed at the Queen’s 
 lioufe) was his rooll of tame pigeons ; not thinking he 
 iiad fufficiently gratified his liberal fpirit, he gave them 
 at parting a look of the warmeft benevolence, and told 
 them when their fhip was built, they fhould have all 
 his pigeons to carry with them. 
 
 Thefe gentlemen returned to Pelew, followed by the 
 fervantsof Arra Zook with the prefents of their matter. — 
 Captain Wilfon had in the mean time paid a vifit to Raa 
 Kook, where he was fhewn three iron travelers, which 
 fome of the natives had got from the wreck; the Gene- 
 ral fald the Englijh fhould have them again, and the 
 Captain in return proraifed to give him a hatchet. 
 
 Such are the little pleafurable barters of life, when 
 life is governed by limplicity alone, and the ettimation 
 objeds are held in, is only proportioned to their real 
 utility ! 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 77 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Further Account of the Natives of Pciew.— ^ Council cf 
 State is held, at the Breaking up of vjhicn the^ Ktr.g re- 
 qufls of Captain Wilfon ten Mat to go ‘with him on nje- 
 cond Expedition againjl the fame Enemy — ’which is agreed 
 to. — Deferipthn of the Dance of the Warriors.— Our Peo- 
 ple return to Oroolong, find their Countrymen "well, and 
 in ^reat Unanimity advancing the F ’jfd- — Fhe ten Ehii 
 fletied 'who loere to attend the King to Battle. 
 
 S»;p. ^"1^ HIS day a great council was lield, in tlie 
 I. J. forenoon, in the open air, on the large fquare 
 pavement near the lioufe allotted the Englijh, It con- 
 filled of a number of Rupachs, or Chiefs, feated eacn * 
 on a fingle Hone, placed near the outer border of tl.c 
 pavement ; that for the King was more elevated than tlie 
 rdlj and clofe to the fide of it was a Hone lliU higher, 
 on which he occalionally relied his arm : when in 
 
 their places, they are encircled by officers of infeiiv:)r 
 rank. They debate from fide to fide, on whatever lub- 
 je<fl happens to be under difculfion, and it was under- 
 ftood that the plurality of opinions determined the mat- 
 ter before them. In the prefent calc it did net require 
 the knowledge of their language to difeover the bufinefs 
 they were on ; as the houfe in which the Captaift and 
 his companions were, looked full on their council ; and 
 their geilures, as v^ll as the frequent repetition of the 
 words Englees and Artingall, left our people no room to 
 doubt but that they had been the fubjedl of their delibe- 
 ration. — After the council broke up, the King, attend- 
 ed by the linguift, came to the houfe where the Englijh 
 were, and requefted Captain Wilfon would permit ten of 
 his men to go with him to battle, againll the fame ene- 
 my as before. Captain Wilfon replied to the King near- 
 ly as he had dene before, “ that the Engli/h were his 
 G 2 “ friends, 
 
anaccountof 
 
 “ friends, and would regard thofc who were his cne- 
 “ mies, as being enemies of their own.” This reply 
 greatly plcafed the King. The Captain defiring to Jinovv 
 the caufe of the war, Alla ThuUe informed himj^hi ough 
 the linguifi, that fome time back, at a feftival at Artin- 
 gal!, one of his brothers, and two of his Chiefs, had 
 been iviiled, and that the two ifiands had been at war ii| 
 ever fince; the people of Arlingall, fo far from making 
 any fatisfaflion, had protected the murderers. Captain 
 W'.lfrm intreated that lus people might not be detained at 
 Pelc-M longer than was .ncceflary, as it would greatly re- 
 tard the building of his vcfiel. The King anfwered, 
 
 “ that he could not in decency fend them lack the moment he 
 “ had had their fcrvices, but that he •would keep them only 
 “ two or three days, that they might be made gay, and re- 
 “ joke •with his own people after fubdumg his enemies,” ' 
 
 In the afternoon the King took Captain IVilfon and 
 his companions to fee fome canoes that were then build- 
 ing; and fhevved them alfo fome of their boat-houfes, I 
 which were well conflrufted, nicely thatched, and not 
 unlike thofe that are made in England. From hence 
 they were carried to fee fome other canoes, which were 
 jiill come in from an expedition they had been feat on 
 by themfelves, and from which, after four days abfence, 
 they had returned viftorious, having brought in one ca- 
 noe of the enemy, though not a finglr prifoner. The 
 obtaining a eanoe, howevei trifling it may appear to a 
 reader, is equal to the capture of the largeft fliij) of war 
 in Europe; as their battles are generally fought near 
 fliorc, and when there is no appearance of fuccefs, they 
 get to land, and hafllly haul up thei* canoes. 
 
 In the evening our people were entertained with a dance 
 of the warriors, who were juft then returned, which was 
 performed in the following manner: — The dancers have , 
 a quantity of plantain leaves brought to them, which 
 they fplit, and (hiver into the form of ribands; thefe 
 they then twine and fix round their heads, wrifts, w'alfls, 
 ankles, and knees, and the leaves being of a yellowifh 
 hue, fo prepared, have not an inelegant effeft when 
 applied to their dark, copper Ikin. They make alfo 
 
 bunches 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 79 
 bunches or tafTcIs of the fame, which'they hold in their 
 hands. When drav/n out, they form themfelves into 
 circles of two or three deep, one within another. ^In 
 pentrdf, an elderly man amongll: them begins fomething 
 like a fong, or long fentence, in a very folemn tone, for 
 our countrymen could not difcriminate which it was, 
 and when he comes to a paufe, or what we fhould call 
 the end of a ftanza, a chorus is ilruck up, and. the dan- 
 cers all join in concert, ftill continuing their figure. 
 Their dancing does not fo much confift in capering or 
 agility, as in a particular method tliey have of balanc- 
 ing themfelves, and this frequently very low fideways, 
 finging together all the while; during which, they will 
 flatten their circles, fo as to bring themfelves face to 
 face to each other, lifting up the taflels they hold in 
 their hands, and giving them a clafliing or tremulous 
 motion ; after this there will be a fudden paufe, and an 
 exclamation from every voice, Weel! Then a new fen- 
 tence or ftanza is repeated, and danced to as before, 
 and the fame ceremony continued, till every man who 
 is engaged in the dance has in his turn had his repetiti- 
 on and chorus. 
 
 During this feftivity two large tubs of fweet drink 
 were brought in, which were ferved out, firft to the 
 Englj/h and the principal people prefent, who juft tafted 
 it, and then the tubs were carried to the warriors; and 
 v/hen the dance was ended, they all fat down upon the 
 fquare, and the drink was ferved out to them by four 
 perfons, who feemed to be people of note, having bones 
 upon their wrifts; the warriors then removed to a houfe, 
 at which a fuppen»vas prepared for them, where they 
 continued dancing moft part of the night, but when it 
 grew dark, the Englifh retired to their own habitation. 
 
 September 2. The night proved very wet and win- 
 dy ; our people the next morning breakfafted with the 
 King, and after breakfaft Captain ' acquainted 
 
 him, that as foon as the weather would permit, he in- 
 tended to return to Orooicng; to which he was pleafed 
 to agree. The wind being unfavorable, Mr. Sharp took 
 the Captain to fee the Rupachf whofe child he had vi- 
 
 fited 
 
8o ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 fitcd the preceding day. They pafled many fine plan- 
 tations of cocoa-nuts, yams, and beetle-nuts; and alfo 
 obferved a tree with a large fruit on it, which the na- 
 tives call Ri’a'mal/, but the linguift who was witJa them 
 faid it was called by the Malays, Pan'giy; our people 
 thought it the bread-fruit. — Arra Zook received them 
 with great joy, brought them water to wafh their feet 
 before they went into the houfe, gave them mats to fit 
 down on, made them frelh fwectmeats, and fet before 
 them a kind of flierbet. Our people’s complexion as 
 much excited the furprife and admiration of this Ru- 
 pack's neighbours and houfehold, as it had before done 
 their firft vifitors at Oroolonsr. 
 
 O 
 
 jAfter experiencing once more this good man’s hof- 
 pltality, tliey returned to Relew, where the warriors 
 had renewed their dances. In the afternoon Captain 
 IVtlfon and his friends took another ramble into the 
 country', but in a contrary diredlion to the courfe they 
 had purfued in the morning. All the way they went 
 appeared to be equally well cultivated as what they had 
 feen before, and rather fuller of iuha’oltants. Whei-ever 
 tliey palTed they obferved the lower rank of women 
 employed in looking after the plantations of yams, 
 which are generally in fwampy ground. They obferved 
 the women were alfo employed in making mats and baf- 
 kets, dreffing viiftuals, and nurfing their children ; the 
 men were found bufied in gathering cocoa-iiutsj hew- 
 ing trees, and making fpears and darts. 
 
 September 3. The weather ftill bad, Captain Wilfon 
 went down to the wharf, before fun-rife, to look after 
 his boat, and returned to breakfall with Raa Kcoh. At 
 noon he accompanied the King to %is boat-builders, 
 where Abba ThuUe wanted to give direrftions about fame 
 work that was carrying on for him there; he had taken 
 down with him a delign of his own for ornamenting 
 fome canoes then building, and this defign was marked 
 on a board with great accuracy, in different colors, to 
 work after. At this place our people dined with the 
 King upon pigeons. 
 
 The 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 8i 
 
 The rain fell in torrents all the night, accompanied 
 with very loud thunder. The Englijb had removed to 
 another of the King’s houfes, in order to be retired, 
 liaving been dilhirbed by the curiofity of the natives, 
 whilft they remained in the habitation which had been 
 firft afhgned them^ 
 
 September 4. The King and his brother Raa Kooh 
 made our people a viiit at day-break; the weather after 
 break fall clearing up, they informed the King they 
 wiftied to return to Oroolong., to which he aflented, 
 though wifliing rather to detain them another day. 
 They found the jolly-boat ready loaded for them with 
 cvciy kind of proviiion the ifland afforiK'd ; and about 
 two o’clock in the afternoon they left Pelew, highly 
 fatisfied with the kindnefs of their new friends, giving 
 them three cheers, as ufual, at parting; which was re- 
 turned by the King in perfon, who in this inftance put 
 off his giavity, and laughed very much, joining the 
 men, women, and children in their cheers, ftanding up, 
 and apart in fuch a manner as to make himfelf con- 
 Ipicuous. 
 
 Our people arrived fafe at the tents about nine o’clock, 
 though the wind had been adverfe to them ; and had the 
 pleafure of finding aU their companions well. 
 
 September 5. The next morning being fine, they 
 put out their clothes, and the few ncceflaries which had 
 been faved from the wreck, to dry, having been much 
 wetted by the late heavy rains. Captain Wi^on, on coming 
 back, had the fatisfaftion to fee that all his people, in 
 his abfence, had been going on very afliduoufly with 
 the vefiel, and that the moft perfeft harmony had fub- 
 iifted amongft them. This was a circumftance which 
 could not fail to hold out the happieft prefages, that 
 they fhould in the end accomplifh that point to which 
 their moft fanguine wifhes were direfted. They un- 
 derftood that no canoe had been at Oroolong during the 
 time they had been at Pelew. 
 
 September 6. At day-light the boats were font again 
 to the wreck, to fee if no other materials could be 
 
 procured i 
 
82 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 procured ; they brought back in the evening more 
 planks, nails, and many other necefiaries, which were 
 of effential fervice, particularly coals. Thofe who re- 
 mained on Ihore were bulled about the veflel. — A lilt 
 was made out of the number of men the King had 
 wilhed to goon his fecond expedition. On this, as well 
 as on the former occallon, every individual exprelTed a 
 readinefs to be of the number ; and thofe who aftual- 
 ly went, amicably fettled the matter among themfelves, 
 on which their names were wrote down, and lluck 
 agalnft a tree in the dock-yard ; and dlreftions given, 
 that they Ihould hold themfelves in readinefs again!! 
 the time the <King fnould either fetch, or fend for 
 them. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 "The King comes to Oroolong — Is much Jlruck with the ap- 
 pearance of the Vejfel, which he had not Jeen before. — Is 
 Jhewn the Barricade and the Six-pounder ; ■ which is af- 
 terwards, at his Defire, fired off. — Views the different 
 Vlrtifcers employed in the hoci-Tard. — The imprefton all 
 thefe new Sights make on him. — lifter pqffmg feveral Hours 
 with our People, he goes to the Back of the If and. — The 
 King returns next Day — w'fses to take a Swivel Gun on 
 the Expedition. — Phis ohjeSed to. — He departs for Pelew, 
 carrying with him the ten Men allotted for the War. 
 
 Sep. t I ^ H E weather fettling fine, all hands were 
 7. JL employed in felling timber, and getting the 
 frames of the veffel forward. In the afternoon four ca- 
 noes came into the harbour, and gave our people fome 
 filh ; who, in retum, made them a prefent of fome iron. 
 As they appeared to have a large provlfion of filh, by 
 bartering a little more old iron, there was plenty for 
 
 every 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 83 
 every man at fupper. In the evening, wlun the toil 
 of the day was over, the Captain read prayers, as ufu- 
 al. 
 
 After breakfaft Captain Wilfon went out In the jolly- 
 boat, to found and examine the reef himfelf. He found 
 a pafTage, In which there were three fathom at low-wa- 
 ter, due weft from the ifland. Between the ifland and 
 the reef he found a flat fand-bank, upon which there 
 were only feven feet at low-water; it was clear fand, 
 except a few coral fpots, which were eafily difcovered by 
 the color of the water. 
 
 In the afternoon the King paid our people a vifit, 
 attended by his two brothers, the Chief Minlfler, and 
 feveral of his other Chiefs, and brought them fome fine 
 fifh, that his canoes had caught In nets, which they 
 make very nicely. Thefe fifh differed much from any 
 kind our people had hitherto feen, they were rather 
 more than three feet in length, and near a foot acrofs, 
 having a very bony and thickhead; the bone was fo 
 uncommonly hard, as to ftrike fire when they fplit It 
 with an axe, in order to ftew It. The meat cut folid 
 and firm, like a large cod; and the fcales wera round, 
 near the fize of a Spanlf} dollar ; the natives prize it 
 much, and our people found it, when boiled, very good. 
 They had only caught four, two of which were given 
 to the Engiyh, and by the fhip’s fteward divided into 
 meffes. The Chinefe dreffed their portion differently* 
 making a mixture with rice, and other things, which 
 they call Chow Chow. 
 
 The King, who now for the firft time had feen the 
 progrefs made in the new veffel, appeared perfedlly amaz- 
 ed at perceiving how much had been done, nor lefs fo 
 at the magnitude of the objeft. He minutely examined 
 every thing with the moft eager attention, and Impati- 
 ently called for his Tackalbys, or artificers, to notice what 
 had fo much excited his own aftonifhment. The Tac- 
 kalbys, feized with a furprife equal to that of their Prince, 
 after deliberately poring over its parts, pointed out to 
 
84 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 him the very fingular manner in which every thing was 
 wedged and bolted together. — They were quite loft in 
 wonder at the ufe and power of the iron-work; and the 
 whole together feemed to have engaged their minds as 
 fomewhat beyond their comprehenfion. — The King 
 crofted frequently between the ribs of the veffel, and 
 faid he was at a lofs to coneeive how they could ever be 
 made fo as to keep out the water, having no idea that 
 they were to be planked. 
 
 As moft of the frame-work of the veflel on the ftocks 
 had been made out of trees which our people had cut 
 down in the ifland, the King pointed out to them a 
 fpecies of wood which they had ufed in fome parts of 
 the veflel, and which he exprefled a concern at feeing ; 
 faying, he deemed It an unlucky wood, and that it might 
 prove the caufe of their meeting with fonie accident ; 
 carneftly preffing them to take it out, and not fuffer 
 any of It to remain. They acknowledged his great 
 care and goodnefs for them ; at the fame time informing 
 him, they were accuftomed to employ different kinds of 
 timber in conftrufting their (hips, and from experience' 
 had difcovered that nothing was to be apprehended on 
 that fcore. This caution feemed to arife from fome 
 (upsrJlit'iQus idea which the natives entertained of this 
 tree, of which there were feveral growing on the ifland 
 of Oroolong. 
 
 The King this day, as well as the General, much no- 
 ticed the barricade, as alfo the fix-pounder; and after 
 he had talked fome time with the Malay, he Inquired 
 the ufe of the great gun. The Captain fliewed him 
 the balls, and grape-fhot, and alfo explained to him their 
 force and efficacy: Informing him, that if a number of 
 canoes from Jlrtingall, or any other ifland of his enemies, 
 ftould approach tlie cove, this machine would blow them 
 off the water, and fliiver them to atoms. The King 
 was alfo fhewn the fwivel guns, which were mounted on 
 trees fawn down, as before mentioned; and it was ex- 
 plained to him, that they could be pointed in any di- 
 reftion which fliould be moft defirable, or convenient, 
 
 fo 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 85 
 
 fo that (hould any of his enemies come by fiirprife over 
 land, thefe moveable guns would give our people as great 
 advantage and power over them by land, as the fix- 
 pounder would by fea. 
 
 The King, his brothers, and the Chiefs who were 
 with him, on receiving this intelligence, feemed to look 
 at our countr)-men with frefli aftonifhment ; they con- 
 verfed much among one another, teftifying by their 
 aftions every indication of furprife. — Thty walked round 
 the barricade and examined it with much attention, no- 
 ticing how ftrongly and clofe every part was intrenched 
 and fortified. 
 
 This little ifland of Oroolong having been rendered far 
 moie commodious to the Englijh by the many neceflary 
 eftablifiiments they had made fince the King had paid 
 them his former vifit, there was of courfe a good deal 
 of additional novelty for him to attend to. — After he 
 had pointed out to his Tackallys to notice with particu- 
 lar attention every thing about the barricade, he ftrolled 
 inquifitively round the cove with his company. — The 
 noife of the forge which our people had fet up, and 
 which was then at work, foon drew his attention that 
 way : it happened that the boatfwain was at that inftant 
 beating out a piece of hot iron upon a pig of the fame 
 metal, which he had made his anvil. This was a cir- 
 cumftance fo entirely new, and a difcovery fo intereftlng 
 to them, that they all ftood abforbed in admiration. — 
 They could not be perfuaded to keep at a diftance, but 
 would get fo clofe to the anvil as to receive occafionallr 
 a hot fpark on their naked bodies; nor did this deter 
 them from catching with their hands the luminous par- 
 ticles that flew from under the ftroke of the hammer 
 
 Every thing under fuch clrcumftances as the prefent, 
 naturally excited wonder. When the iron was beaten 
 on the anvil till the rednefs was gone off, and it was be- 
 come too cold to be malleable, they could not compre- 
 hend why it was again put into the forge.. — The throw- 
 ing water on the fire to make it burn brifleer was alfo 
 a new fource of furprife; and it was with much difficul- 
 ty they could be drawn av/ay from a fcene that was fo 
 
86 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 new and interefting to them; however, the noife of the 
 neighbouring cooper, who was repairing the water-cafks 
 for fea ilore, was attrafting enough' to allure them to 
 his hut. — The agility with which they faw this man 
 work, the whirling of the cafkg, the knocking down 
 of the hoops, the found from within, and the quicknefs 
 with which they perceived a defeftive cafle was brought 
 round and perfedt, feemed altogether to impofe on their 
 minds a kind of magic influence. They Hood and flared 
 .at one another with looks equally expreffive of aftonifli- 
 ment and pleafure. Captain W'ilfon perceiving that^ his 
 vifitOTS were rivetted to whatever they, faw, and that the 
 workmen were very much impeded by their queftions, 
 as well as by their deflre of handling every thing, nov/ 
 ordered a large canvafs to be fpread on one fide of the 
 ■cove, where the King and his Chiefs might repofe and 
 refreih themfelves, and flill have a view of our artificers 
 at a diflance ; he was conducing them to this place, acrofs 
 the cove, when their eyes caught the , carpenters, who 
 were bufied, fome in fawing, others in dubbing, &o. 
 this was again frefti matter to detain them: the faw 
 and its operations were marvellous; .and it was not with- 
 out great difficulty that they were at lafl feduced to 
 the canvafs, w’here fherbet was prepared for them. 
 Captain Wilfon made the King a prefent of a China 
 mat, which he appeared to admire, being different from 
 any they made at Pelew, and which he wilhed as a 
 pattern for his people to endeavour to imitate. 
 
 When redemption is the objeft, minutes appear as 
 hours, and our men, with fuch a point in view, could 
 ill afford the lofs of half a day; yet no fooncr were their 
 guefts retired, but all their common attendants fwarmed 
 in every part, fo that it was impoffible to continue work ; 
 Raa Kook was therefore petitioned to difperfe them,- 
 who, by ordering them down to the beach, gave the 
 different artificers elbow-room to proceed in their, bufi- 
 nefs. — The King, after this, took his leave with much 
 good humor, and, accompanied by all his retinue, went 
 {o Jlecp at the back of the ifland. 
 
 September 
 
THE P E L E W I S L A N D S. 87 
 
 September 9. In confequen^e of what had the pre« 
 ceding day been explained relative to the fwivcl-guns, 
 the King’s imagination had amply worked on the fnb- 
 jeft; he came over land with his train, and exprclled a 
 wifh to have one of them to take with him on the next 
 expedition; this the Captain endeavoured to convince 
 him would be impolTible, as they had no boats con- 
 ftrufted in a manner proper to receive it. — The King 
 then reqneded to have the fix-pounder fired. — If they 
 were furprifed (as we have already noticed) at the dif- 
 eliarge of a mulket, it may eafily be imagined in how 
 great a proportion tlie report of this piece mud have 
 affeilcd them. — During the time the gunner was load- 
 ing it, not a circumftance of the whole procefs efcaped 
 their notice; and when the lighted match was brought 
 and put to the train, they perceived an Inftantancous 
 blaze, which was fucceeded by a mod violent nolfe ; 
 this they were puzzled in the extreme to comprehend^ 
 and the more fo, as in the difeharge of a mufleet they 
 had feen no appearance of fire applied. — The report 
 of the fix-pounder feemed to dun them all, as every one 
 of the natives, for more than a quarter of an hour, kept 
 his fingers in his ears, calling otit Magull! MaguU! that 
 
 is to fay. Very bad Pleafed and furprifed as they were 
 
 at the noife, it was evidently too violent for their or- 
 gans; for whenever founds uncommonly loud flrike ua- 
 expeftedly on the drum of the ear, it is well known 
 they will occafion temporary deafnefs, though the fame 
 degree of found, when applied to thofe who are ac- 
 cuftomed to it, or prepared to receive it, will not vi- 
 brate on the fenfe with any particular inconvenience. — • 
 The hooting and fhouting of the natives, cn hearing 
 the explofion, was hardly to be deferibed, and this was 
 increafed by the accident of fome of the w'ad fetting fire 
 to the dry leaves of a tree which projected acrofs the 
 cove. — Having obferved the ball fall into the water at 
 .a great dIdance, they were unable to conceive how this 
 effeft could be produced; what they had feen ftimulated 
 dill more their wilh of having one of the fwivels on 
 their expedition, as it would prove not only dedruftive 
 
 to 
 
88 A N A C C O U N T O f' 
 
 to the perfons but to the property of their enemies-. — 
 Raa Kook accompanied the Captain on the hill to the 
 Look-out, and was furprifed to fee how much the ground 
 had been cleared. — He informed him of the names of 
 the principal iflands, pointing out their fituation with 
 his hand, though fome of them were not within vie\v; 
 he told him that to the fouthward was Pillelcw, to the 
 N. E. Etnillcgue, and to the S. E. the illand they were 
 going to war with, which he faid was called Artingall . — 
 After they had returned from the hill, the King was 
 treated with flrerbet, and he foon after went over land 
 to dinner, at the place w'here his canoes were ftationed, 
 faying, when he left the tents, that he fhould return 
 with his boats at high-water, by which it was fuppofed 
 he meant at that time to take fuch of the Englifb as 
 w'cre to attend him to the war, who all got therafelves 
 in readinefs accordingly. 
 
 In the afternoon fome people came from Alha ’ThiiU 
 1c, and renewed their felicitations on the, fubjeft of the 
 fwivel-gun ; every argument was ufed to make them fen- 
 fible of the imprafiicabllity of rendering it of any ufe 
 in their canoes. Soon after other of his men arrived, 
 bringing a prefent of fome fine fifh.and a turtle. — The 
 King after came round himfelf, attended by ten or 
 twelve canoes. — The requeft of the fwivel was again 
 ftrongly urged by the Ch'tef Mintfijr, and our people 
 thereby compelled to recur to all the arguments betore 
 made ufe of ; and as our men were all drawn up w'ith 
 their arais, Mr. Benger, willing to cut off all further en- 
 treaty on the fubjeft, ordered them into the canoes. — 
 One very material objeftion againil complying with their 
 defire was, the great confumption of powder it would 
 occafion ; befides which, the neceflity there would have 
 been of the Gunner’s attendance, who was too ufeful a 
 man to be fpared. 
 
 / lia EhuHc and his retinue now embarked, and there 
 v.'as reafon to fear that this refufal had not made them 
 depart in the good-humor that could have been wiflied. — 
 Before the canoes were out of fight, the Gunner made 
 a report of the arms and ammunition taken on the ex- 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 89 
 
 pedition, which appearing rather large (as Mr. Benger 
 had taken piftols and cutlafles unknown to the Captain) 
 occafioned fome uneafinefs, in the particular fituation 
 they at that time ftood. — It was therefore thought ad- 
 vrfable to keep every thing in a pofture of defence, left 
 any further mifunderftanding Ihould take place ; the 
 watch was well attended to, and no caution omitted 
 which prudence could fuggeft. 
 
 CHAPTER Xife 
 
 TranfaSions at Oroolong. — The ten Men return from the 
 War.-^A particular Account of the fecond Battle of Ar- 
 tingall.— of the neiu Veffel^ ^c. 
 
 Sep. O OME natives came from the watering-place, by 
 10. whom intelligence was brought, that the ca- 
 noes were gone down to Pclew, of which fome doubts 
 had been entertained; our people fuppofing that, as they 
 went away late, they would only go to the back of the 
 ifland. Thefe natives foon departed. — The felne was 
 hauled to-day, without fuccefs, and the veffel was attend- 
 ed to with perfeverance. 
 
 September 11. This day they had the higheft tide 
 that had been noticed at this place. It was high-water 
 at half an hour paft feven. No natives were feen to-day. 
 
 September 12. The joDy-boatwas fent round to the 
 watering-place, in queft of timber ; but there was fo 
 high a furf on the beach that they could take none in. 
 
 Some of our people got fix kegs of water, and went 
 with the boat to colleft cabbages and periwinkles, all the 
 unpacked beef being expended. The next day they alfo 
 examined and took an account of the ftore of provifion ; 
 and, after confidering the time they might probably re- 
 main on the ifland, and the length of their paffage, they 
 fet apart as much of the foundeft and bell of the provi- 
 fion for the voyage, as was deemed neceflary ; which 
 
 H 2 was 
 
90 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 was OH no account to be expended. This evening there 
 were hard fqualls, heavy rain, and much lightning. 
 
 September 14. The weather this morning would not 
 permit a boat to go out of the harbour. — It was difco- 
 vered that fome of the hams had been cut the preceding 
 night ; a reward was offered, of double allowance of grog 
 i"or a week, to any perfon who would make the offend- 
 er known, or would difcover any one guilty of wafting 
 any kind of provifions ; and that, in cafe the arrack 
 fhould be out, that fuch perfon fhould receive ten dollars 
 on the veffel’s arrival at Macoa. This advertifement was 
 fixed to a tree in the dock-yard, having been previoufly 
 read to all our people ; but no information was ever ob- 
 tained of the offender. 
 
 September 15. After a night of wind and rain, 
 thunder and lightning, about ten o’clock in the morn- 
 ing two canoes came into the harbour, wherein were 
 Mr. Benger, M^'ilUam Harvey, JViUiam Steward, and Wil- 
 liam Roberts: by them our people learnt that the battle 
 was over, their companions all well, and that they would 
 foon follow them. Towards evening other canoes arriv- 
 ed, with Mr. M. Wilfon, yohn Duncan, Nicholas Tyacle, 
 Madan Blanchard, Thomas Wilfon, and Thomas Dulton. 
 The canoe which brought Mr. M. Wilfon and fobn 
 Duncan, had been overfet. This accident arofe from a 
 fqurdl of wind coming on fo fuddenly, that the canoe 
 could not get Its. fail down quick enough to fave it ; 
 there were four natives in it, with Mr. JVilfon and Mr. 
 Duncan. As the canoe was going over, two of the 
 men fecured the two muflvcts, and holding them In one 
 hand, buoyed up Mr. Duncan and Mr. Wilfon with the 
 other ; whilft the remaining two made a fmall raft with the 
 bamboos, ropes, paddles, and pieces of wood they could 
 colleft. During the time they were floating, the canoe 
 righted itfelf. The other canoes that were in company- 
 being driven to a diftance, with much difficulty efcaped 
 to the neareft fhore ; but the inftant they had landed our 
 people, ■ they put off again, and took up Mr. Wilfon and 
 Mr. Duncan, who could neither of them fwlm ; by the 
 time they were relieved, they were both ajmoft exhauft- 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 91 
 ed, having been floating and clinging to the raft for the 
 greater part of two hours. Two bayonets and a car- 
 touch-box were loft by this accident, but happily no life. 
 Captain Wtlfon inftantly rewarded the men who had faved 
 them, by giving them fome files, and fome pieces of 
 iron to make hatchets. 
 
 They were all received with great joy by their coun- 
 trymen at Oroolong, and ftill more fo, from their bring- 
 ing back with them the welcome news of the King’s 
 fuccefs. But as this forms not only a new, but a very 
 interefting feene, that I may lay it in the moft circum- 
 ftantial manner before the reader, I fhall here paufe 
 awhile, as the narrator of thefe events, and deliver the 
 account of this expedition nearly in the words in which 
 I received it from Mr. M. Wtlfon^ who was himfelf an 
 a»ftor in the whole bufinefs. 
 
 “ The night we quitted Oroolong we ^ot to Pelewt 
 “ and the King w'as defirous of proceeding inrmediately 
 on his way to Artmgall; but it proving very wet, we 
 “ objefted to it, on account of the rain damaging our 
 “ arras, which he being made fenfible of, agreed to de- 
 “ fer advancing till the enfuing evening. We were 
 “ condufted to the fame houfe where my brother and 
 “ Mr. Sharp had been before entertained, and where we 
 “ were fupplied wdth every accommodation that we 
 “ could expeft, or defire. 
 
 “ On the evening of the next day we all aflembled 
 ** on the caufeway, or wharf, where alfo were the King, 
 “ Raa Kooky Arra Kooker, and the other Rupacks and 
 “ great officers ; and we all went on board the canoes 
 ftationed there to receive us. We were followed to 
 ** the fhore by a number of old men, women, and chil- 
 “ dren, who appeared to be drawn together both, by 
 “ curiofity and intereft. When the caijoes were quit- 
 “ ting the land, a conch-fhell was loudly founded, to 
 notify our departure ; and other canoes defpatched to 
 “ diScrent parts of the ifland, to colleA various detach- 
 “ ments which were lying off in creeks and remoter 
 “ places, and' only waited ^e King’s fignal to join him; 
 which, ia ccnfequencc of receiving, they foon did. 
 
 « And 
 
92 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 “ And thus reinforced, being^ upwards of two hundreJ 
 « canoes, we proceeded, dunng the night, towards Ar- 
 « tingall, but flopped, fome hours before day-light, at 
 an ifland fubjeft to Abba Thulle, where we went on 
 fliore, upon a wharf, and flept on the ground for 
 « about three hours; then re-embarked, and palling 
 “ through a labyrinth of narrow channels, arrived off 
 Artingall a little before day-break ; here they all halt- 
 « ed till the rifing of the fun, it being a maxim with 
 « the natives of Pelcw, never to attack an enemy in 
 the dark, or take him by furprife. As the day came 
 on, a fmall canoe, light-built, containing only four 
 “ men, each man having in his hair a white feather, 
 “ fluck upright (and which were the long feathers of 
 ** the tail of the tropic bird) fummoned the enemy to 
 a parley ; the perfon wearing the white feather being 
 regarded in the nature of a herald, either bringing 
 terms, or demanding to be heard, hoftilities in this 
 interval remained fufpended. 
 
 “ Abba Thulle had previoufly notified to the King of 
 «* Artingall, that he intended in a few days to offer him 
 battle ; fo the latter was not unprepared for the 
 « event. The enemy, on feeing our fignal of parley, 
 « defpatched a canoe to Raa Kook; who demanded to 
 know if they would fubmit to fuch terms as the King 
 « his brother had propofed, by way of atoning for the 
 injuries he complained of. The canoe went back to 
 the King of Artingall, and, having communicated our 
 *< propofition, returned with a flat refufal ; on which 
 the General informed his brother that the enemy was 
 «< difpofed for war. The King then ordered the conch 
 to be founded, and Handing up in his canoe, in the 
 fcarlet coat my brother had given him, waved his chi- 
 nam-ftick in the air, as a fignal for the different fqua- 
 « drons to arrange themfelves for battle. 
 
 « Whilft this was doing, the enemy alTembled their 
 canoes clofe under the land, and kept blowing their 
 « conch-fliell, as in deflance of us, but did not feem dif- 
 pofed to quit the fliore and attack us. The ten Eng- 
 « It/h were divided in ten different caaoes ; the King 
 ■ " « taking 
 
I 
 
 THE PELEW ISLANDS. 93 
 ** taking one in his canoe, the General another, and the 
 ** reft going fingly with one or other of the Rupacks, 
 “ each Engl'ijhman having a mulket, cutlafs, bayonet, 
 “ and piftol. There were feveral light canoes, contain- 
 “ ing four men each, every one having a white feather 
 “ in his hair, the fame as in the truce canoe ; thefe 
 “ were conftantly bufted in conveying orders from the 
 “ King and the General to the other Chiefs. They 
 “ flew from fquadron to fquadron, cutting through the 
 “ water with aftoniflimg velocity, to convey command ; 
 “ and they were, for diftinftion fake, c^ed by the 
 Engli/k, the Frigate canoes. 
 
 “■ The King, perceiving a total unwillingnefs in the 
 ** enemy to quit their ftation under the fliore, and con- 
 “ ceiving he could not attack them in that fituation with 
 any advantage, defpatched fome of the Frigate canoes 
 “ to order a fquadron to conceal themfelves behind fome 
 high land. This arrangement bethg made, they ex- 
 ** changed a few diftant fpears : — The conch then was 
 “ founded, and the King of Pelew made a feint to run 
 “ away, (hewing the example in his own canoe, and be- 
 ing immediately followed by the others, with much. 
 ** apparent precipitancy. 
 
 “ This artful manoeuvre of Thulle gave inftant 
 
 " courage to the enemy, who, indiiced to think their 
 “ antagonift had been feized with a fudden panic, pre- 
 “ pared in great hafte to quit the (hore, and began t» 
 “ give chafe to the King, who they imagined w'as fly- 
 “ ing before them ; upon feeing this, the detached fqua- 
 “ dron of canoes, that had been polled behind the high 
 “ land, ru(hed out between the enemy and the ifland, 
 “ to cut off their retreat. When the King found his 
 “ ftratagem had taken effedl, he turned, and made a 
 “ fignal for the reft of his fleet to form themfelves into 
 “ divifions, and engage ; whereupon a general attack 
 “ took place. The fpears were mutually diredled with 
 “ much animofity, and the Englijh kept up a continual 
 “ fire, which not only did great execution, but puzzled 
 “ and bewildered the enemy in the extreme, to compre- 
 ** hend how or why their people dropped, without re- 
 
 “ ceiving 
 
94 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 “ ceiving any apparent blow : they perceived they had 
 holes in their bodies, yet faw no fpear fticking in 
 them, nor could they devife by what means they had 
 “ thus in a moment become deprived of motion and 
 life. 
 
 “ There is not generally above one able fpearman In 
 each canoe, the reft of thofe who are put into it, be- 
 “ ing only to paddle, and guide its motions ; no fooner 
 “ therefore did the firing of the muiketS' fpread dlfmay 
 amongft the people of ylrtingall, than a different ef- 
 “ fed! was produced in thofe of Pekw: the moment the 
 “ report was made, they all rofe up in their canoes, and 
 “ fet up fuch hallooing and ftiouting, that the whole air 
 “ was filled with their noife, which greatly added to the 
 tenor of the enemy, who, finding themfelves unequal 
 “ to fo powerful an attack, betook themfelves to flight. 
 “ ^ — The fquadron before mentioned being in their rear, 
 “ in fome meafure impeded their retreat, but not being 
 in any degree equal to the force of the enemy, the great- 
 er part of the people of ylrtwgall were able to regain 
 “ their own ftiore. Six can :es only were taken, and 
 nine prifoners, which they accounted a large number, 
 “ it being feldom that they captured their enemies, as 
 “ the vanquilhed always endeavour to carry away their 
 “ killed and wounded, that the vidlors may not have 
 “ their bodies to expofe. 
 
 “ Our fleet now rode triumphant along the coaft of 
 “ Artingall, founding the conch in defiance of their ad- 
 verfary, and firing amongft them when any appeared 
 *' near enough to be reached by the muflcets. The en- 
 “ gagement from beginning to end did not exceed three 
 “ hours ; and, after parading along their fliorc, and in 
 “ vain provoking a frefh combat, Abba Thulle ordered 
 *' the canoes to make a difpofition to return, which was 
 ** foon done, and we fet forward towards PeL-w. 
 
 “ All the nine prifoners had received wounds in bat- 
 “ tie ; and. In fpite of whatever we could urge againft 
 “ the cruelty of putting them to death, yet they would 
 “ hear nothing in their behalf, and foon exterminated 
 them.— -In j unification of a proceeding which fo 
 
 “ ftrongly 
 
T HE PELEW ISLANDS, 95 
 
 " ftrongly contradifted the general humanity of the na- 
 “ tives of Pehiu, they alledged the neceffity of doing 
 “ it for their own fecurity, affuring us that they had 
 “ formerly only detained them prifoners, and kept them 
 “ as menial fervants, but that they always found means 
 “ to get back to their own country, and having, by 
 “ living amongft the Peleiv people, become well ac» 
 ** quainted with the channels and creeks of the ifiand, 
 “ they had afterwards made ufe of that knowledge to 
 land frequently by Health, and commit great depreda- 
 “ tions ; and, on this confideration, that ftep which we 
 “ fo much condemned, had become neceflary to them. 
 
 “ Among the prifoners was a Rupach^ who had a bone 
 on his wrift.; the Pek'w people, after he was captur- 
 ed, ftrove all in their power to take from him this 
 “ mark of dignity, the Chief defended it with fingular 
 “ courage, and loft his life in endeavouring to fave kis 
 “ Order. When brought to PeUiu, his head was cut 
 “ off, and ftuck on a bamboo, fixed up before the 
 King’s houfe. 
 
 “ The canoe which brought me from the war had in 
 it two prifoners, one of whom had a broken thigh, 
 “ and the other wounded in feveral parts by a fpear. 
 ** Their cuftom is, when they go to battle, to trefs their 
 “ hair in a particular manner, and to colleft it in a 
 I “ great bunch at . the top of their head ; but as foon as 
 I “ they are captured they unite it, pull it over their 
 I faces, and wait with firmnefs and intrepidity the ex- 
 I “ terminating blow, which they are fure to receive from 
 ' “ the hands of their conquerors. When thefe two un- 
 fortunate men, on coming into the canoe where I was, 
 “ by the above-mentioned difpofition had teftified they 
 “ were prepared for their fate, the natives ordered them 
 i “ to fit down in the bottom of the canoe, to which the 
 “ one whofe thigh was broken, fubmltted; but the 
 “ other being refraftory, refufed, and feemed by refill- 
 “ ance to provoke his deftin^j, upon which one of the 
 ■“ natives haftily fnatched my bayoget from my fide, 
 ‘‘ and plunged it into his jjgdy ; though the poor fellow 
 
 was 
 
96 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 “ W'as a confiderable time bleeding to death, yet he ne- 
 ver uttered a fingle groan, or figh. 
 
 “ Mr. Benger alfo reported, that he had by his en- 
 treaties, for two hours faved a wounded prifoner, 
 “ when one of the King’s people, who had been him- 
 “ felf wounded by the enemy, happening to fee him, 
 “ fnatched Soogle’s Malay Creefe^* and ftabbed him in- 
 “ ftantly, before Mr. Benger perceived the blow. This 
 “ man, a native of yirt'mgall, who had now for the firft 
 “ time feen a white perfon, fubmitted undauntedly to 
 “ his fate ; whilft expiring, he fixed his eyes on the 
 “ Engli/h, and feemed to die imprefled with nothing fo 
 “ much as the color of his new enemy. 
 
 " jibba Thulle in his return to Peleio flopped, and 
 “ went on fhofe in feveral fmall iflands, which I under- 
 “ flood were either fubjeft to him, or his allies ; ex- 
 “ pofing publicly the dead bodies of his prifoners ; and 
 ** the people at all thefe places feemed to rejoice much 
 at his vidlory, bringing out fweet drink, and other 
 “ refrelhments. — We could not learn what number the 
 “ enemy loft, but were confident it muft have been con- 
 “ fiderable. Not a fingle perfon of the King’s party 
 “ was killed, though there were a few wounded. 
 
 “ It was dark before we reached Pelew; on coming 
 ” near it, the conch was founded to notify the King’s 
 " approach. — ^When we landed at the wharf from whence 
 “ we had departed, a vaft concourfe of people were rea- 
 “ dy to receive us, bringing with them a quantity of 
 “ refrelhments. Here we flopped till all were landed 
 “ and got together (having dropped great part of our 
 fleet by the way, who had filed off to their refpedllve 
 “ homes) .and then went up to Pelenv, where there was 
 “ finging and dancing mott part of the night ; the na- 
 “ tives attributing the fuccefs of the day to us, and of- 
 ** ten in their fongs repeating the word Englees. They 
 “ expofed the dead bodies of their prifoners feveral 
 “ days, till they became moft horribly offenfive, and 
 “ then they were either buried, or thrown into the 
 “ ffea," 
 
 Such 
 
 • B kind of dagger ufed by the Mutays. 
 
THE TELEW ISLANDS. 97 
 
 Such were the particulars of the fecond battle of Ar~ 
 tlnga//, as brought by Mr. M. Wilfon, and confirmed by- 
 all who were with him on the expedition. By our 
 returned countrymen, information was alfo brought, that 
 Abha Thulle propofed to pay the Engl'ijh a vifit in four 
 or five days. By what our countrymen could obferve, 
 ArUngall appeared the largeft of any of the iflands. 
 
 September 16. The pinnace was fent after breakfaft 
 to the wreck, to fee what other materials could be pro- 
 cured ; it returned in the afternoon, bringing fome good 
 plank, and a large quantity of fpike nails, things of the 
 utmoft fervice in the bufihefs of conftrufting the veffel. 
 
 Encouraged by the fuccefs of the preceding day, the 
 pinnace again vifited the wreck, and brought back more 
 of the fame kind of materials. 
 
 September 18. After a llormy night the day proving 
 bad, little could be done till afternoon, when the wea- 
 ther clearing, every hand was bufied about the veffel. 
 And the next day^ the pinnace was fent round for the 
 timber that had been cut, almoft a fufficiency being now 
 procured, the frame of the veffel being nearly completed; 
 this day a furnace was conftruiSed to heat the 'plank, 
 and the day following all were employ’ed In dubbing the 
 timbers, and getting the firft plank upon her bottom : 
 more materials were alfo recovered from the wreck, to- 
 gether with five bags of rice. 
 
 September 21. This day three more planks were got 
 upon the bottom, and the boats brought fifteen bags of 
 rice, which proved moft acceptable ; our people at this 
 time, though undergoing very fevere daily labor, being 
 at (hort allowance. The rice was greatly damaged by- 
 haring been long under water, it would not boil to a 
 grain, but to a jelly. Yet hunger and diftvefs give a re- 
 liih to many a difh, which in the lefs adverfe Iioiirs of 
 life, the faucy appetite would look on with difdain ! 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
98 
 
 .4 ■ * 
 
 ANA C C*b U N T O F 
 CHATTER XIV. 
 
 Projr^s of the V ffel, and other Occurrences . — Raa Kook 
 comes from Pelew to folicit more Men, and a S-wtvel Gun, 
 to^ attend the King on a grand Expedition. — ^fter fome 
 Explanation between Captain Wilfon and the General, the 
 liequejl is granted, and the allotted Men return with Raa 
 Kook. — Mr. Sharp goes fome Days after to Pelpw, to 
 fee the General’s Son, who had been wounded in the fecond 
 Battle. — Arrives jujl after his Countrymen had returned 
 from the grand Expedition, in which this youn^ Man, 
 whom he went to vifit, had been hilled. — Aitetids Raa 
 Kook to his Son’s Funeral, of which an Account is given. 
 
 Sep. T T was a great confolation to our countrymen 
 2 2. that the Antelope fliU remained unfeparated, as 
 many ufeful things were occafionally procured from her. 
 
 In the' afternoon Tom Rofe, wiio had been left after 
 the engagement, by the King’s delire, to give him more 
 particular information concerning the Englijh than he 
 had Iiitherto obtained, came up from Pelew, bringing 
 with him a prefent from Abba Ehulle of a quantity of 
 yams, and- a jar of molaffes, and at the fame time was 
 charged to exprefs to Captain Wilfon and his officers, his 
 hope that they would not take it amifs that he had not 
 as yet paid them his intended vilit, owing to his having 
 been detained at Pelew by the great number of thofe 
 who were come to pay their compliments to him from 
 the other iflands, on account of his late viftory, and that 
 had he come, they would all have attended him. Some 
 of them having' expreffed a defire of accompanying him 
 to fee the Engli/h, he had dilTuaded them from it, re- 
 prefenting to them that the ifland being very fmall, it 
 would not afford fufficient water for fo many, and that 
 their vifit would neceffarily put the Engl'fl) to great in- 
 convenience. 
 
 TJrtte 
 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. -9<) 
 
 There appears to be a fingular attention paid by th(r 
 King to our people, in this as well as on every occafion. 
 His mind feemed to be as confidcrate as it was liberal. 
 He had undoubtedly obferved how much the cunofity f 
 of his own attendants, whenever he went to Orookng, in- 
 evitably impeded our people’s operations, and forefaw 
 in how dill greater a degree the crowding in of fo n^ 
 ny ftrangers would add to their didrefs ; theieft^,’, as 
 the bufinefs of thefe drangers at this tunc was me^ftly to 
 pay their court to him, fo by remaining with them at 
 Pelviu he precluded them from tedifying any filrthcr. 
 widi on tills head. Yet whild he managed this matter fo 
 well for the fervice of the Engnjl, his delicacy was hurt, 
 led, by not coming to exprefs his acknowledgments for 
 their late ferriccs fo foon as he had promifed, they might 
 be indiitcd to impute to him a forgetfulnefs of thole 
 obligations he felt he had to them. 
 
 The pinnace having been fent this day to the wreck,, 
 at her return in the evening brought fixtecn more bags 
 of rice, and alfo information that the King lir.d tent h:s 
 canoes thither, and had carried away one of the fix- 
 pounders. 
 
 September 23. About noon to-day there was a hea- 
 vy fquall from the northward, accompanied with hard, 
 rain and much lightning fi'om the eadward. 
 
 September 24. The planking of the vcfiel wms now- 
 forwarded with great alliduity ; they broygh'&from the 
 wreck this day a quantity of nails and fomc fillets t^cop- 
 per ; it having been in contemplation to Ihealh the bot- 
 tom of their new vefiel, which was not above ope ItAtli 
 of the fize of the Antelope ; but this idea w’as very focu 
 abandoned, for want of a fufficiency of copper nails to 
 elfed the purpofe. — No canoes were feen on 'board to- 
 day, but a prodigious furf broke upon the reef. 
 
 September 25. Nothing occured but tlie continued 
 progrefs of the velTel. — Next day the jolly-boat was fent 
 to iidi, but, without fuccefs. .It was fingular that this 
 was always the cafe ; whether our countrymen knew not 
 the proper places to go to, or the proper bait, but every 
 attempt of this kind proved fruitlefs, 
 
 September 
 
loo anaccountof 
 
 September 27. One canoe came to the ifland to-day, 
 and brought yams and cocoa-nuts ; more copper was got 
 irom the wreck, and a conliderable quantity of nails. 
 
 September 28. Raa Kooh arrived at Oroolong in the 
 evening, accompanied by two fli'angers of rank, whom 
 it was afterwards known were Chiefs of fome of the 
 neighbouring iilands ; they came in three canoes, arrd 
 prefents of yams, cocoa-nuts, and three jars of 
 molalfes. Our people had been all the day bulled about 
 the veffel, and were juft then going to prayers ; all the 
 people attended the fervice, and behaved with the 
 greateft decency : one or two of them happening to 
 fpcak, Raa Kook checks them j and they afterwards 
 obferved ftrift filence. — ^^Vhile at prayers, the Malay, 
 Soogle, arrived from Peh<w with a melTage to the Gene- 
 ral from jibba Phulle, and coming into the tent was go- 
 ing to deliver it ; but Raa Kooh, unwilling that the 
 Englifh Ihould be interrupted, made a motion with his 
 hand to keep filence, till the Captain (to whom he point- 
 ed) had done reading. After prayers, having received 
 the meffage, he and.*lie ftrangers entered into converfa- 
 tion with- Captain Witfon and his officers, and after fome 
 time the General allced for fifteen men, and one of the 
 fwivd-guns, to go with them on another expedition.— 
 The King, flulhed with the advantages he had already 
 gained by the frienddiip of his new allies, feemed de- 
 llrous to profit by their aid, and avenge himfelf of all 
 his •enemies. — Captain WHjon thought this a favorable 
 opportunity to mention to the General fuch things as 
 he conceived h^ had a right to complain of j find, re- 
 fpefting the coolnefs with which they had gone away on 
 the laft expedition to ArtingalU and Ihewed him an emp- 
 ty cartouch-box, to let him fee how much he was in 
 M ant of that paper which fome of the canoes had car- 
 ried off from the ftilp. — He alfo complained that it had 
 been fuggefted to his people when at Peleiv, by the 
 Malay, that whenever the King appeared, the fame ex- 
 ternal marks of homage were expedted from them as 
 were paid him by his own fubjedls, and that this was a 
 matter which liad much dillurbed the Engli/h; he like- 
 
THE P'EEE:W islands. ici 
 
 wife informed the General, that the Engiyh could ncvei 
 confent to go again to war with his brother , if he meant 
 to put their priloners to death, as it was contrary to 
 the nature and cuftom of their nation to hurt any who 
 had fubmitted to their power ; and finifhed, by adding 
 a word or two on the fubjeft of one of the fix-pounders 
 having been carried away from the fliip, 3ud exprelfing 
 an apprehenfion that fome mifunderftanding mull have 
 arifen, by their fending our people home without ?.nj 
 of the Chiefs or Rupachs to accompany them, by which 
 inattention his brother with another man were near be- 
 ing drowned ; and fome arms alfb were loft, notwitli- 
 ftanding the utmoft endeavours of the boatmen. 
 
 The Genercd being come to make this requeft of the 
 men and fwivel for this third expedition (which was in- 
 tended to be a very formidable one) appeared exceeding- 
 ly hurt at hearing all thefc matters, efpecially as there 
 were two ftrangers of rank, who had accompanied him ; 
 and being alfo perfuaded that the attachment of our 
 people to him was in every refpeft as warm as his own, 
 he had not a doubt but that he could prevail on them, 
 to grant the fwivel, although it had been refufed be- 
 fore : — what then muft his difappointment liave been, 
 when, inftead of having his wifti complied with as he 
 expefted, he heard nothing but complaints ! His 
 countenance', more exprelSve than words, avowed what 
 his feelings were, and the expreflive looks which hq,cafl: 
 on Captain Wtlfon and his officers, fo ftrongly operated 
 on their friendfhip, that they willingly liftened to his ex- 
 planations. 
 
 He broke filence, by afluring the Captain he would! 
 make him and his people perfeftly eafy in every parti- 
 cular circumftance. — He began with the paper and car- 
 touch-boxes (fearing probably they had not ammunition 
 ready for the expedition;) he affured them that every 
 endeavour had been ufed to get the paper that had been 
 carried av/ay from the (hip, but there was none to be 
 found, as what had been taken on ftiore by the natives 
 being thoroughly wet, dropped to pieces in their hands, 
 and wa3 therefore thrown away as ufelefs. — He faid the 
 I 2- w'hl'c. 
 
102 
 
 AN ACCOUNT O F 
 
 ^vhite^ ilufF (meaning the long-cloth given to the King 
 and himfelf, and to ylrra Kooher ) was neverthclefs whole, 
 and Ihciild be given back to them to make cartridges. — 
 j. hat with regard to their going away abruptly, that 
 was foleiy owing to Mr. Bengtr's hade to put the men 
 into the canoes. As to their fending the Englijh back in 
 bad weather, without any Chiefs, that alfo was occafion- 
 ed by Mr. Bengtr's anxiety to return; that they had 
 ilrongly folicited him to defer it till the weather became 
 more fettled, and other canoes were got ready. — ide 
 fiid it had not been always their ufage to put their pri- 
 feners to death, but they had been lately obliged to do 
 fo from neceffity, as feme of them had efcaped home, 
 and returning had treacheroufly done them^great mif- 
 chief ; but affured the Captain that in future they fhould 
 be all given up to the Englijb to do with them what- 
 ever they pleafed. — That refpefting the great gun 
 taken from the fhip, he had in comraiffion from the 
 King to tell them of it; — that Ahla Thullty willing to 
 keep the Grangers that were vifiting him from interrupt- 
 ing the Englijh, had given them an account of the ef- 
 fect produced by their fmall arms, but. Hill more to 
 furprife them, wifhed to convey to them fome idea of 
 the havock that might be made with one of our weapons; 
 that he had therefore fent for one to (hew them, and 
 that the King had defired the General to fay it fhould 
 now be fent back. — And laftly, as to his brother expell- 
 ing any perfonal reverence from Captain Wilfon's people, 
 he abfolutely difavowed any fuch idea having pver been 
 entertained by the King; that it was a millake, or a 
 jnifconccpticn, nor ever could have been wilhed or de- 
 fjied *. 
 
 Thefe 
 
 ♦ This mifunderftanding had been occaConed folely by the 
 Malay. This mful fellow probably found, that the intereft he 
 had with the King had declined in proportion as our people be- 
 came more neceffary to him, and therefore had fet his brains ta 
 work to awaken diftruft. amongft them ; in confequence of this, 
 be had fuggefted this pretended rtquiQtion to- the King, fu^- 
 
 pofing 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 103 
 
 Thefe matters being now fatisfa6loriIy fettled, Cap* 
 tain IVHfon took his officers out, to confult with them 
 •on the requeft; when it was judged right to confent to 
 their having the fwivel-gun and ten men, but no more. 
 '1 his being refolved on, he returned into tlie tent, and 
 acquainted Raa Kook with the determination ; which 
 pleafed him much, and they all went to fupper with our 
 people in great good-humor. 
 
 After fupper the General informed Mr. Sharp, that 
 his fon had in the laft battle been wounded in the foot 
 by a fpear, but that he would fpeak to him further on 
 this matter the next morning. — As his two friends, the 
 Rupacks, then wanted to go to reft, he rcquefted that 
 he might ^ake them to fleep in the veffel, as the tent 
 was too fmall for them. The fucceeding day the Gene- 
 ral again mentioned to Mr. Sharp his fon’s accident ; he 
 informed him, that part of the fpear was broken in his 
 foot, and could not be extrafted; requefting that he 
 would go down to Pelew, to fee if it was poffible to 
 draw it out. Mr. Sharp underftanding that the young 
 man’s foot was greatly fwelled, and had been fomented, 
 wifhed that the fomentation might be continued, as the 
 beft means to abate the fweUing; acquainting the Ge- 
 neral, that having three of their beft men very ill, it 
 would be out of his power to accompany him that day 
 to Pelew, but as foon as they were better, he would 
 immediately attend him. 
 
 Mr. Sharp inquired of fame of our people who had 
 been in the battle, by what means the youth had receiv- 
 ed this wound; and learnt that the fpear having been 
 flung into his foot, by trjdng to pull it out, they had 
 broken it ftiort off ; that the natives then applied a cord, 
 faftened to the end of the fpear which remained in his foot, 
 
 ' and 
 
 pofmg it would difpleafe the EngUfi, though in reality they never 
 thcnifelves had the fmalleft reafon to fuppofe fuch a wilh in the 
 King; and from the low cunning they found this Malay guilty 
 of, they readily gave him credit for a contrivance to make the 
 King and our people mutually jealous of each other ; and there 
 ■was caufe to believe he was under difgrace on account of tiu» 
 tjanTjclioc, as he was no; Yihble for many days after. 
 
104 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 and had exerted great ftrength to extraifl it, but the 
 barb of the fpear having been forced between the fmali 
 bones, the inflammation and fwelling, which immediate- 
 ly took place, rendered every effort ineffedfu^ ; and they 
 would more.ealily, in the ftate the limb was, have pulled 
 off his foot than have drawn oat the fraftured ipear. 
 A native, reputed to be fldlled in thefe matters, was 
 then fummoned to infpeft tlrs wound; who, with a fmall 
 knife, which he had got from the wreck, began to cut 
 away the flefh, in order to lay the bone bare ; but being 
 probably prevented finifhing the operation, from the ef- 
 fullon of blood, after mangling the foot, they reforted 
 to their accuftomed method of fomentation, which they 
 were puvfuing (as the General faid) when he left Pelew, 
 About noon Raa Kook went from Oroolong, taking with 
 him the following men, and alfo the fwivel-gun, for the 
 third expedition, viz. Mr. Cummin, Mr. M. Wilfon, 
 John Blanch the gunner, John Moal, James Swift, 
 Nicholas Tyacke, Madan Blanchard, P homos Whitejield, 
 Thomas Wilfon, and Thomas Dulton. Mr. Devis accom- 
 panied them as a volunteer. — This expedition appeared 
 to be of great confequence, as all the neighbouring Ru- 
 packs were this time to attend the King; whereas on the 
 two former expeditions he had none but his own fubjefts 
 with him, except the Englijb. 
 
 September 30. The veflel was now fo far advanced, that 
 having planked her up aslrlgh asthebends,in theafternoon- 
 they began to trench under her bottom, in order to plank 
 to the keel; this had like to have been deftruftive to all 
 their labors, for the tide, in the beginning of the night, 
 rifing higher than ufual, broke into the trench, and had 
 nearly wafhed away the blocks from under the veflel j 
 but the accident was providentially difcovered in time, 
 and all hands inftantly went to work, with the utmoft 
 expedition, to fill up the trench, and fecure the veflel 
 from falling off the flocks, which kept them employed 
 until near morning, when they found the danger far 
 greater than what even they had fuppofed, for fome of 
 the blocks having been difplaced by the water, they were 
 obliged to get wedges aud fet her up, in order to reln- 
 
 ftate 
 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. lo^ 
 ftate them, and get her once more fecured; which being 
 accompliihed, they contrived a bank or dam to keep 
 out the tide. This accident was the more unlucky, aa 
 three of their beil workmen were then ill, which, with 
 the abfcnce of thofe gone to the war. ma<^ the labor 
 fall heavier on tlie reft. — It may not be nnnecefTary, 
 perhaps, to give an account how this bank, to keep out 
 the tide, was formed. — The pinnace was laid a-ground, 
 diredfly before the veftel, where they wilhed to liop the 
 tide ; two holes were bored in her bottom, and ftie was 
 filled with ftones, in order to fink her ; at about a foot 
 diftance oppofite the pinnace, was raifed a dry wall of 
 large ftones, which was carried round each fide of the 
 velTel beyond high-water mark; it was lined on the in- 
 fide witli fmall branches and twigs, faftencd with flakes 
 and ftones, to prevent their waftiing away ; fund was 
 then thrown on thefe branches, which, all together, 
 compofed a bank of four or five feet thick; and was 
 continued quite round the infide of the wall, and before 
 the pinnace it was made ftrongeft, as having the greateft 
 weight of water to relift. When finilhed, it effedtually 
 kept out the tide, and required no further trouble, thaa 
 occafionally to throw a few balkets of fand upon fuch. 
 parts of the wall as fettled by the walh of the tide. 
 By thefe various employments, it was not till Thurfday, 
 the fecond, in the afternoon, that they could get their 
 dam completed. In a manner to be perfe6Uy fecure ; 
 this accomplKhed, they again dug the trench, and the 
 carpenter got one of the planks of the garboard ftrake 
 on. The jolly-boat, being fitted with fails, was fent 
 to Peleiu for provifions ; and, the three fick men, being 
 much recovered, the Captain defired Mr. Sharp to take 
 his Inftruments, and go in her, to fee if he could ren- 
 der any fervice to Raa Kooh's fon. 
 
 In the abfence of fo many people, the bufinefs of the 
 dock-yard was much impeded ; it was neverthelefs fol- 
 lowed up with every poffible diligence by the kv/ Ei:g- 
 lyhmen remaining at Orcolong, who, befide the fick, were 
 only twelve in all; the Chinefs were employed in repair- 
 
A ACCOUNT OF 
 
 TB" the hank, bringing down timber from the wood?, 
 and fuch otlicr ufefiil work as they were capable of. 
 
 Oftober 3 . The weather was Very variable about this 
 time, with much lightning from the eaftward, accom- 
 panied wit^frcq|jent fqualls and hard rain. 
 
 Since tHvkfl new moon, the tides were obfcrved yy 
 be remarkably Jii^h.*, • The morning Odes were very low, 
 and ebbed very little; whereas the evening 
 high, and ebbed a long way out, leaving the narbour 
 quite dry. 
 
 Odlober 6 . 1 he day opened dark and gloomy, with 
 
 much thunder, lightning, and continued rain, fo that 
 they could not go out of the tents to work before noon. 
 They were very uneafy on account of the jolly-boat be- 
 ing abfent fo much longer than they expedfed, as alfo 
 at not hearing of the fuccefs of the expedition ; but 
 were relieved from their anxiety about one o’clock, by 
 the arrival of the jolly-boat, which had left Pelew on 
 Saturday morning, having been detained by the bad 
 weather at the fmall ifiandtill this morning, from whence 
 they came away at day-light ; they brought the wel- 
 come intelligence, that all our people were well at P(- 
 Liv, Jiaviim returned from the expedition on the Wed- 
 nefday nightj^ieceding, in which they proved fuccefsful. 
 They reported, tfejs to have been tlie fevereft aftion of 
 any yet.foii^ht, near fix hours; the people of 
 
 yirtingcill, acting ft he defenfive, behaved with great 
 refolutibn. Thc king detained our people, and the Ru- 
 pachs who accompanied him on the expedition, at Pek-jj, 
 in order to entertain them with feafling and dancing ; 
 and fent in the boat fome yarns and provifion, as alfo 
 the fwivel, which they reported had done much execu- 
 tion. Abba Phulbe returned by Mr. Sharp the fhip’s cop- 
 pers; this rvas indeed a great acquifition to our people, 
 who were in great want of them to boil their provifiom, 
 having hitherto been obliged to drefs it in fome little 
 kettles and faucepans, and defpaired of ever regaining 
 the coppers, which had been cai vied away by the na- 
 tives at their firft vifiting^flig wreck. Complaint of their 
 want of them had been made to Raa KooL and h^ 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 107 
 
 I no doubt, acquainted the King therewith, w’lo'^ave 
 orders for diligent inquiry to be made aftei: them, -and, 
 difeovering where they were fecreted, had now returned 
 them to the Engli/Io by the jolly-boat ; — eviucing tjjis, as 
 well as by every other part of his conduct, tl*%generofity 
 of.his difpofjtiWn, not allowing his peoplf to detain from 
 I cur countrymen any thing that had +>ee»i once thelr^pro- 
 I perty, however valuable it might bp iii the eftimation of 
 the natives. 
 
 Mr. Sharp gave the following account of his vlfit to 
 Peletu: — That he got there about noon on the day he 
 left Oroolong, and landing, went Immediately towards 
 the General’s houfe, who feeing him, carae out to meet 
 him with a vifible concern on his countenance. Mr. 
 Sharp immediately told him the purport of his vifif. 
 Clewing him the inftruments he had brought, which he 
 told him he hoped might be of much afliftance to, his 
 fon’s complaint; he bowed, and alTumed a more placid 
 ■ look, as if fenfibly touched with this mark of attention. 
 He defired Mr. Sharp to follow him, and led' him to 
 the Engiyb houfe, around which he met all his country- 
 men, and where was alfo the King, the Chief 'Minfler^ 
 together with feveral of the Rupacks, fitting on the laige 
 pavement before the houfe allotted to our people. He 
 went direftly to pay his refpedts to the King and the 
 Rupacks. The purpofe of Mr. Sharp's coming being’ 
 known, he was informed by the Chief Minijler, that 
 during the time Raa Kook was at Oroolong, tTie fomenta- 
 tion had occafioned the fwelling to fubfide, and that 
 tliey had extradted the fpear from the bottom of the 
 foot, by forcing it through; and that the youih (wlo 
 was about eighteen, and inherited all the fpirit and in* 
 trepidity of the father) finding that though he con’d 
 not walk, yet that he was able to Hand up in a canoe, 
 and throw a fpear, infifted that he would go on this, 
 expedition, which they expedted would be fuccefsful, 
 from the circumflance of their having the fwlvel, whit h 
 •they had before fo much fet their hearts on ; but that veiy 
 ■early in the engagement, this gallant youth, eagerly endea- 
 vouring to get up clofe to the. Ihore, received a dart in 
 ^ his 
 
to8 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 his body, which entering between the throat and clavicle, 
 he dropped and died inftantly. 
 
 After Mr. Sharp, and thofe who came with him, had 
 partook of feme refrefhment, which was brought out 
 for them, Raa Kook, who was now returned, came up to 
 Mr. Sharp and the boatfwain, who was a favorite of his, 
 and defired they would follow him, which they did to 
 the water-lide, wheie they faw a very large canoe, with 
 only two in it. He then informed them, he waited for 
 fome people, whom he expefted to have found there. 
 Soon after twenty-one Rupacks appeared, who were en- 
 tire ftrangers to Mr. Sharp, but who had alTifted yibba 
 Thulle in his laft expedition ; Raa Kook defired Mr. Sharp 
 and the boatfwain to go into the canoe firll, and a good 
 deal of ceremony pafled among the Rupacks, to fettle 
 who ftiould go in the laft. — No kind of intimation was 
 given w'hither they were going, however it was foon 
 perceived that they were direfting their courfe to the 
 little ifland oppofite to Peleiu, about three or four miles 
 diftant from it, and where they had ftopped when they 
 firft accompanied the General from Oroalong. On land- 
 ing, he took them a little way up the country, where 
 there was a fquare pavement, furrounded by four or five 
 houfes, whidi appeared to be uninhabited, as no peo- 
 ple were moving about, and the grafs was growing be- 
 tween the ftones of the pavement. After being feated, 
 Raa Kook defpatched one of his attendants on a meffage, 
 Mr. Sharp and the boatfwain remaining ftrangers to the 
 purport of this invitation. — Our Surgeon, who had be- 
 fore ftiewn his watch to Raa Kook, and fully explained to 
 him its utility and defign, perceiving they were all very 
 filent and grave, and recolle£ling how much this little 
 •machine had entertained the General’s curiofity, pulled 
 it out again, and put it into his hands, that he might 
 fhew it to the Rupacks, and communicate to them how 
 exaftly the Englt/h were able, by it, to meafure the di- 
 vlfion and lapfe of time ; they appeared to be all won- 
 derfully aftonilhed at the account he gave them of its 
 ufe and power, and not a little at hearing it tick. — It 
 was near an hour bcfole the meffenger rqtumed, when 
 
the P E L E W islands. IC9 
 
 the General conducted them to the town, which was 
 about half a mile diftant; they arrived at another fquai e 
 pavement, furrounded by a number of houfes; in the 
 middle of this fquare were quantities of yams and co- 
 coa-nuts, in piles, w'ith fweet drink and fliaibet; and 
 on the outfide of the pavement was feated a great con- 
 courfe of people of both fexes. On Raa Kooh and the 
 Rupach appearing, they all refpecVfully rofe \ip. The 
 General and his friends being feated, the attendants 
 ferved out the provifions,lirft to the General and his guefts, 
 and then to the people who were placed round. It v/as 
 obferved, that all the women who were in the crowd at 
 the General’s arrival, as foon as the refrclhments were 
 handed about, withdrew; and, wliat was very remarka- 
 ble, all the cocoa-nuts which were brought on this oc- 
 cahon, were old nuts, whereas it had never been ufual 
 at other entertainments to fee any but young ones; how- 
 ever they took aw'ay the old ones which were placed 
 before the Engltjh, and fet young ones in their room. 
 
 When this repaft, -which was eaten in the moll pro- 
 found filence, was nearly ended, there was heard at fomc 
 diftance the lamentation of women ; Raa Kook touched 
 Mr. Sharp, who was fitting next to him, on the arm., 
 and without fpeaking, made figns to hin? with his hand 
 to go and fee what had occafioned this dillrcfs ; he and 
 the boatfwain both rofe up, and diredlly went to the 
 place whence thefe founds of forro-w feemed to proceed, 
 when they perceived a great number of women follow- 
 ing a dead body, which was tied up in a mat, and laid 
 on a kind of bier formed of bamboos, in fhape not un- 
 like a chairman’s horfe, and fupported on the Ihoulders 
 of four men, no other males but the bearers attendintr. 
 Mr. Sharp and his companion were now perfefUv fatis- 
 ficd that this muit be the funeral of Raa Kook's fon, 
 yet were much puzzled to know why it liad been co.n- 
 dudfed fo filently, and that not a wVud or hint had been 
 mentioned to them on the matter; whether it was from 
 that determined fimuiefs of mind which was armed againlt 
 human weaknefs, or from w'hatever other motive, re- 
 mained then, and Itill mull lemain, uncertain. — They 
 ^ K arrived 
 
no AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 arrived at the. place of burial juft as the people were 
 fetting down the bier, and laying the body in the grave 
 prepared for it. — The corpfe was depofited without any 
 ceremony ; the men who had carried it began immedi- 
 ately, with their hands and feet, to throw the earth over 
 it and fill up the grave, whilft the women knelt down, 
 aiM with loud cries feemed as if they would tear it up 
 again, unwilling to be deprived of the laft fight of a 
 loved objedl, which death had fnatched from them. — A 
 heavy rain coming on, drove fome of the people away, 
 as it did our two countrymen, to the firft Ihelter they 
 could obtain. 
 
 When it cleared up they returned to Raa Kooh and 
 the Rupach, who had alfo fiieltered themfelves from the 
 weather. The evening advancing, and proving tem- 
 pdluous, they could not return to Pekiv. — Mr. Sharp 
 and his companion, with fome of the Rupacks, flept at 
 the General’s houfe ; the remainder of the company were 
 provided for in other contiguous buildings. 
 
 Previous to their departure, the next morning, for the 
 King’s ifland, Raa Kook took Mr. Sharp and the boat- 
 fwain to a houfe not far diftant from the place where 
 his fon had been interred the preceding evening; there 
 was only an olfi woman in the houfe when they went 
 in, who, on receiving fome order from the General, 
 immediately difappeared, and foon after returned with 
 tw'o old coco;|-nuts, and a bundle of beetle-nut with the 
 leaves ; (he alfo brought fome red ochre. — He took up one 
 of the cocoa-nuts, eroffing it with the ochre tranfverfe- 
 ly; then placed it on the ground by his fide. -After 
 fitting very penfive, he repeated fomething to himfelf, 
 which our people conceived was a kind of prayer, as he 
 appeared a good deal agitated ; be then did the fame 
 thing by the fecond cocoa-nut, and afterwards croffed 
 the bunch of beetle-nut, and lat penfively over it; this 
 done, he called the old woman and delivered her the 
 two nuts, and the bundle of beetle-nut, accompani- 
 ed with fome diredlions. — Mr. Sharp and his compani- 
 on, obferving her go towards the young man s grave, 
 their curiofity would have induced them to follow her, 
 
 w in 
 
the PELEW islands. irr 
 
 in order to have obferved tlie concliifion of this cere- 
 mony ; but peculiarly circumllanced as the diftrefled fa- 
 ther then was, they felt an unwillingnefs to trefpafs on 
 his feelings, b^' tcRifying any defire after further infor- 
 mation. 
 
 At their returp to Pelew, their countrymen much 
 wondered what had occafioned their abfence, of whiffk 
 being informed, they in return related that they had al- 
 ■fo been witneffes of the funeral of another young man, 
 who had fallen in the laft battle. — But this we need not 
 notice here, referring it to that part of the work which 
 will dderibe the manners and cuftoms of P.L'w. 
 
 The General conducted Mr. Sharp to the King, who 
 was then feated in the fquare, and wlio defired to fee 
 the inftruments which he liad brought with liim, in the 
 kind intention to have aflilled his deceafed nephew; our 
 Surgeon fent for them to Raa Kook's houfe, in whofe 
 care they had been depofited; they were foon produced, 
 and Mr. Sharp, by the interpreter, explained to him fe- 
 parately the ufe of every initrument. The furprife a.nd- 
 pleafure the fight afforded Abba Phulle was fo great, that 
 he begged Mr. Sharp would go with him, juft by, to 
 where feveral Rupacis were lodged (who were come t > 
 pafs a few days with him on account of his late fuccefs) 
 that they might alfo be indulged with a view of thefe in- 
 ftruments. A full explanation of the di.fier^nt purpofto. 
 to which they were applicable, was again given to thefe 
 Chiefs, in whom it certainly produced great amazement. 
 They examined the knives, and faws for amputation, witii 
 wonder ; and probably had their imaginations half overfet 
 by the ideas, which all thefe objects, fo netv and fo fin- 
 gular, muft have ftarted in tlieir minds. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
lis. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 CHAPTER XV. * 
 
 The Men -Mho had been on the third Expedition to Artingall ' 
 return — an Accmint of it given. — Captain Wilfon invited'- 
 by the King to vifit the Rupacks, ivho had attended as 
 Allies in the lajl Battle. — Accompanies the King and his ’■ 
 Brother to fame JJlands to the Northvuard, ’where there, ■ 
 'was much hejlivity on the Occafion. — Is received <wiih, '• 
 great Hofpitality, and after fve Days Ahjence returns 
 to Oroolong. 
 
 Oft. A BOUT eleven o’clock in the forenoon all 
 7* JL\- the warriors returned to Oroolong, perfeftly 
 
 weH, in high fpirits, and greatly pleafed with the treat- 
 nrbfit they had received from their Peh'w friends . — Raa 
 Keck axcompanied them, with four canoes, bringing fome 
 yams, and two jars of molaffes. 
 
 With refpeft to the third expedition, I (hall purfue 
 the fame method as I did in the defeription of the fe- 
 cond battle of Artingall, and deliver the particulars of it 
 as I myftlf received them from Mr. M. Wilfon, who was 
 prefent at it, and which particulars were fully confirmed 
 by every report of the tranfaftion to the Captain. 
 
 “ The outfet of this bufinefs was neaily the fame as, 
 in the fecond expedition, though the number of ca-i 
 noes far exceeded thofe which accompanied the' 
 King before. — When we got to Artingall no canoes'j 
 were feen, though the ufual previous notice had been 
 fent of our coming to attack them. — The Pelew' 
 people being unable to provoke the appearance of the 
 enemy, landed, and went a little way up from the 
 fea-fhore. Raa Kook now took the command, and 
 coudufted the troops; the King remaining in his 
 canoe, occafionally defpatching the Frigate canoes vvuh 
 orders to him and Airra Kooicr . — We we*e entreated 
 not to land; we- however, perceiving that the enemy 
 
 ‘‘ werev 
 
 i 
 
THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 113 
 
 were beginning to defend tliemfelveS) junsped on 
 “ (bore to alfiil our friends, and befieged fome houfes 
 “ pofl'eiTed by the enemy. — The fwivel, which had been 
 “ lixed in a canoe which the natives had prepared for 
 “ the piirpofe, w-ith great ingenuity and judgment, 
 “ played conftantly on the houfes which were filled with 
 “ people; our muflictry covering the Pekiv people, 
 “ foon dillodged the enemy, and one of the houfes was 
 “ by fome accident prefently in flames. — We were of- 
 “ ten greatly annoyed by the enemy, who ruflied down 
 “ on us with a fliower of fpears; in return, whenever 
 “ w’e perceived them coming, a brilk fire was kept up, 
 “ which not only difperfed them immediately, but in 
 “ all probability muft have killed a confiderable number 
 
 ‘‘ of them Arra Kaoker, who had gone further than any 
 
 “ other in purfuit of the enemy, afeending a hill in figot 
 “ of the canoes, and obferving one of the Art'in^cdl 
 “ people coming down, flept unnoticed amongft fomq, 
 ‘‘ bullies to let him pafs, and then purfuing him down 
 “ the declivity, ftimned him with a blow from his wood- 
 “ en fword,* and was dragging him a prlfoner to his 
 “ canoe, when Thomas Wilfon, feeing feveral of the ene- 
 “ my rufhing down on Arra Kooker, and that he mufl. in- 
 “ eviiably have been killed, ran immediately to his af- 
 “ fiftance, and levelled his piece at the Artingall people, 
 “ which they perceiving, inftantly betook themfelves to 
 flight; this was a circumflance the more fortunate, as 
 “ Thomas IVilfon had expended his whole ftock of am- 
 “ munition in covering the landing, and had aClually at 
 “ the time no charge in his mufleet. 
 
 “ The natives of Artingall behaved with much cou- 
 “ rage in this engagement ; they defended the houCc 
 “ that took fire to the lall, nor quitted it till it was 
 “ ready to fall. — One of the Pclenv people on this occa- 
 “ fion diftinguilhed hlmfelf in a very extraordinary maa- 
 “ ner ; he ran to the houfe while it was in flames, tore 
 “ off a burning brand, and carr^'ing it to another houfe, 
 where many pf the enemy had taken flicker, fet it 
 • K 2 “ on 
 
 * The fame fort of weapon was prefented to Captain V/.lJui 
 ■i^mvngu 
 
1 14 ' AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 “.^11‘ifirtr, and (the materials of their buildings being 
 “ very corr.buflible) it was quickly burnt dpwn •; the 
 “ man, after accoinplifliing this bold atchievment, had 
 “ the' good fortune to return to his companions unhurt ; 
 “ the King publicly rewarded him for his courage,, by 
 immediately placing with his om’u hands a firing qf 
 “ beads in liis ear, and making him aftenvards an infe- 
 “ fior Rupach on his return to Pelenv. 
 
 “ In this action five canoes were defiroyed, which the 
 “ enemy had hauled cn fiiorc, and alfo their wharf or 
 “ caufeway, which was much longer and broader than 
 “ that at Pileiu. Befde doing much other damage to 
 “ the enemy, they brought away the fione on which 
 “ the King of jirtingall fits when in council ; this af- 
 “ forded cccafion for great rejoicing when they got 
 back, but were not fo truly felt as after the fecond 
 “ battle, the triumph of the day being overclouded by 
 “ the death of Raa KooP* fon, and another youth of 
 '‘ note, both killed in this engagement, as alfo from 
 “ having thirty or forty of their people wounded, feve- 
 “ ral of whom died in confequcnce thereof, in a few 
 “ davs after their return to PchivP*' 
 
 Oftober 8 . This morning Mr. Barher unfortunate- 
 ly fell backward from one of the fiages, and was much 
 hurt. — Our men being now employed about the veffel, 
 and Raa Kook waiting with two canoes at Oroolovg, Cap- 
 tain Wiljtn went, by the particular defire of the King, 
 to pay a vifit to the Rupacis whojittended him on the 
 lail expedition. The Captain was accompanied by his 
 fen Henry JVilfen, Thomas Dulton liis fervant, and the 
 linguift.— After they had got out of the harbour they 
 waited fome time for the canoes, which had been fifiiing. 
 — ^The General fent a turtle and fome fifh to the tents, 
 and took the reft to Peh'w, where they arrived about 
 ten o’clock at night j the King had been gone an hour 
 before to the great ifland called Emungs, where tliele 
 Ripachs lived, but had left his eldcft fon, Bill, to re- 
 ceive 
 
 * The errrying off the regal fione from Art'ugill might add as 
 truth irraginary glory to the day as our firfl Ldtuard's bringing’ 
 to V/ef,nPjler the uiaugwalion ftcEC of the SstUond. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. iiy 
 
 celve Captain IVilfon and go forward with nTm.— 
 AToo^aflced the Captain if he liked to follow hi|^broth^; 
 but he declined going any further till morning, feeling- 
 liimfelf indifpofcd. 
 
 About feven o’clock the next morning they embark- 
 ed in Raa Kook's canoe ; the General was accoinp^niecV 
 by tw’O of his wives, having eleven men to paddle, 
 taking with them provifion for the day ; they went tei 
 the northward about ten or twelve leagues, and about 
 noon were off the mouth of a rivulet that ran up into 
 the Idand of Emungs, where Abba ‘Thitlle then was . — Ract 
 Kook here ornamented his canoe with fneUs, and founded 
 
 his conch to give notice of his arrival. 
 
 This rivulet was both narrow and fliallow, its fidcs 
 full of mangrove trees, which in fevei-al places were cut 
 away to m^c a free paffage for the canoes to pafs up 
 and down. — In their paffage to get into the rivulet or 
 creek, they were frequently in danger of being a-ground, 
 which the natives feemed much to fear, on account of 
 the fharp coral-llones upon the banks ; it was neceffaiy 
 for them to keep a good look-out, as they had fre- 
 quently fudden tranfitions from deep to fliallow water. 
 — After advancing near a mile up this creek (through 
 part of which, it being low-water, the boatmen were 
 obliged to get out and track the canoe) they came in 
 fight of feme houfes ; the conch-fliell was again founded, 
 when three or f<JUr young menappeared, butreturned back 
 immediately, as if furprifed ; Raa Kooky on feeing this, 
 •ordered two of his men to go up to the houfes, who re- 
 turned with a piece of board, on which they feated'. 
 Captain Wilfony and four of the men took him on fliore, 
 Raa Kook walking by,his fide^the canoe being a-ground. 
 The bank of the river was by this time crowded with the „ 
 natives ; through this throng they were conduced to a 
 large houfe, where the novelty of feeing men of a dif- 
 ferent color to themfelves, had drawn together a frefli 
 concourfe of people, whofe curiofity was Hill mors 
 raffed by what they had heard of them in the late 
 different expeditions. — The Captain and his companions 
 Hayed at tlus place about half an hour, to reft them- 
 

 AJJ ACCOUNT Ot» 
 
 . felves, and gratify the natives, who appeared exceedPrig- 
 ly defir^s to touch them ; they then walked ahOut a 
 quarter of a anile .further, where ^l>5a ThuUe with the 
 Rupacks were expefting their arrival. — They found the 
 King and the Chiefs in a large houfe or public building ; 
 » the former made figns to Captain Wiljon to fit down.— 
 They remained there about two hours, and then went 
 ^ to vifit the Rupack of the town, who was a very old 
 man and unable to walk — ^being aecompanied by Raa 
 Kook, who introduced them. A kind of ftool or low 
 table covered with boiled yams, a tub of fweet drink, 
 and a fiih were fet before them. — ^They tailed them, 
 and remained about half an hour with the old Rupack, 
 and returned to the great houfe, whither the provifions 
 were fent after them. — About five o’clock in the even- 
 ing a dancing began, after the manner of the country, at 
 each end of the outfide of the great houfe, and another at 
 a houfe a Uttle diftant, where anotherlarge company were 
 with Arra Kooker and the King’s eldeft fon, BUI . — 
 Supper was ferved by two butlers. It was obferved, in the 
 houfe were Abba ThuUe was, that though an allotted 
 fiiare, or portion of the entertainment was ferved to; 
 each Rupack, his family and guefts, yet none of them 
 touched a bit till the King gave the word to eat ; nei- 
 ther did they at night lie down to fleep until he was co- 
 vered with his mat. ‘ • 
 
 The dancing continued the whole^WIlf, with fing— 
 ing, the women joining in both, which altogether made 
 . a terrible noife ; and our people having only rough, un-, 
 ( . eyep boards to fleep. on, with a boat-cloak fpread un- 
 der’ them, and a jack -ior a coverlid, they may be ra- 
 ther faid to haV^ Iaih doWhithan^fted. — Thefe diverfi-J 
 ons did riot ceafe till ten o’clock the next morning, and 
 '..at three In the afternoon were renewed for an hour ^ 
 when two parties of the natives oame from a wood that. 
 Tfvgs clo”fe to the town, and ruihing out by 'different ways, 
 r^Vefented to the fpeftators a mock fight ; after which, 
 they joined in one band, and began a kind of dance, 
 with their fpears in their hands; during which fpur large 
 ^;fpears vzers brought and prefented to Captain IFU/dti, by 
 
 the 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. ,‘117 
 
 the Chief of the band, one at a time, = . 
 
 (ho^ fpeech at the delivery of each of thSm, and then 
 returned to join the dance ; he alfo prefented^the Caj)- 
 tain with a fword, made of very hard wood, and cuu- 
 oufly inlaid with Ihell. — This dance lafted about an ^ 
 hour ; when it was ended. Captain JVilfon inquired of 
 the linguill the meaning of fome human {hulls he faw 
 placed over the outllde of the doors at the ends of the 
 great houfe ; he dircftly went and afleed Raa Kool, who 
 gave him the following account : — That the Rupacks 
 and principal men of Emungs having gone, on fome par- 
 ticular occaiion to another ifland, taking with them a 
 confiderable number of the inhabitants, a party of the 
 Artingall people landed at their town, and killing many 
 who could not efcape into the woods, fet their houfes 
 ,on fire; the news of which being brought to Abba 
 Thulle, he immediately alfembled hi» canoes and wani- 
 ors, and went ancHtttSCked them before they had quitted 
 the place ; that being fo unexpeftedly befet, many 
 were killed, and the reft fled, fome in their canoes, and 
 others into the w'oods; that the Rupacks and people 
 of Emungs returning at this junilure, few of the Ar- 
 Ungall people efcaped ; and that thofe w'ere the heads 
 of fome of the Chiefs. — This alfair appeared not to 
 have happened very long before, as the materials of the 
 houfe»Vhi^h had been deftroyed, looked ftill rather 
 .frefh, nor ^yre overgrown with weeds at that time.— 
 In the eveniiTg they renewed their merriment, which 
 continued till midnight, when they went to reft. 
 
 Odlober II.’ The morning was ufltered in with new 
 dances. After breakfaft there was much heavy rain, 
 with thunder and li^htning^ in the afternoon .the wea- 
 ther clearing, the old Rupack of the place came down 
 to the raifed fquare pavement, which was at one end;,^ 
 the great houfe where our people were he was brousil 
 on a board" flung with a rope at each end, and ea^ejj 
 by four men. — After he was feated, a meffenger-citne 
 and fpoke to Abba ThuUe, who Immediately faid fchie- 
 . thing to the Rupacks in the great houfe, and they all 
 went out on the pavement, and feated themfelves with 
 
 much 
 
iiS anaCcounxof 
 
 • 
 
 much mefpect ; Abba Thtdle alfo quitted the houfe, leav. 
 ing nonejDUt the Englipi in it ; yet did not go to th# old 
 Rupack, or take any notice of the ceremony carrying 
 on, but fat down under a tree, where he could not be 
 obferved, and amufed himfelf in making the handle of 
 a hatchet. — After fome time fpent in converfation, the 
 old Rupach diftrifcmted beads to the other Rupacks, in the 
 following manner: — The old Rupack gave them to an 
 officer in w'aiting, who advancing into the middle of the 
 fquare, and holding them up between his fore-finger 
 and thumb, made a (hort fpeech, and with a loud voice 
 called out the perfon’s name for whom they were de- 
 ligned, and immediately i-an and gave them to him, and 
 then returned in a flow pace to the old Rupack for the 
 next, which was prefentcd in the fame manner. — Cap- 
 tain Wilfon remained in the houfe obfernng the cere- 
 m.ony, till the linguift was fent to him, v/hen he went 
 out, and was direfted to a feat near his friend Raa Kookf 
 andvfoon after two toi toife-fliell fpoons, and a firing of 
 red Heads, which were made from a coarfe fpccics of 
 cornelian, were brought forward, which the before men- 
 tioned officer holding up, called out Englees, and inftant- 
 ly ran and prefented them to the Captain. — Abba T hulk's 
 beads, which were of glafs,* were given to Raa Kook^ 
 who perfonated the King on this oecafion. , ^ 
 
 There certainly appears, from w'hat has been fhid, to 
 have been fome etiquette, not properly \ihderftood by 
 ouj^ people, in Abba ThuUe' s retiring whilft. the old Ru- 
 pack was diftributing his favors. — There was reafon to 
 fuppofe, that if their rank was the fame, yet the cere- 
 monials of their perfonal interview might not be fufficl- 
 ently fettled, fo as to admit of thiyr meeting on terms 
 of equal dignity on both fides. Therefore the King of 
 
 Peleia, 
 
 § * The heads firll; fpoken of were of their own making, being 
 a kind of colored earth baked : they made them alfo at Peltz>>, 
 but our people had never any opportunity of feeing how they werj 
 nianufataurcd. — They alfo confidered as beads the glafs ones laA 
 mentioned, being only bits of broken glafs, which they had tl'c 
 art of drilling; fome beads they faw of this hind were made 
 green and white glafs, being fmall pieces of broken bottles whi 'h 
 bad been got out of the Antehfe, 
 
the PE lew islands. 119 
 
 Pehnj, though aftually prefent, was only prefumed to 
 be fcfin the perfon of his brother the General; who, 
 as appears before, anfwered for him, and in his name 
 received that teftimony of refpedl with which one fove* 
 reign was pleafed to greet another. When the old Ru- 
 pack had diftributed all his favors, a general converfation 
 took place among the Chiefs, which continued for about 
 an hour ; after which the old Chief was put on his board, 
 and carried back in the fame manner he had been brought 
 to the fquare. Fiih, yams, and other refrefliments were 
 then given to the attendants of Jlbba Thulle and the 
 other Rupach. — The evening was paffed in the great 
 houfe, as before. 
 
 Oftober 12. In confeque'ncc of Captain Wtlfon hav- 
 ing requefted to return to Oroolong, the conch-fhcll was 
 founded at day-light, and the canoes got in readinefs 
 for departure. At eight o’clock they all went to the 
 houfe where they firft landed, and here, before they em- 
 barked, Raa Kook expreffed a wifh to fire a mulltet j 
 but having no idea of the Ihock it would occafion, and 
 holding it loofe, it llruck his /houlder with fuch force 
 as threw him backwards, and it fell from bis hands. He 
 expreffed much furprife that the -Engli/h could do this 
 with fo much eafe, and that he was neither able to Hand, 
 or hold it when fired. They now went on board, and 
 fell down the creek, it being near high-water. After 
 they had got to the outlet of the creek, one of the Ru~ 
 
 \ packs, who was going to the northward, where he lived, 
 parted company, carrying away in his fuite eight or 
 ; nine canoes. This Rupach, whofe name was Maath, had 
 two Bones on his arm. Captain Wtlfon had given Abba 
 Thulle the fpaniel dog, which the King had with him 
 at this time. When they were out of the creek, and 
 Maath was taking leave, Abba Thulle delivered to him 
 the dog, and alfo the fcarlet coat; but they were af- 
 terwards returned to him, as our people faw him wear 
 the coat when he went againft Peleleiv, and faw the dog 
 frequently afterwards at Peleav; which fatisfied them 
 that they were only lent to Maath to take to his illand, 
 that he might fhew them to his own people, Captain; 
 
 Wilfc3 
 
120 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 IVilJon having declined going to vifit them, though 
 ilrongly folicited, excufing himfelf on account of the 
 long time It would occafion his being abfent from Oreo- 
 hng. — Alla Thulle and his train, which confifted of about 
 forty canoes, returned to the fouthward. About ten 
 o’clock they were overtaken by a violent fquall of wind, 
 with much thunder, lightning, and rain, which obliged 
 every canoe to fhift for itfelf ; the boatmen, in that ca- 
 noe where the Captain was, jumped overboard, to avoid 
 being wetted w'ith the rain,* holding by the canoe with 
 one arm, and keeping it as it w ere at an anchor ; but 
 finding the rain continue after the thunder had ceafed, 
 they made for the (hore, which having reached, the 
 • boatmen very cxpeditioudy ^indled a fire, by rubbing 
 two pieces of wood together. The Captain remarked, 
 that at each flafh of lightning Raa Kook’s two wives, 
 who were in the fame canoe with him,’fiieltered under 
 his boat-cloak, muttered fomething that feemed to be a 
 prayer or ejaculation ; Raa Kook covered himfelf with 
 his mat. About noon the w'cather cleared up, and they 
 joined the King, who gave our people boiled fifh for 
 dinner, fomewhat refembling mullet. About one o’clock 
 all landed ; and the King and his retinue, wnth our peo- 
 ple, walked up the country about a mile, to a town 
 called Aramalorgoo, where was exhibited a dance of fpear- 
 men ; after which the ufual fort of refrefhments were 
 ferved to the company. They then returned to their ca- 
 noes, and came to a place called Emillegue, which ap- 
 peared to be a diftinft government, as a formal invitati- 
 on came off from the Rupack, or Chief of that ifland, 
 to folicit the company to land. It was a large town, 
 fituated about a mile from the fea-lhore. The Rupack 
 was a fat, good-looking, friendly, old man ; and, by 
 every mark of external refpeft paid to him, feemed to 
 be a perfon of confiderable confequence. 
 
 Our 
 
 * Notwithftancling the natives bathed daily in frelh water, yet 
 they all appeared to have a great diilike at being wetted by rain ; 
 ir is probable the fpattenng of it on their naked bt-dies might 
 tpeate an unpleafant fenfation. ' 
 
the PE lew islands. 121 
 
 Our people conceived the idea, that fome etiquette 
 here alfo operated on the King of Pefew, as he would 
 iiot binifelt goon (hore, but frayed in his canoe, though 
 it was his wilh that all the reft of his company fliould 
 land. They were here entertained with a dance, and 
 treated with fome broiled pigeons. See. They alfo were 
 invited to, and moft kindly received at two or three pri- 
 vate houfes. It was night before they got back to the 
 canoes, and being dark, the people were fo hofpitable 
 that they would walk with them, and conduft them 
 in fafety to the water fide, bearing lighted torch.es in 
 their hands, and taking them by the arm whenever the 
 path was uneven err difficult. 
 
 About ten o’clock Captain fVil/o'n and kis party ar- . 
 rived at Pele<w; the King’s canoe not being come In, 
 no perfon offered to go on (hore, the feme was ob- 
 ferved by all the other canoes ; nor ttll the King went 
 on (hore was any thing removed from the boats. And 
 here I muft notice, that though thefeceremoniuls were ob- 
 ferved by all ranks to Alba ThuUe, even by his brothers 
 Raa Kook and Arra Kookcr, yet Captain JVUfon and 
 •the Engli/h were exempt from them ; and Raa Kook 
 gave them to underftand the Er.giyh might land when 
 they pleafed; but the Captain finding riiis was an efta- 
 hli(hed form, chofe to remain in the canoe, out of 
 refpeft to the King, and in compliment to the General. 
 — Our people flayed all night at the houfe by the 
 water-fide, Abba ThuUe remaining with them. A "coun- 
 cil was held, before they went to (Jeep, confiftinn- of 
 the King, his brothers, and the chief Eu^aeke who 
 had retuneed to Pelew; the purport of which was made 
 known next day at breakfaft, by Abba ThuHe's afein^ 
 the Captain if he would go with him once more to 
 battle? — who replied, that he muft confult his officers 
 and people at Oroclong^ before he could with proprie- 
 ty give an anfwer ; that when he left the iftand ma- 
 ny of them were fick, nor could he tell but that at 
 his return he might find others iii alfo; but (hould 
 that not be the 'Cafe, he would w^th pleafure comply 
 •L with 
 

 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 with hi's wirtics. The King then aflced, why the jolly- 
 Koat had never been once down at Pelenv for yams, 
 fince the time the Captain had been with him at l!he 
 idands ? Captain WUfon anfwered, that they had only 
 'One boat in ufe, the other "being funk at the head (k 
 ■the new vcflel, to make a bank to keep off the tide. 
 — The weather that had been fqually, being now clear- 
 ing, and the wind getting to the N. 'E. our people left 
 Pdcnu about eleven in the forenoon. They ftopped an 
 hour at the fmall ifland, and reached Oroolong about 
 ‘four in the afternoon ; Raa Kook returning with them. 
 
 On arriving Oroolong^ It was with great fatisfac- 
 tion they found Mr. Barker fo well recovered from his 
 accident as to be able to go about. The veffel alfo 
 was much forwarded, all her beams laid, and moll of 
 them fecured. — ^The General, ever attentive to the in- 
 tercft and fervice of our countrymen, fent back imme- 
 diately all the canoes (except his own. In whom he 
 could confide) that they might not pilfer, or be guilty 
 •cf any mifdemeanor. 
 
 -C.H AFTER 
 
the pelew islands. 
 
 123. 
 
 CHAPTER XVl. 
 
 Proceedings at Oroolong. — The Genet a! raf.ains ’’X'uh f.te 
 Englilh —/rUe/Zl^enee is brought to him that the People 
 of Artingall were come to fue for Peace^ 7 he King 
 arrives the next Day, and for thefirjl Time brings one^ 
 ef his Wrves, his favorite Daughter, and feveral op 
 their Female Attendants^ — He continues at tne Back (f 
 the Ifland three or four Days, during nvouh Time the 
 General, who went with him, was much indifpofed. 
 
 Mr. Sharp vifhs him, and relieves his Complaint. 
 
 The King, with Raa Kook atui his Retinue, return to 
 Pt\e\v.— He fends the Englifh fame Colors to paint their 
 V'effel. — Mr. Sharp goes to Ptrlew to inquire after Raa 
 Kook’s Health, whom he fuels getting well. 
 
 Ocl . ' I ■’ HE jolly-boat went this morning for water, 
 14. X but found the well'dry, there being feven ca- 
 noes already there. It was underftood from Tom Rofir 
 that they preceded the King, who was coming with' 
 men and boats to bring on fhore all the (hip’s guns. In 
 the courfe of the day our people got fome water, and a 
 fmatl canoe brought a few' fi(h, and a fine fca craw'-fi(h. 
 
 The cook having been very negligent in his bufinefs, 
 fpoiling often the rice, and being fufpeflied, in concert 
 with one of the China-men, his afiillant, of appropriat- 
 ing tothcmfelVes part of the very finall quantity of meat 
 they could afford to boil with it ; he was ordered to be 
 ptinifhed with a Cobbing. In confequence of the regula- 
 tions before mentioned to have been made aniongft them— 
 felves, this was carried by a majority. The Cobbing was 
 performed by (tripping him to the waifi, and tying his 
 liands againd a tree, to keep him extended; when one- 
 man, w'ith a thin, fiat piece of wood, like a battledore,, 
 impofed the number of (tripes he was ordered to re- 
 cede. The cook’s aflldant was alfo punifned in like' 
 
 manner 
 
124 an a c c o u n to? 
 
 manner; and another C.liaa-num for wounding ore of 
 his^ couiHrymen on the head with a fcoae. Raa K'joH\ 
 feeing thefe fellows tied up, appeared concerned, and 
 applied to Captain IV'Jfon to beg tl;cm off ; but the fafety 
 of this little community abfclutcly rt(^ilrc*d that regular- 
 ity and obedience fhould be prefer;ed ; and this was ful- 
 ly explained to the General, as an apology for his re- 
 quell not being complied with. Ke flood by, howe- 
 ver, whilll tlic punilhment was iofliclcd ; and not find- 
 ing it was of a ferious nature, feemed convinced our 
 people were right ; and when the Cl-ina-vun carae to re- 
 ceive the fame difeipline, they fet up fo lamentable a 
 cr}', that he was even diverted by their pufiUanimity. 
 
 This afternoon three canoes came to the watering- 
 placcj in one of which was a woman, the firft that had 
 been feen at Oroclovg by' the EngUJh; they aftciwardi 
 came round to the harbour, when the woman came oa 
 ihore ; who, after viewing the veiTel, went up to the 
 fn'iitli’s-ihop, and from thence to the cook’s habitation. 
 .\ftcr looking about with much attention, ibe came 
 back to the vefl'el ; which fhe again examined for a 
 few minutes, and then returned to her canoe. She was 
 not accompanied by any one of the men from the ca- 
 noes. Our people never could learn who fhc was, as 
 Raa Kook was gone off at that time to the wreck. She 
 appeared to ftep cautioufly, but uill was excited by her 
 curiofity to peep about every where. It was judged 
 they came from Emillgtie, no one recollecting any /'r- 
 ilfry countenance among tliem. The bottom of the vef- 
 fel was this day begun to be caulked, as alfo her deck 
 to be laid. 
 
 OCtober 1 6. The jolly-boat ftill continued her vifits 
 to the wreck, from whence fire generally brought 
 fomething that was of fervice. A canoe came into the 
 harbour with fifh, and a turtle of about two hundred 
 pounds weight. Raa Kook fent the turtle to the King, 
 but gave our people nipft of the filh. In the aftcnioou 
 a canoe carae from to notify to the General the 
 
 arrival of the ChUf lYEnijier of ^rtir.gaU at that place, 
 
THE PErL,EW ISLANDS. 125 
 who had brought with him offers of peace. Notice of 
 it was alfo fent to Captain IVilfon. 
 
 Raa Kook appeared much plcafed with the news, and 
 told the Captain that he fuppofed this was the reafoii 
 why his brother Ahha Thulle was not come up bciore, 
 but tiiat he would be at Oroofon^ the next day. — A ca- 
 noe wanting to enter the harbour in the night, the watch 
 fired to keep it off ; but it came in the next morning, 
 and brought feme fifh. The General gave our people 
 three, which fer\’ed eveiy one for a dinner, and was 
 * the faring of two hams ; the reft of the fifti being kept 
 
 I for the King, who arrived about ten o’clock in the har- 
 
 1 1 ^ bour, attended by nine canoes. With him came his 
 
 youngeft daughter, Erre and eight or nine women, 
 wiio, except the lingle woman juft before rnentioned, 
 were the firft who had vilited Oroolong. Before Alha. 
 Thulle came on fhore, the (General, who w'eiit out to 
 meet him, had given him an account of every thing that 
 I was going on. The King ordered a prefent of yams, 
 
 I cocoa-nuts, and fweetmeats, to be given to oiir people ; 
 
 I after which he landed. He led his daughter by tlie 
 
 ' hand cn fhore, who feemed to be about nine years of 
 
 age ; and of whom then, as well as on all future occafi- 
 ons, he feemed to be immoderately fond. The General 
 took care of all the other females, and fhewed them 
 about the cove. The King, after apologizing to Cap- 
 tain IV'tlJon for not having been able to come to Oroclong 
 earlier to thank him for his fervices, feemed impatient 
 to view the works carrying on. He took the Tackalbys, 
 cr artificers who came with him, to fee the veffel, and 
 appeared much delighted to obferve the form it liad 
 taken fince he had laft been on the Ifland, and wtis 
 quite aftonifhed at the conveniencies he found it bad. 
 Then going within the bairicade, he was attrafted by 
 the boys fpinning fpun-yarn, which much pleafed him. 
 His brother then took him into the Ch'ina-men' s tents, 
 
 I who were all employed in picking oakum. — Among the 
 t women whom Raa Kook conduced about the cove, . 
 there was one w'ho ftruck all our countrymen as being 
 fuperior in elegance and beauty, as well as in her grace- 
 L 2 fuL 
 
 I 
 
126 AN ACCOUNT OT 
 
 ful manner of walkrng, to any female they had noticed 
 at Pclew; fl>e was very young, and they could not help 
 making fome inquiries about her of the General, who 
 Informed them that fhe was one of the King’s wives, 
 and was callea Ludee; — this lady, as well as all her fi> 
 male companions, teftified that degree of furprife, which 
 the f nl light of our difterent works had excited in all 
 the other natives. 
 
 After they had amufed themfclves In feeing every 
 thing that was going fonvaid, a canvafs wai fpread in 
 the cove for the King, the General, and the ladies; 
 tne Captain entertained tlicm with li(li, and boiled rice 
 mixed with molafies to fvveeten It ; which never hav- 
 ing taRed before, they feemed to rclilh very much. 
 
 The King, in converlirig with the Captain, wanted to 
 know where he kept Ins powder, and how much he had ; 
 lie anfwesed, that the gunner, who had the care of it, 
 was ablent, bat when he came home in the evening be 
 would inquire. Jllha ThiiUe feeming to tccolleft that 
 there might be fome impropriety in the quellion, chang- 
 ed llie dilcourfe inftantly, nor refumed It any more. lie 
 faid he was come to get the great guns on Ihore, and 
 alked if he lliould bilng them to Oroolong, or take them 
 to Pdew? Captain IVUfon went out and confulted the 
 Chief Mate, when it was thought bc.R. to pay him the 
 compliment of faying he might take them all to Pchnu 
 except one, which would be wanted to go with the 
 velTel. 
 
 Alla ThuIId informed the Captain that he was now at 
 peace with moft of his neighbours, but that lie believed 
 lie was indebted for this peace to their mufleets ; he 
 iiiercfore hoped the Engli/h would give him fome when 
 they went away; adding, that they did not re quell 
 iron, as of that they had now received a fufficlency ; 
 the only thing they wilhed for was powder and muficets, 
 and defired he might have ten. — In anfwer to all this 
 the Captain told him that the EngTtJb would always con- 
 tinue to be his friends ; but that it would be hupcffible 
 to fparc ten of them, as the Englijb were at that mo- 
 incut at war with different nations, whofe Ihlps they 
 
 might 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. I27 
 
 might have to contend with in their palTage home ; how- 
 ever, that when they quitted his country, they would at 
 all events give him five ; he feemed much plenfed with 
 the Captain’s anfwer ; who added, that (hould his neigh- 
 bours again make war w'lth him, he might (from the 
 kind treatment he had fiiewn the Enghjh) declare that 
 they would return in a much larger flnip, with a number 
 of men, and would avenge any infult they fhould offer 
 to him in their abfence. 
 
 In the afternoon he took his canoes and people to the 
 watering-place. — This amiable Prince w'as perpetually 
 giving new proofs of his attention to the Engl'ijh; as 
 he commonly came wnth a confiderable retinue, he ob- 
 ferved that when he arrived, our people left off working, 
 and thence conceived it was for fear the natives fhould 
 pilfer their tools, which he knew they fometimes could 
 not refrain from ; therefore, as foon as he had dined, he 
 made them all retire with him to the back of the ifland, 
 that he might lefs impede that bufinefs, which he faw 
 our countrymen had fo much at heart. 
 
 He had not been at the w’atering-place long before 
 he fent for Captain V/ilfon to come over to him : Mr. 
 Sharp and Mr. Dev'is accompanied him. His canoes 
 had juft come in from fifhing, a large quantity which 
 they had caught lay on the ground near where the King 
 was fitting, divided into twm parcels; and the reafon why 
 the Captain had been fent for, was to give him one of 
 the portions, which confifted of ten large fifh. The 
 Captain fald, four would be as many as would feaft all 
 Ills men, and the reft, he feared, would fpoil before 
 the next day. The King gave orders to have the other 
 fix cleaned and drefled for keeping, after their own 
 manner, and faid he would fend them over in the morn- 
 ing. — It now advancing towards fun-fet, the King 
 wiflied the three gentlemen to move homewards before 
 it grew dark, as part of their way over land was rugged 
 and hazardous; they therefore took leave of him, with 
 many expreffions of thanks for the repeated marks of 
 his attentlon.—Iifthe night there was a very hard 
 fquall. 
 
 October 
 
128 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 Oftober i8. Some boileu vice was fent for the King’s, 
 breakfaft. Soon after Haa Kook came over land, follow- 
 ed by fix men, bearing the fifii ; they were finging all 
 the way through the woods, and were heard long before 
 they were feen. The fiih were quite fweet and good, 
 and, as the great heat of this climate taints all their fifii 
 in a few hours, it may be worth while to mention the 
 method they take to preferve them. — The fifh being 
 well cleaned, wafhed, and fcaled, two flat flicks are 
 placed lengthways of the fi/h, to fupport and keep it 
 llralght, much in the fame manner as meat is laid in a 
 cradle fpit; around it are bound fome broad leaves. 
 They then make a kind of llage or trivet, placed about 
 two feet from the ground, Handing on four legs, upon 
 which the fifh is laid, and a flow fire made underneath, 
 over which it remains for feveral hours, till it becomes 
 fmoke-dried, and then it is fit for eating without any 
 further drefling, and would keep a couple of days, though 
 certainly not fo well-flavored as when eaten frefh. — 
 By a good obfervation at noon, the latitude of the wa- 
 tering-place was 7° i8' north, and the northern extremi- 
 ty of Oroolong was 7° 19 north. The King left five or 
 fix canoes with the women at the watering-place, and 
 went to the vvTeck; the Captain fent fome tea againft 
 he came on fhore, and afterwards went over himfelf, to 
 complain to him of the lofs of a caulking-iron and an 
 adze; which he promifed fliould be inquired after, and 
 returned. Three of the jirtingall people being with the 
 King, they were pointed out to Captain Wiljon, who 
 gave them an Invitation to- breakfaft. 
 
 Odlober 19. j^rra Kooier came to fpcak about the 
 things that had been purloined. He had recovered the 
 caulking-iron, but the adze had been carried to Peleiv . — 
 He told them he requefted ten of our people to aflift , 
 in getting out the guns, his o>vn having no tackle equal 
 to the efiefting it; they were accordingly fent off to 
 the wreck, where yibba Tbulh met them, and was not a 
 little amazed when he faw the cafe with which the bru 
 finefs was managed. — The General, accompanied by the 
 ^tmgalb people, came, as invited, to breakfaft with the 
 
 Mngltfih 
 
THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 129 
 
 Engit/h. They fhewed them their tents, and the work 
 that was goin^r forward, with which they feemed aftonifli- 
 ed, and particularly with the fwivel and fix-pounder. 
 When they were (hewn the fmall arms, they by forcible 
 geftures feemed to defcribe that thofe were the inllru- 
 ments which had killed fo many of their count»7men 
 at Artlngall. They did not appear to entertain the 
 flighteft animofity, but ihook hands with the Engll/Jj 
 in much amity, and received the civilities 'offered them 
 witli great thankfulnefs — At noon there were fqualls, 
 accompanied with heavy rain. Captain had plen- 
 
 ty of fifh fent him, and fome large Ktma Coclkst which 
 are all well known In the Eafl, as alfo in Europe, from the 
 number of their fliells which are brought over to adorn 
 grottos and fountains. 
 
 Oftober 20. The King fent again more fifh to the 
 Engl'ijb, with a large bafket of yams, and another of 
 plantains. — P.aa Kook being indifpofed, did not come 
 to breakfaft, but fent to defire Captain JVUfon and the 
 Surgeon would come over to fee him. When they got 
 there the King was gone to the wreck. They found 
 the General very feverifh, from the pain of a large boil' 
 on his arm, which Mr. Sharp fomented and drefied; 
 he had feveral people about him» among whom were 
 two women, who appeared much fcratched about the 
 breaft and ftomach, as if with pins: they inquired the 
 caufe, but not h.aving the linguift with them, could 
 only learn that it was done with a prickly kind of long' 
 leaf; and from tlie apparent concern of thefe women, it 
 was conceived, that the wounding themfelves was an 
 external mark of fon'ow for the General’s indlfpofition. 
 In the evening they returned to fee him, and found 
 him much better. The King was then come on fhore, 
 and feemed much pleafcd with the attention fliewn* his 
 brother; he appeared on this occafion to be particularly 
 anxious on his account, and indeed our people had re- 
 peated opportunities to difeover, that Abba Ehvlh tefll- 
 fied to every part of his family a moll affcdlionate and 
 tender difpofition. 
 
 When 
 
130 A N A C C O U N T O F 
 
 i When the fifhing canoes came in, a large portion of 
 what they had taken was given to the Engltfh. Whilft 
 they were fitting with the King, a flying fox fettled on 
 a tree near where they were; Captain JVilfon’s fervant, 
 who had been Ihooting pigeons in that part of the ifland, 
 juft then coming up, and having his piece loaded, fliot 
 it. This is an animal that has feme fimilitude to our 
 bat, but is five or fix times larger; it refembles a fox in 
 its head, and hath much fuch a fmell. The natives call 
 ir Oleek. It runs alCng the ground, and up trees like 
 a cat ; it has befides wings, which extend pretty wide, 
 by which it flies like a bird. The Pelew people broil 
 and eat them wheneva' they can knock them down,, 
 efteeming them a great delicacy; on which account the 
 Engiyh, whenever they faw any, ufed to fhoot them for 
 the King; being, like the tame pigeon, a privileged 
 difti for thofe of a certain rank, 'i'he Artingall people 
 who were prefent, feeing the animal drop from the top 
 of a lofty tree, without any thing apparently paffing 
 to it, one of them ran to take it up, and on examin- 
 ing it, perceived the holes which the fliot had pierced, 
 and remarked, that 'uch of their own countrymen as 
 loft their lives in the bte battles, fell down with holes 
 in their bodies juft lil this animal, and died. 
 
 'Whilft thefe men t. sified their natural furprife, 
 
 "Thulle and the General, who were now become mafters 
 of the power and of the mufket, could not for- 
 
 bear fmiling at finding their Arttngall vifitors had at laft 
 difeovered what had io completely defeated their force, 
 as well as overpowered their comprehenfion. 
 
 Odlober 2i. In the morning our people received, 
 their fifli, cured as ufual. — About nine o’clock tlie 
 King came round with his canoes and attendants, in- 
 his vay to Pekw. — He landed, examined the works, 
 and obferved, on looking at the pinnace, that it want- 
 ed repairing. — Before he went away, he aflted the Cap- 
 tain if the EngViJh would go and fight for him once more, 
 though he did not explain againft whom he was going 
 to war; he was anfwered that they repjdily would. — •H<r 
 then went on board his canoe, finT; defiring Tom Rofe 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 131 
 
 and another of. our people might go back with him 
 Peleiu. This was agreed to, and Mr. Devis expreffed 
 wifh to accompany the linguift. — In the converfation 
 Captain IVUfon had with the King this day, he ap- 
 peared extremely anxious that our people would not 
 leave his countr)’’ without making him previoufly ac- 
 quainted of the time they intended going, faying he 
 would fend two men with them to England, and promif- 
 ed to give them colors to paint their veflTel. — Raa Kook 
 was much prclTed to remain at Orodiong till his arm was 
 • quite well, but he feid he could not then conveniently 
 llay, but would very foon return. — Our people conjec- 
 tured his prefence was neceflary at the council which w?s 
 to be held on the expedition they were then projedf- 
 ing. — ;'When the jolly-boat returned from the wreck, fi e 
 was fent down to Pelew for the paint.. — After dinner 
 every man received a file, to give to his Sucalic or friend; 
 Captain W'tljon having taken into cullody all the tools 
 and pieces of iron, that our people might difpofe of them 
 judicloufly. 
 
 Odober 22* Frefh gales from the N. E. and fair 
 weather. — The provifions w«-e overhauled, to dry and 
 air them. The jolly-boat, that had followed the King 
 •to Pehw, returned with the paint he had proiriifed, 
 confining of red and yellow ochre, * of which he fent a 
 quantity fufficient to color the veflel three or four times ; 
 he charged the men who brought it to be particularly 
 careful to keep the balkets in which the colors were 
 packed from being wet, and defired them to acquaint 
 the Captain, that when he came up to go againfl Pele- 
 hnv (the place to which he was diredling his expediti- 
 on) he would bring men with him to paint the veflel.— 
 In the afternoon there were hard fqualls of wind from 
 the northward, with heavy rain. -i-The jolly-boat, in the 
 evening, returning from the watering-place, was follow- 
 ed by two canoes to the mouth.of the harbour. — It waa 
 
 thought, 
 
 • Thefe were the only natural colors they had, though they 
 occaConally applied black and white in fome of their ornaments, 
 the former made from burnt cocoa-nut IhcUs, the latter from 
 Tjumt corah 
 
132 AN ACCOUNTOF 
 
 thouglit, by their not coming in, that they were people 
 from Feklew. 
 
 Oftober 23. The caulkers this day finifhed caulking 
 the bottom of the vefTel, and alfo completed the plank- 
 ing of the topfides, and in the evening handed water into 
 her to try for lealcs. 
 
 Next day all were bufied in caullcing her upper works, 
 and fixing the fteps for the mafts. The jolly-boat was 
 defpatched to Pelew to fetch Mr. Devis and Tom Rofe ; 
 Mr. Sharp was fent down in her to vifit Raa Kooi, and 
 fee if he could be of further ufe to his arm ; and foon 
 after his departure a canoe came in from the King, 
 loaded with ranv yams, having received none after the 
 lirft ten days but what were lent ready drsJU 
 
 Oftober 25. The caulking of the outfide of the 
 veffel was finifhed this day. — The jolly-boat brought 
 back the furgeon ; the King and all his people at Pele'0> 
 being wonderfully pleafed at this mark of attention paid 
 to their favorite the General. Mr, Sharp, on going, 
 found Raa Kook much better; one of the Pelew fur- 
 geons had cut out the core of the boi4 and the flefli 
 about it, with one of the fame ordinary knives which 
 had been applied to the foot of his fon. Mr. Sharp 
 drefled the wound, and left him feveral other dreffings, 
 with neceffary direftions, and he foon got perfeflly 
 well. 
 
 When one confiders that thefc medical gentlemen at 
 Pelew never parfued any other method but cutting out 
 the part affefted ; and that till the prefent asra, when 
 accident had thrown in their way a few two-penny knives, 
 their operations were performed by Ihells ground to an 
 edge ; one muft wonder at the boldnefs of the praftice^ 
 and, living ourfelves in countries where the anatomy of 
 the human frame and the art of furgery are fo well un- 
 derftood and perfeftioned, aided too by fuch admirable 
 inftruments, one cannot avoid feeling for the corporal 
 fufferings of thofe whom difeafe or accident fubjefted 
 to be praftifed on by a Pelew furgeon. 
 
 When the jolly-boat returned with Mr. Sharp and 
 Tom Rofe (Mr. Devis choofing to remain till the King 
 
 vrtat 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 13^ 
 
 vent againft Pdehw) it brought plenty of yams and 
 'fvveetmeats, and alfo five young wild ducks juft fledged, 
 the ouly bird of the duck kind our people faw in thefe 
 parts . — Tom Rofe informed the Captain, that what ^bha 
 'Thulle wanted him for, was to make more inquiries of 
 him concerning the Enghjh, and to give liim fome ac- 
 count of the different people they were at war with. 
 
 Oclobcr 26. This morning the veflcl’s bottom was 
 breamed ; the outftde caulking being completed, to the 
 great Joy of all. — They now filled up the trench under 
 the veffel, and broke down the dam, nhich was a work 
 of fomc labor, as the bank had become as folid and firm 
 as if formed by nature; they alfo cleared and floated 
 the pinnace. While employed about this work, ten 
 canoes were obferved coming into the harbour ; thefe. 
 came from the land to the fouthward ; they were at firfl: 
 thought to be from Pdelew, but afterwards difeovered 
 to be ftrangers going to join j^bla Thulk . — They gave 
 our people fome yams of a different kind to any they 
 had feen before, being of a ftravv color, tinged with a 
 gritty red. Thefe ftrangers were treated with flrerbet, 
 and carried round all the places where the works were 
 going on; ftiewn the veffel, and every thing that was 
 judged might pleafe or entertain them. They viewed 
 every object with that degree of furprlfe which might 
 naturally be expected; bat by the little diffidence they 
 expreffed in coming on (bore, and from being lefs ftriuk 
 with the color of our people than the other natives of 
 thefe regions had been before, it was fuppofed they had 
 come with minds fully prepared to meet with thole ob- 
 jefts which their vifit to Oroolong difplayed to them. 
 There was an old Rupack with them, who afterwards 
 went into the Captain’s tent, and amufed himfelf in 
 counting the leaves of a book, that was lying there; 
 which trying two or three times to do, after getting to 
 fifty or fixty, he gave up the point, faying there were 
 too nvrny. They ftayed about two hours on (hore, and 
 on going away the Captain prefented the Rupack with 
 fome pieces of iron. 
 
 M 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
134 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 CHAPTER XVTI. 
 
 Th: King comes for ten Men nvho nvere to go nvlth him 
 
 Peldew ' great Stosnn at Oloorong. — Intel- 
 
 Ugence arrives that the Expedition to Pelelew had ended 
 peaceably. — The Englifii return, and give an Account 
 of the Manner of its Progrefs and Termination. — Re- 
 joicings on the Occaf.on at Pelew The King notifies an 
 
 intended vifit to the Engli/h before their Departure. 
 
 0 £l. I ^ H E morning was cloudy, with light winds 
 27. J. from the northward ; the boats employed 
 in getting fome more llores from the fhip. In the af- 
 ternoon a great number of canoes came from Pelew, 
 they were moft of them from the iflands to the north- 
 ward; in one of thefe Mr. Devis returned; he brought 
 intelligence that almofl, every ifland in alliance with Ab- 
 ba Tkullc had fent fome forces, and that he really thought 
 there were upwards of three hundred canoes aflembled 
 r.t Pelenu to go on this expedition ; that when they left 
 that place they feparated in three divifions, making a 
 very fine appearance; that two of them went towards 
 Pelelcnv; and the third divifion, in which was the King 
 and Raa Konh, were coming to Oroolong ior the Engli/h; 
 that he had declined accompanying the King, in order 
 to have an opportunity of viewing the fleet. About 
 four o’clock in the afternoon the King and Raa Kook 
 arrived, and the pinnace (that had undergone repair) 
 having juft before returned from the wreck, the follow- 
 ing men made themfelves ready to go, viz. Thomas Wil- 
 fon, Nicholafs Tyacke, Madan Blanchard, fames Snvift, 
 'Thomas Whitfield, fohn Duncan, Thomas Dulton, William 
 Steward, William Roberts, and Mr. M. W'llfon; before 
 night they were all embarked and out of the harbour, 
 the Engrjls giving them three cheers at their putting off 
 il-oin the fhore, which was returned by the wliole fleet ; 
 
 our 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 135: 
 
 our ptople devoutly \vifl}ing this expedition might he the 
 hft. — In tl'.e night tlie weather became overenft, and there 
 was fome l ainj which before nsorning became very •hea- 
 vy, accompanied with {Irong gy.les of wind and fqualls, 
 which carried away all the awnings that were laid over 
 the veffel, though the dock-yard was in a manner ihelter- 
 ed by the hills. Nor was the next day more layorable, 
 the morning being cloui’r, with a frefh gale of wind 
 fiorri the northward,' and frequent ihewers ; in the after- 
 noon they alfo had haial fqualls, accompanied with thun- 
 der, liglitning, and rain; towards evening the lightning 
 to the eaftward was llrong, with diftant thunder. After 
 the bad clofe of day, the night was rendered truly tre- 
 mendous by the dreadful conflict of the agitated elements. 
 Situated as the En^llfb W'jre under the flielter of pro- 
 tedxing hills, they apprehended all their cents would, have 
 been blown down; and much feared their -.effel might 
 be fliook off its block-. ; much difquietude was alfo felt 
 for the fafety of their abient countrymen: which- all to- 
 gether rendered tlic night extremely uncomfortable. The 
 morning was however dry though cloudy, with a freO'i 
 breeze from the S. E. in the afternoon a fmall canoe, 
 with two men and a boy, came to the watering-place, 
 feeming to be looking about for the canoes, but not 
 finding them, they paddled up to the windward pait of 
 the iiland, then fet their fail and flood over towards Pcle- 
 lew. About midnight, the weather being fine, a canoe 
 was feen coming towards the harbour, which being 
 hailed by the guard, the people in it calling out the 
 word Englces, it was permitted to enter the cove; in her 
 was the Rupack named Erra Zook, Mr. Sharp's Sucalic, 
 or friend, whom tlie reader will recolleft treated t’lat 
 gentleman and Captain JVllfon with fo much hpfpitallty 
 when they went to fee his fick child ; his arrival awaken- 
 ed ail the Engltfh, and brought them together, anxious 
 to hear fome account of their friends. This Chief gave 
 them to unden'land, that there had been no engagement, 
 at Pildszo; the inhabitants, on the King’s approach,, 
 laid down their fpears, and came and fupplicated Ella 
 Ihullr, for peace, prefenting liira with beads, and de- 
 
136 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 livering up to him two men who had belonged to the 
 Malay wreck. — Art-a Zook was' welcomed with every 
 teftimony of gratitude, both in remembrance of his 
 former kindnefs, as alfo for his prefent good news. 
 
 Oftober 3 1 . Soon after day-light another canoe ar- 
 rived, which brought information that the fleet was re- 
 turning from the expedition. About ten o’clock in 
 the forenoon two more came into tlie harbour, in one 
 of which was yohn Duncan., who gave the following ac- 
 count of this expedition againfl. Pelelca;, which account 
 was fully confirmed by the others who had been with 
 him, at their return. — In the evening that they left 
 Oroolong (which was the 27th) they got to the fmall 
 ifland to the fouthward of that place ; hauled up their 
 canoes, and laid under fome rocks all night. — In the 
 morning, at day-break, they went to an ifland four or 
 five leagues further to the fouthward, which was unin- 
 habited, and lay about four or five miles diflant from 
 Pchlciv; here they built huts, or wigwams, and encamped, 
 the weather being very bad ; when it became a little more 
 moderate, a party of the Pehnv pecJple went to another 
 ifland, not far diflant from the firfl, which belonged to 
 Pelelew, and deflroyed the plantations of yams, burnt 
 the houfes, and cut down the cocoa-nut trees, of which 
 there was a great number. The inhabitants had quitted 
 the ifland before the people of Pclcnv landed. Only two 
 of the Engl'ijh were fent on this party ; who having de- 
 molifhed as much as they could, returned to the en- 
 campment before fun-fet. — The next morning the wea- 
 ther was veiy bad, but the afternoon being moderate, a 
 party w’as fent to the fame ifland again, to deflroy whate- 
 ver might have efcaped the ravage of the preceding day ; 
 three of the Englijh w'ent on this fervice. — In the even- 
 ing all the party retsrned, as before, to the camp. — 
 The fecond morning tw'o Rupacks came from Peklenv to 
 the camp, and foon after returned back, accompanied 
 by the linguills; who in the evening rejoined the King’s 
 forces, attended by three of the Pelekw Chiefs. — A 
 council was held by the King foon after their arrival ; 
 and the fucceeding morning Arm Kookir went to Pcle~ 
 
THE FELEW ISLANDS. 137 
 
 lew, and concluded the peace. — After his return, wliich 
 was early in the forenoon, the King fent to the Eugl'i/h, 
 to acquaint them that peace was made with the Pekh’w 
 people, and defired to know if they vvlihed to fee the 
 town, in which cafe his brother, Arra Kooker, would 
 accompany them; himfelf and Rna Kook not meaning 
 to go on (bore. This meffage a little furprifed the Eng- 
 li/h, until it was explained to them by the linguift; who 
 informed them, that no Rupack of higher rank than 
 Arra Kooker could, in the prelent fituation of the Eek- 
 Uw people, go thither ; as it would be too great an 
 honor and condefcenfion in the King, either to go him- 
 felf, or fend the perfon next in rank to him. — This be- 
 ing explained, the Engli/h accepted the King’s olTer to 
 viht Pelelew, but agreed amoagft themfelves to take 
 their arms, and keep together when on fliore, left any 
 mifunderftanding taking place (as the peace was but juft 
 made) they might be furprifed. They were accompa- 
 nied by a great number of the Pelcw people, and re- 
 ceived in a very friendly manner by the inhabitants, 
 who entertained them according to the cuftom of the 
 country, with the ufual refreflunents. Tiicy reported, 
 that the town was defended by a ftone wall tlwowa up 
 acrofs the caufeway which leads up to it ; that this wall 
 was ten or twelve feet high, with a foot-bank of ftone 
 raifed behind, upon which they could ftand and throw 
 fpears at their enemies. That the wate - ,ear the town 
 was fo very ftiallow, that canoes could only go in at 
 high-water. This circumftance, of tlie difficulty of 
 accefs, might be a reafon why they law fo few cr.noes 
 belonging to Pelelew, though it appeared to be a popu- 
 lous ifland; and their manner of fortifying the entrance of 
 their town by a ftrong and high wall, afforded juft rea- 
 fon to apprehend, that whenever they were at war with 
 the neighbouring iflands, they confided more in their 
 internal ftrength than in their naval force. — After the 
 pacification had taken place, and Alba PhuUe's party 
 had (hared the hofpitallty of that enemy they had arm- 
 ed themfelves to combat, they returned to Pelew. The 
 King of Pelelew accoirpanjng his brother King, though 
 M 3 in 
 
138 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 la one of his own canoes, carrying ten women in his 
 train ; whether this was a mark of humiliation fhewn to 
 y}bba 7 hulle, or a public tdlimony of friendfhip and 
 confidence being re-eftabhihed between them, our peo- 
 ple could not underftand ; but certain it was, that all 
 the women did not return again to Pclelciv with their 
 King, as two of them came forwards to Oroolong with 
 ylhba 7 hulk, but whether they remained on a vifit, or 
 as hoftages, they were not eertain. — The two Malays 
 were unqueftionably given up to the King ; and it 
 is not improbable but that he might have been infti- 
 gated by Songk, the Malay favorite, to demand his 
 two countrymen, and that the King of Pekkw refufing 
 to give them up, might increafe whatever mifunder- 
 lianding fubfifted before, and fo excite the Pelevj peo- 
 ple to go on this hoftile expedition, in which they ap- 
 pear to have exerclfed a rancour undifeovered in their 
 ether contentions: which the King of Pekknv, by his 
 ■well-timed fubmiffion to terms, happily faved his peo- 
 ple from more fully experiencing. — Before noon. Ran 
 Kook came to Oroolong with a number of canoes, bring- 
 ing with him all our countrymen; who commended 
 much the pleafantnefs of the illand of Pelekiv, faid . it 
 appeared fertile, the land more level than hilly, and 
 that the houfes rvere rather larger and better built than 
 thofe at Pi’hvj, having abundance of cocoarRut and 
 other trees about them. The inhabitants feemed to 
 be .courteous, friendly, and well difpofed; and fliewed 
 particular attention to the Engll/h, although they had 
 come there as a formidable ally to their enemy. 
 
 Kbba Thtlle, accompanied by the Pekleiu King, went 
 immediately to his own Ifland, which the Englifb now, 
 for the firll; time, learnt, was called Coorooraa, Pehnu 
 being only the capital, or refidence of the King. — 
 Captain JVilfon, converfing with Ran Kook on the fub- 
 jeft of the late expedition, inquired wh.re all the fleet of 
 ca.aoes came from that had attended the King at this 
 time; the General,in anfwer, enumerated the place, in the 
 following order, beginning at the northward: Emungs, 
 giramalorgoo, Emxlkgtie^ Arroguy, Qoorooraa, Caragaba, 
 
 Pithoull, 
 
T H E, P E L E W I S L A N D S. 159 
 
 Pethoull, the fmall ifland fo often mentioned, and whofe 
 name was not till now known, and Oroolong, or Eng- 
 li/hman’s Ifland. Raa Kook feemed very defirous to 
 be at Pelew, and made this vifit the fliorteft he had 
 ever favored the Englijh with, leaving them immediately 
 after dinner, and all the canoes going with him. He 
 defired the Captain to fend his boat for fome molafies 
 and torches, of which they were in want, our people 
 being defirous of referving their fugar-candy and candles 
 for the voyage. 
 
 In the evening, the jolly-boat was got ready, and 
 Mr. Sharp, with four of the men, went to Pekiv, to 
 congratulate the King on his eftablifliing peace, and to 
 bring tire things promifed- by Raa Kook. — The morning 
 being fair, and the deck laid, they began to caulk it ; 
 when a difficulty arofe with what they were to pay it, 
 having neither pHch, r^n, or dammer: and here Provi- 
 dence directed them to a refource in the produce of the 
 ifland ; for, confulting together how to fupply this want, 
 putty was propofed ; but they having no chalk to make 
 it, fome of them recolledted that the feams of veflels in 
 India, and efpecially in China, were payed with Ch'tnam; 
 the Chinefe were immediately called, and queftioned 
 about the mode of preparing it ; which, after the bell 
 information they could coUeft, they endeavoured to 
 imitate in the following manner: — They took the coral- 
 ftone, and making a large pile or kiln with it, and the 
 branches of trees they had. cut down, they burnt it well 
 into' lime ; which being pounded fine, was fifted through 
 bunting, after which it was mixed with fuch greafe as 
 had been faved ; and this made a moft excellent putty. 
 
 November 2. The weather being cloudy, with light, 
 northerly breezes, all our people were employed about 
 the veffel, when their attention was fomewhat taken off 
 by two canoes coming into the harbour to fifli for bait ; 
 their method of doing it linking all our feamen as uu-' 
 common, may, without impropriety, be mentioned : — > 
 The boatmen look about for a Ihoal of that fort of fiflt 
 which thej' bait with, which is not much unlike our 
 ffirat j thefc they drive into fnallow water, and having 
 
 covered 
 
HO ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 • 
 
 covered their canoes and outrijrgers with matting, they 
 then make a great fhouting and noife, fplafliing the wa- 
 ter with their paddles on each fide the fnoal, which fo 
 frightens the fifii, that they fpring out of the water, 
 and numbers of them falling upon the matting, are im- 
 mediately fecured in the ends of the canoes, which are 
 left open to receive them. 
 
 Mr. Sharp retunied in the evening from Pelew, whilft 
 our people were at prayers, bringing with him the things 
 promifed by Raa Kook, together with a large quantity of 
 the fweetmeats called kVoolcll.* He reported that there was 
 great rejoicing at Pdevj; that t\\z Rupack of PekLiv was 
 Hill there, though probably not much difpofed to enjoy 
 the fcllivity his fubiniffiou had given birth to. — The 
 feafting was much in the fame manner as what on other 
 occafions has already been deferibed ; dillinguifhed only 
 by a fong, apparently compofed fince our people have 
 been at Pele<w, and in which the greater part of the na- 
 tives always joined. Though Mr. Sharp could not un- 
 derftand the whole fenfe of it, yet he readily compre- 
 hended that the Engl'Klo were the fubjeff, by the frequent 
 repetition of the words Englees — IVeel a Trecoy — and Tom 
 Rofe. — This man going with the Engiyh upon every ex- 
 pedition, as interpreter, and poflefling a great fund of 
 pleafantry and humor, hit the fancy of all the natives, 
 with whom he became a wonderful favorite. — So fingu- 
 lar were the talents of this truly faithful fellow, that 
 wherever he went he made himfelf not only ufcful, but 
 beloved ; and, from his great utility to Captain WUfon 
 in his voyage, well merited the recommendation that 
 had been given him at Macoa — The furgeon further re- 
 ported the King of Peleleiv to be a man much advanced 
 in years, of a rough manner and appearance j his hair 
 was grey, and his beard tapering to a narrow point, in 
 the manner the yevos frequently wear theirs. He was 
 Melgothd, or tatooed, quite up to the navel; the Pe- 
 
 lcv> 
 
 * This is the fweetmeat which the failors czWti- choke-dog, aftd 
 which now their Itomachs found pretty good, ho'iVevsr coiucmp- 
 tuoufly they had thought of it at firft. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 141 
 U':u people only tatooing up to the middle of their 
 thighs, as already noticed. 
 
 It was not in the power of our people to obtain any 
 account, whicli could be depended on, of the number 
 of this chain of iflands ; nor could any eminences they 
 ever afeended, allow them to fee the extent of them, 
 cither to the northward or fouthward. — The new veflel 
 being now in a ftate of great forwardnefs, and the time 
 j of their departure drawing near. Captain IVilJcn this 
 j evening exprefl'ed to his officers and people a dciirc, be- 
 fore they failed for China, to endeavour to explore thefe 
 iflands, upon which Providence had thrown them, and 
 that ten or twelve days might effeft the defign ; that 
 they had a quantity of proviflon fufficient to authorize 
 , the attempt ; and that he would apply to the King for 
 three or four canoes, with men, to accompany them 
 through the iflands, and to affift them in afeertaining 
 their number, fituation, and extent. — That he did not 
 mean to make a furvey of them ; but that it would be 
 a great fatisfaflion, both to themfelves and their Em- 
 ployers, to have a general account of thefe iflands, on 
 which no European had ever been before ; as alfo to 
 know whether there was any apparent difference in 
 the inhabitants, their manners, or cuftoms. — He was 
 liftened to with a great deal of attention ; but the near 
 profpeft before every man’s eyes, of being liberated from 
 a place whence, a fliort time before, none had any juft 
 hope of ever departing ; the fear of its proving a much 
 longer bulinefs than apprehended \ the uncertainty of 
 what difficulties they might meet with, ffiould they have 
 hoftilities to encounter, which was more than probable 
 might be the eafe, from the inhabitants of feme of the 
 remote iflands ; thefe combined confiderations prefented 
 themfelves to moft of them as rilks not advifable to 
 be run, after the hardffiips they had already fuftained ; 
 which, added to the natural wiffi of every individual to 
 return to his native country whilft opportunity offered, 
 they defired the Captain to give up all thoughts of fuch 
 an attempt, and not to make any mention thereof to the 
 King, left it might be the means of detaining them. 
 
 And 
 
142 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 And thus was ftifled the defire of all further inquiry, 
 more efpecially when Mr. Sharp acquainted them, that, 
 he was commiffioned by Jlha Thulh to inform them, 
 that he would in about four days pay them a vifit, and 
 flay with them till their departure, and that he would 
 then paint their veffel. — This meflage awakened fufpici- 
 ons in feveral minds of the King’s defigns, which, be- 
 caufe they breathed on every occafion fuch perfedl good- 
 will towards our people, were judged by many of them 
 to be infincere, or treacherous ; unwilling to give credit 
 to human nature for the exercife of all the noble fenti- 
 ments ofdiberality, uncontrouled, or uncciitaminated by 
 art or intereft. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 145 
 
 C PI A P T E R XVIII. 
 
 r reparations made for the Completion of the V ffel, and fe~ 
 curing her being fafely launched . — Great Sufplcions enter- 
 tained on the King’s Mffage, which Captain Wilfon en- 
 deavours to quiet. — Steps taken by our People to make Re- 
 ft/lance, in Cafe their Departure faould be impeded. — The 
 Captain fends Mr. Sharp and P/lr. M. Wilfon to Po- 
 le w, with all the Tools aud Iron they could fpare., with 
 /IJfwrances of the rejl, as f non as the Vejfel was launched ; 
 and to notify to the King that he purpofed to fail in fi.t or 
 feven Days. — They meet the King and his Retinue on their 
 Way to Oroolong . — Go back with him to the Ifland of 
 PethouU, where they pafs the Night . — Abba Thulle r. - 
 ceives the Prefents gracioufly. — jd great Supper of the 
 King’s defcribed. — They all come next Day to Oroolong. 
 — Madan Blanchard informs Captain Wilfon of a Refo- 
 lution he had taken to remain behind with the Natives; — 
 after Arguments ufed in vain to dffuade him., he is pro- 
 pofed to the King to be left at Pelew, who, pleafed with 
 the Circumflance, takes him under his PrcteUion. 
 
 Nov.’’ I ' HE weather being now fair and fettled, with 
 3. JL frelh gales of wind from the N. E. the car- 
 penters were employed in making the rudder, and Al- 
 bert Picrfon the quarter-mailer, in making the mails out 
 of fome of the fmall fpjys faved from the wreck ; fonie 
 bufied in caulking the deck, and others in painting the 
 fides, which, in addition to the coat that the King’s 
 people Intended to give her, would be fufficient to keep 
 out the weather. In the evening they held a confultati- 
 on about the method of launching their veflel, which 
 they had now nearly completed, when it was agreed to 
 lay ways, though it had been propofed by fome to do 
 it by large rollers, as they fometimes launch cutters. — 
 This was a matter of ferious mom.ent, for had any acci- 
 dent 
 
144 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 dent happened to the velTel during this operation, then- 
 tools being nearly worn out, and their former refources 
 from the wreck at an end, their deftiny muft, in all hu- 
 man probability, have been to have palled the remainder 
 of their days, exiled from the reft of the world, in thefe 
 remote iflands. 
 
 November 4. This morning many hands went to 
 work in cutting down trees to make blocks, and launch- 
 ing ways, others in giving the bottom of the veffel ano- 
 ther coat of Chinam. ■ 1 \vo canoes being feen near the 
 harbour, before night, and neither of them coming in, 
 was a. circumftance which contributed not a little to in- 
 creafe the fufpicions entertained by bur people, thefe ca- 
 noes being conjeftured to.be fpies watching their moti- 
 ons ; they having entertained an idea that the natives 
 intended to prevent their departure. At dark they went 
 to a quarter-watch, loaded the fwivel and fix-pounder 
 with grape-lhot, and kept a good look out to prevent 
 furprife — The alarm our people felt, was, that being 
 near leaving the iflands, the natives (who had experi- 
 enced the great utility the Englifh were of to them) 
 might endeavour to detain them, by attempting to feize 
 their arms, and poflefs themfelves of their veffel. — :It 
 was in vain that Captain IVilfon ftrove to remove thefe 
 apprehenfions, by recalling to their remembrance the 
 generofity the King and aU his people had (hewn them, 
 on every occafion, fince they had been thrown upon his 
 territories ; that his behaviour had been always to them 
 humane, unreferved, and unfufpicious ; that therefore 
 there could be no room now to doubt the linceiity of 
 a people, who had, in all the time they had been under 
 their protection, never given them any real caufe for 
 miftruft ; that it materially behoved them, in their pre- 
 fcnt lituation, not to let the natives fee they entertained 
 any ; that by doing otherwife they might put ideas into 
 their minds, which, but for their own indifcretion, 
 might never have occurred. Nor did he fail to fet be* 
 fore them the little avail of all the force of Che Englt/k, 
 if the natives were refolved upon any fuch enterpriie as 
 they fufpefted 5 he reprejfented to them, that their am- 
 munition 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 145 
 munition mufl; be foon expended, in cafe of hoflilities ; 
 that the natives could hinder their embarking, even if 
 their veflel was launched ; that it was in their power, 
 without coming to extremities, to make them fubmit to 
 any terms, by depriving them of the fpring of frefh wa- 
 ter, Ihould they choofe to come to the ifland in any 
 number. 
 
 All thefe arguments were ineffeiflual to fnbdue the ge- 
 neral apprehenfion, not more than two or three uniting 
 in fentiment with the Captain ; it was therefore con- 
 cluded, after a long confultation oh the matter, that eve- 
 ry one Ihould be ftriftly on his guard ; that the fwivels 
 and fix-pounder Ihould continue to be kept loaded with 
 grape-fliot, the fmall arms ready charged with ball, and 
 the cartouch-boxes filled with loaded cartridges ; but 
 that every one Ihould carefully avoid all appearance of 
 fufpicion, iinlefs any uncommon number of canoes fliould 
 pour into the bay, or thofe who were in them appear 
 armed w’ith fpears, or approach with any hollile parade, 
 in which cafe every method Ihould be taken to defend 
 themfelves ; and, as their numbers w'ere inadequate to 
 refill fuch a multitude as might attack them, that they 
 mull then ufe their abilities in fmgling out the Chiefs, 
 and by. fuch a meafure throw confulion and difmay 
 among the reft. 
 
 As the faithful hiftorian of thefe tranfadtions, it is my 
 duty to record every material occurrence ; though 1 muifc 
 confefs that my hand -(hrinks from the paper, whilll, im- 
 prefled with horror and pity, I am compelled to relate, 
 that the lives firil intended to be devoted were, thofe of 
 the humane, liberal King, the manly and benevolent 
 Genera], the facetious and inoffenfive Arra Kuohtr. But,, 
 however this refolution may fliock the reader, yet he 
 will candidly aferibe this daring conception, not to a 
 want of that generofity which is one of the cliaracler- 
 iftlcs of my countrymen, nor to a forgetfulnefs of the 
 bonds of hofpitality 4 but to its real caufe, the w-eaknefs 
 of human nature, operating on two confliding paflions, 
 the hope of immediate delivery, and the dread of perpe- 
 tual detention ; the agitated mind faw no alternative, 
 N and 
 
I4‘5 a N a C C O U N T O F 
 
 and In Its perturbation threw down the barrier of every 
 nice fentimeat. 
 
 After the defperate refointlon juft recorded to have 
 been taken, It is vn’th particular fatisfadlion that I re- 
 fume my ])cn, and have it in my power to inform the 
 reader, that this frenzy of the fuggelled by anx- 
 
 iety and defpair, was but of ftiort duration ; the cool 
 refleiffions of the night weakened their apprehenfions, by 
 convincing them fo fully of the force of the Captain’s ar- 
 ■guments, that with the morning, their wonted good-will 
 towards the natives returned, infomuch, that after break- 
 fall he found no difficulty in getting the pinnace man- 
 ned to go to Peleiu with all the iron and tools they could 
 fpare, having made the King fuch a promife, whenever 
 their veflel Ihould be completed. Mr, Sharp and Mr. 
 I\I. Wilfon went down in the boat with orders to inform 
 the King, that the Englijb would be ready to fail in 
 fix or feven day's ; that the remainder of the tools, and 
 tlic mullcets which he wilhed to have, Ihould be given 
 him, but that they could not be parted with till fuch 
 time as the veflel was launched ; thefe gentlemen had 
 alfo orders to fay, that the Englijh wilhed to fee the King 
 and his Chiefs before their departure, that they might 
 make them their perfonal ackftowledgments, and alTure 
 them> that when they returned to their own country, 
 they would publicly declare the kind fervices and pro- 
 teftion they had received from them. ' This was convey- 
 ed in the form of a letter, which Mr. Sharp was diredl- 
 ed to read to the King in the prefence of the two lin- 
 gulfts, who were to explain It to him, as coming imme- 
 diately' from the Captain. 
 
 While Mr. Sharp and Mr, M. Wilfon, together with. 
 Tom Rofe the interpreter, were receiving the above in- 
 llrudlions, Madan Blanchard, one of the feamen, came 
 into the tent for fame tools that he wanted, and hear- 
 ing the Captain explaining his letter to Tom Rofe, de- 
 fired him alio to tell the King, that when his country- 
 men went away, he intended to ftay behind, and re- 
 main with him at Pele<w; Captain Wilfon defired him 
 not to fend any fuch idle meflage, and to go about his 
 
 bufinefs. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 147 
 
 tuflncfs, atid forbad Tom Rofs to deliver it ; upon whicli 
 Blanchard very fcriouily deiired it miglit be delivered, 
 afliiving the CaoUiiii, that it was his fettled determiiiatioa 
 to reinaiii at Pelenj, if the King would permit him. bind- 
 ing he had taken up- fiich a ftrange refeJution, the Cap- 
 tain endeavoured all in his power to diluiade him fro.n 
 it, fetting before him the many difficulties and difadvan- 
 tages he would have to combat, when his friends and 
 companions were gone, particularly as he had no trace, 
 like that of a carpenter or a fmith, by which he might 
 make himfelf of ufe and confequence to the natives. 
 Tlie Captain, perceiving all his arguments iacffedlua., 
 defircd his men would try to divert him frojn fo lingular 
 an intention ; in which if he fall pcrfided, tlie Captai.i 
 might know how to aiS; when the King ihould come next 
 to Oroolcng. — The pinnace was defpatehed about te i 
 o’clock, with orders to take no notice of Blancharr. i 
 mcfTige to the King, but to leave tliat to be meutiLu.d 
 afterwards, ffiould there be occalion, when he and his 
 Chiefs came up to Oroohng. — Soon after the pine ice 
 failed, the weather became fqually, accompanied with 
 hard rain, wliich continued molt part of the day, this 
 however did not entirely hinder the work, they being 
 employed in fixing the pumps and laying the ways pre- 
 paratory to launching their vefiel. — In the evening, af- 
 ter the people had left off work, fome of them acquaint- 
 ed the Captain, that they had endeavoured, though i 1 
 vain, to perfuade Blanchard to alter his refolution ; as 
 he was determined to fpeak to the King himfelf, the 
 firft opportunity, about it, finding his meffage had not 
 been fent : therefore, to avoid any difpute with him, or 
 jnifunderllanding with the King, it was judged belt to 
 let him follow his own incliuation ; and, in order to en- 
 gage the natives as much as poffible in his Intcrell, as 
 •well as to make a merit of what could not be avoided, 
 it was determined to make it appear as a favor to the 
 King, the letting one of the Engli/h remain behind with 
 him. — There was fornething in thefe people, or the man- 
 ners of the country, which had fo forcibly worked on 
 Blanchard’s imaglnatioiij the Cril time he went with them 
 
 to 
 
 j 
 
HS anaccountof 
 
 to fight againft Art'ingaU, that on his return, while in the 
 canoes, he declared to his companions that he would 
 rnoft; willingly partake of all their labor, would lend 
 them eveiy affifiancc in his power towards building and 
 fitting out their new vefTel ; but that when they depart- 
 ed he would remain behind, and end his days among 
 the natives of Pclenu. — This was at the time looked on 
 as a jeft ; but he never varied from thefe fentiments, 
 and now proved his refolution was unalterable. 
 
 iMovember 7. About eleven o’clock in the forenoon 
 of this day the pinnace returned, bringing the King, 
 his young favorite daughter, Raa Kook, and feveral of 
 the Chiefs, in her. Our people gave the following ac- 
 count of the commiffion they were charged with : — In 
 their pafiage to Pehiv, the preceding day, they faw a 
 tonfiderable number of canoes, which went in fnore to 
 avoid the bad weather ; on coming nearly a-breaft of 
 them, one appeared to be making towards the pinnace, 
 which thereupon flood to meet it ; in this was the 
 Cli.f Minyier, who gave thofe in the pinnace fome co- 
 coa-nuts and boiled yams ; he informed our people that 
 tlie King liad flielttred himfelf from the weather under 
 the fiacre, being on Lis way to Oroolong. After taking 
 fame of the refreflimsiits offered, the pinnace went to the 
 King, who was in liis canoe, furrounded by feveral Ru~ 
 packs. The pinnace being brought alongfide the King, 
 Mr. Sharp read the letter, which Tom Rofe explained 
 to Soogle the lingui'l, who communicated its purport to 
 Abba ThuUe. The intention of this vifit being made 
 known, and the tools and iron fliewn' to the King, he 
 defired they might remain in the pinnace ; when, after 
 entering into fome converfation with his Chiefs, he ac- 
 quainted the gentlemen that he would return to the 
 fmall iilandof PethouH, Inviting the Englijh to accompa- 
 ny him in the pinnace, and that the next morning he 
 would attend them to Orooleng. As they were return- 
 ing to the ifland, they met Raa Kook in a large canoe, 
 with the wives belonging to the Rupacks, whom he was 
 cendufting to Oroolong to fee the launching of the Eng- 
 Ms vcffel ; tlie ladies feemed much difappointed at being 
 
 obliged 
 
THE F E L E W ISLANDS. 149 
 
 obliged to return, and on finding their jaunt was put off 
 till the next day ; they, in confequence, joined the King. 
 — On landing at Ptthoullf they were all conducted to a 
 large houfe by the water-fide, where, being feated, the 
 prelcnts were brought and laid before the King, when 
 the ufe of the tools, and the method of working with 
 them, were (hewn to him and his Chiefs, with which 
 they appeared very much pleafed ; and a converfation. 
 took place between the King and them, but particular- 
 ly with Raa Kook; towards the clofe of which, the Ma- 
 lay, Soogle, remaiked to them, that the Englifh had fent 
 no mujkets; for this impertinent obfervation he received 
 a fevere rebuke from the General, who, with a look, 
 and in a tone which’ teftified great indignation, replied, 
 the Englifh had faithfully kept their word in fending the 
 ibingt they had fent, and in acquainting them of the time of 
 their departure ; that they had not fpoken with two tongues, 
 as he, worthlefs Malay, had dared to fuggejl; and that he 
 had brought Jhame upon them all, by his advfing the King to 
 fend only boiled yams to the Englifh, lejl, in fending them 
 raw, they Jbould thereby flock themfelves, and leave the iflands 
 without notice, or without prefeniing them thofe things they 
 had proruifed. — This pointed rebuke of Raa Kook af- 
 fefted the King and Chiefs very much, who by their 
 looks teftified their difpleafure at the Malay, in fuch a 
 manner, that he thought it prudent to retire ; after 
 which the company recovered their good-humor, and 
 Abba Thulle diftributed fome of the tools and iron among 
 the Rupacks, every one having fomething given him. 
 Supper was then brought in, and placed on ftools in 
 the middle of the houfe ; abundance was alio fet out 
 before the houfe, and diftributed to the King’s attend- 
 ants. — The company were ferved with fea craw-fifli, to- 
 getner with fome other fifli, brought in and divided by 
 the butlers, who cut it in pieces with a knife made of 
 a fplit bamboo (with which they carve as handily as we 
 do with our knives) and ferved up to the King’s com- 
 pany. Nobody offered to touch a morfel till Alia 
 Thulle began, and gave the word Munga ; when the Ru- 
 ^acks and the company followed his example, and no- 
 N 2 tke 
 
1^0 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 tice was given to the people without, that the King 
 was at 1 ipper, which was their fignd to begin. It 
 now growing dullafh, the torches were lighted, and 
 placed between the boards, or cracks in the floor, iu 
 rows, one before each family, or feparate mefs, who fat 
 behind the lights, which were ranged in ftraight lines 
 lengthways of the houfe ; fo that the centre part, from 
 one end of the building to the other, was kept clear 
 and lighted, which had a very pleafing cffedl, none 
 fitting face to face in their own party. A little 
 fpace was preferved between one Chief and another, 
 each Chief keeping with his diftindf family. As to 
 our people, they, as ilrangers, were welcome to all ; they 
 aiterrrately fat with the King, with Raa Kook, and with 
 the other Rupach. When the fifli was portioned out, 
 each family’s fliare was laid on a plaintain-leaf ; and 
 this leaf, in general, ferved them as a plate, though on 
 occafions ol a particular ceremony, when at home, the 
 great people have fmall plates or dilhes of tortoife-fhell, 
 and allb ctli-rs made of wood and earthen ware. 
 
 Ha ving indulged an hour’s converfation after fupper, 
 each party cleared away the litter of the meal, by fweep- 
 ing it clown between the boards of the floor ; tKe attend- 
 ants then of each family brought in to their relpeAive 
 mailers their mats, which they always carry with them 
 in their canoes whenever they are to fleep from home ; 
 they are made thin and light, laying one under and ano- 
 ther over them : the King fent mats for the Engli/):; and 
 every one’s bed being quickly made, they all laid them- 
 felves dor.'n, the torches were extlnguiflied, a total fl- 
 Icnce prevailed, and every individual compofed himfelf to 
 reft ; a fire being firft lighted to keep off the mofqui- 
 tos. 
 
 Between the hours of two and three, a meffenger 
 from an ifland to the northward arriving, the King was 
 thereupon awakened by one of his attendants, who 
 brought in a lighted torch ; he inftantly arofe, and or- 
 dered the meffenger to be introduced ; after holding 
 fome converfation with him, the King delivered to him 
 a piece of cord, on which he had tied as many kuois 
 
 as 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 151 
 
 as there would be days before our people purpofcd to 
 fail ; this they were afterwards acquainted with, and al« 
 fo informed the above meflage was occafioned by a de- 
 fire which feme of the northern Chiefs, who were the 
 friends of Abba Thulle, felt to know the time when the 
 EngHJh Intended to depart — not to gratify idle curiofity, 
 not to increafe the unjuft and uagenerous apprehenfions 
 entertained by our people of the natives of thefc unknown 
 regions ; but to throw in, towards their fea-ftore, what- 
 ever their country produced, which thefe benevolent 
 children of nature thought might be of ufe, or accept- 
 able to the departing ftrangers, and to thofe ftrangers 
 they might never more fee ! — The meflenger being def- 
 patched, the King retired again to his mat. 
 
 Early in the morning Abba Thulle and his Rupacls 
 went to bathe, and returned to breakfaft, when he pre- 
 pared to proceed to Oroolong. — Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. 
 IVilfon invited the General to go with them in the pin- 
 nace, which he accepted, ordering his canoes to attend 
 the King. — When they had got about two or three 
 miles from the iftand, it began to blow frefti, fo that the 
 canoes were obliged to make their way along the fliore 
 for flielter ; Raa Kook, delighted to fee the pinnace fail 
 fo well, and feel fo little the effeft of the bad weather, 
 requefted his two friends to go in ftiore to the King, 
 and aik him on board; which they immediately compli- 
 ed with. — Abba Thulle, with his young daughter, and 
 the Chief Minifler, came Into the pinnace; the wind ftill 
 frelhening, they made great way, the boat rolling much, 
 going before the wind and fea. — The King and his 
 company exprefled great fatisfaftion in finding they fat 
 there fo dry and comfortable to what they could have 
 done in a canoe, which is only fit for fihooth waterj 
 our people perceiving he was fo pleafed with the pinnace. 
 Informed him, that the Captain intended to prefent him. 
 with that boat when they went away ; on which he dc- 
 fired his brother Raa Kook to be very particular in ob- 
 ferving in what manner the fails were managed. 
 
 They brought with them many things for prefents ; 
 and foun after Abba Thulle and the Qeneral; agreeable 
 
 to 
 
ZJ2 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 to their promife, fet their people about painting the vef- 
 fel, as alfo the mails, booms, bowfprit, &c. — About 
 three o’clock in the afternoon the veffel was lowered off 
 the blocks down upon the ways; but being two much 
 over to one fide, was fwept with a rope, and a tackle 
 got upon it, to boufe her over. — The King, attentive 
 to all he faw, underllood what was doing, and fetching 
 a long pole, was going to apply it as a lever to heave 
 her over, but was requelled to defill, for fear of llrain- 
 ing her ; Ihe was with eafe got fair upon the ways, and 
 all things made ready for launching in the morning. — 
 jihla 71311116 fat down near the velTel, talking with Raa 
 Kook and the other Chiefs ; then calling to 7om Rofe^ 
 bade him inform the Captain, who was at feme dillance, 
 that they wilhed to fpeak to him ; who being come, the 
 King ordered the linguill to acquaint him, that they 
 wilhed the velfel to have a Pelew name, as they fuppofed 
 it was then called by fome Engl'ijh one, which they de- 
 fired might be changed to Oroolong, in remembrance of 
 its having been built there ; the Captain alfured them 
 it Ihould immediately be done — ^fent for his officers and 
 people, and communicated to them the King’s requell ; 
 they w’ere pleafed with his idea, which the King per- 
 ceiving, exprefled himfelf greatly fatisfied. — Soon after- 
 wards Abba Tkulle, with his attendants, went over to 
 the watering-place, and defired Captain Wilfun to go 
 with him; when they arrived there, fome canoes were 
 jull come in from filhing, and he ordered what had been 
 caught to be divided, and the bell portion to be given 
 to the Enghjh; this feemed to be the purport of the in- 
 vitation. But a bufinefs of more confequence took place 
 at this vlfit: the third mate, the gunner, and Ihip’s ftew- 
 ard, came over, and Informed the Captain, that Blan-^ 
 chard was coming himfelf to fpeak to the King concern- 
 ing his Intention of remaining at Pelenv; after a Ihort 
 confultatlon. It was agreed to abide by their former de- 
 termination. The Captain, in confequence, talking 
 with Abba Thulle about their departure, told him he 
 would, in return for the hofpitable kindnefs that both 
 he and his people had Ihewn them; legve one of his 
 
 men 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 153 
 
 men with them, to take care of the gune and other 
 things they intended to give him when they went away; 
 which appearing to the King as a teftimony of confi- 
 dence and efteem, could not fail to be very acceptable.— 
 Evening coming on, our people returned to the tents, 
 i having lirft informed Blanchard that the matter he wiili- 
 1 ed was fettled, and introduced him to their Pe/ew friends 
 as the perfon whom they intended flrouid remain with 
 I them. 
 
 In the night the weather was exceedingly bad, blow- 
 ing a hurricane, with fo much rain that no work could 
 be done at low-water, toward getting ready for the 
 launch in the morning. — At day-light the weather was 
 cloudy, with little wind ; but from the very high wind 
 in the night it was thought beft to defer launching the 
 i veffel, as it was judged the next tide would not rife fuf- 
 j ficiently high for that purpofe. — The King with his at- 
 tendants (but unaccompanied by any women) came 
 over land to the tents very early, and immediately fet 
 his men to work to make good the places where the 
 tempeft of the night had wafhed away the paint . — Alla 
 7 hulle, converllng with the Captain, gave him to under- 
 ftand, that they would have bad weather until the moon 
 quartered, and, left he (hould not be fully explicit, he 
 took up a large leaf, and with his fingers tore it till it 
 became round, to figure the full moon, that being the 
 then ftate of that planet; which when he had fhewn, he 
 altered the rotundity into the form of a crefeent, in- 
 timating by this, that the w'eatlier would continue un- 
 fettled, until that alteration took place in the moon’s 
 appearance : but, as the remaining fuch a length of time 
 would have been very irkfome to all, who now felt an 
 increafed impatience to get away. Captain Wilfon af- 
 figned, as a reafon againft any longer delay, that by it, 
 they might arrive in all probability at China (whither 
 he knew they were bound) after all the fhips of his 
 country were failed for Europe, which would detain them 
 there till the fubfequent feafon. 
 
 While painting the veffel this morning, the ftem was 
 jjuticularly decorated by Raa Kook, under the immedi- 
 ate 
 
154 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 ate direftion of the King; our people took notice that 
 he made on each fide of the Hern two circles, one with- 
 in another, in black and white, with fome little -zig- 
 zag ornaments hanging from them ; thefe were not the 
 effeft of chance, but defign, as, during the time that 
 the General was making them, the King was talking to 
 him, and appeared to be giving direftions, not ferioufly, 
 but in a pleafant and rather jocofe way. The painting 
 being finilhed, the General and Arra Koohcr joined the 
 King and the Captain, who was fitting with him; after 
 fome converfation, feveral bailcets of old cocoa-nuts in 
 a ftate of vegetation, and ibmc other feeds, were brought ; 
 r.nd the linguift acquainted the Captain fhat they were 
 brought to Oroohng to be planted for the Engll/Jj. — Raa 
 Kook then defired Captain IVHfon would accompany him 
 and Arra Kooher, and fliew them wliere he would like 
 to have them planted, and that fome of our people, with 
 tools, would afiift them, by digging the holea; which 
 being done, the General and his brother planted feveral 
 cocoa nut and other fruit trees round the cove where 
 the Eiiglifh lived ; and it was oblerved, that in covering 
 each nut, or feed with earth, they faid fomething gently 
 to themfCves. When they had completed this work, 
 they told the Captain thefe would be future fruits for 
 him, and the Englijhy whenever they returned; and that, 
 fiiould any inhabitants of the other iflands accidentally 
 come on fhore at Oroolong, and eat thereof, they would 
 thank the Englijb for their refrefiiment. — In the even- 
 ing they tried to launch the vefiel, but to their great 
 difappeintment could not move her, until the tide be- 
 gan to fall ; they therefore let every thing remain until 
 the next tide, hoping In that time to difeover and re- 
 move the obftruftion. 
 
 Blanchard having come over with the King In the 
 morning, gave an account to his comrades of*his treat- 
 ment after the Captain and his companions had left 
 fiim; the King, he faid, was very much pleafed in the 
 thought of his being to remain at Pele'ou, and with his 
 teadinefs to ftay with them, and had promifed to make 
 ■him’ a Rupack, and to give him two wives, together 
 
 with 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 15^ 
 
 with a houfe and plantations; alTuring him, that he 
 would do every thing to make him happy and content- 
 ed, and that he fhould always be with himfelf or Raa 
 Kook. — Madan Blanchard was a man of a Angular cha- 
 racter, about twenty years of age, of rather a grave 
 turn of mind, at the fame time poffefTing a confidcrable 
 degree of dry humor; and what rendered the circumftance 
 of his determination the more remarkable is, that it was 
 well known he had formed no particular attachment on 
 the ifland. His good-tempered, inoffenfive behaviour dur- 
 ing the voyage had gained him the regard of all his (hip- 
 mates; and, feeing the extraordinary refolution he had 
 taken of remaining behind, every one was anxious to in- 
 terell the natives in his favor. As he perfevered in his 
 refolution to the laft, every reader will naturally feel a 
 \vi(h to learn fomewhat of the fubfequent fortune of a 
 man voluntarily cutting himfelf off from the reft of the 
 world — dubious as the event may be, whether this know- 
 ledge may hereafter ever reach our ears. It is by no 
 means improbable, if he has conduced himfelf well, that 
 by this time he may have become a charafter of coufi- 
 derable confequence: courage he poffelTed in an eminent 
 degree, a vhtue held in high eftimation by the natives. 
 Unfortunately, his lituation in life having denied him 
 any advantage of education, he was unable either to w'rite 
 or read, otherwife his memenrs, fince the year 1783, well 
 digefted, might, to all the inveftigators of fimple nature, 
 be infinitely more interefting than thofe of half the mini- 
 fters and ftatefmen of Europe, who have only bequeathed 
 to pofteiity a remembrance of all thofe darkcounfels,fecret 
 devices, and profligate intrigues, which difturbed the 
 tranquillity of the age they lived in. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 IS6 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Vejfel fiiccefsfuUy launched. — Tljc great SatisfaSton ex- 
 prejfed by the Natives on the Occafion. — Our People give 
 the l^ing the Remainder of the Tools.— Captain Wilfon 
 fent for by the King to the Watering-place, ivho propofei 
 to make him a Rupack of the frjl Rank. — Invefs him 
 with the highefl Order of the Bone. — A Defcription of the 
 Ceremony. 
 
 Nov. ^ I H E night proving fine, every hand had 
 9. JL fufficient employment in preparing things 
 for launching the veffel ; they fwept her with a lower- 
 fliroud hawfer, and carried an anchor and hawfer a-head, 
 and got a runner and tackle purchafe upon it ; they like- 
 wife got a poll: with wedges fet againft the ftern-poft, 
 and every thing feSdy before day-light. The tide eb- | 
 bed extraordinary low this night, infomuch that fome j 
 of them walked dry to the flower-pot ifland, which had 1 
 never been done at any other time before fince their 
 coming to this place'; it was low-water rather before two 
 o’clock this morning. At day-light they began to try 1 
 their work, to fee if their preparations would anfwer 
 their wifhes, and got the veffel down about fix feet ; they 
 then flopped till high-water, and fent to the King, who 
 w'ith all his attendants came over to be prefent at the 
 launch. About feven o’clock, our people happily got 
 their veffel afloat, to the general joy of every fpeftator, 
 all appearing deeply interefted in the fuccefs of this 
 event. — The Engli/h gave three loud huzzas at her go- 
 ing off, in which they were joined by the natives, whofe J 
 friendly hearts feemed on this occafion to feel a fatisfac- | 
 tion little inferior to that of our own people, which ' 
 may be fuppofed to have been great indeed. — The Eng- 
 li/h fhook hands with each other, with a cordiality but 
 feldoro experienced ; and the mutual look of congratu- 
 lation, 
 
the PELEW islands. F57 
 
 lation, exchanged from eye to eye, conveyed to each 
 other’s feelings, with energy and ardor, thofe fentiments 
 of tranfport which words would not with equal force 
 have communicated. The long-wiihed-for moment of 
 deliverance was now almoft arrived ; every one faw again, 
 in imagination, thofe objedfs of his affeilion, fi om whom, 
 but a few weeks paft, he thought he had been feparated 
 for ever. And the part the inhabitants of Pelew ap- 
 peared to take in the comfort of the day, cxtlnguifhed 
 for the prefent every alarm that had been unjnftly en- 
 tertained. — Indeed the condud of the latter now ex- 
 hibited, in lovelieft colors, the triumph of native be- 
 nevolence. — They faw thofe llrangcrs ready to depart, 
 from whofe aid they had benefited, and from whofe 
 talents and art they had received a knowledge and in- 
 formation which had never hitherto reached them ; they 
 faw them exhilarated with the profped of returning once 
 more (after all their dangers) to their own country, 
 whither they were bearing back thofe envied faculties 
 which they might never witnefs again. And yet we be- 
 hold thofe virtuous natives, glowing with the fpirit of 
 true philanthropy, in the general tranfport forgetting 
 themfelves, and rejoicing with thofe that rejoiced ! 
 
 The veffel was Immediately hauled into a dock that 
 had been dug for her, and fafely moored, when all 
 went to breakfaft — the King and the Rtipacks with the 
 Captain, the attendants with the people : this was in- 
 deed the happieft and moft comfortable meal they had 
 eaten fince the lofs of the Antelope, When breakfaft 
 was over, they got up fhears, and took in the malls, 
 the water-calks, and the two fix-pounders. They now 
 made the King a prefent of all the other tools they 
 could fpare; and took up the ways, on account of the 
 nails, of which they were in want. The vcflel having 
 flopped two or three times in the launching, which had 
 caufed them fomc trouble, and more uneafinefs, In taking 
 up the ways they perceived that it had been occalion- 
 ed by a nail In the bottom not being drove home, the 
 head of which had grooved the plank all the length of 
 the ways. — When the flood-tide came in the afternoon, 
 O they 
 
IJS AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 they hauled the veffel into the bafon, which was a deep 
 place of four or five fathom water, in the middle of the 
 level, fandy flat of the haiboui, large enough to hold 
 three veffels of the lame magnitude, where they could 
 be afloat at low water. In the night they got on board 
 all their provifion, ftores, ammunition, and anns, except 
 fuch as were intended to be given to /ilia Thulle; and 
 renewed their labor in the morning, taking on board 
 their anchois, cables, and other necefl'aries, making tits, 
 and fitting a rail acrofs the Hern of the veflcl. In the 
 morning the King fent a meflage to Captain IVilfon, 
 defiring him to come to him at the watering-place ; 
 and on his arrival acquainted him, that it was his in- 
 tention to inveft him with tlie order of the Bene, and 
 make him in form a Rupack of the firft rank. The 
 Captain exprefled his acknowledgments for the honor 
 be purpofed to confer on him, and the pleafure he felt 
 at being admitted a Chief of Pdew. — The King, and 
 all the Rupacks, then went and fat down under the fliade 
 of fome large trees, and Captain Wilfon was defired to 
 lit at a little diftance; when Raa Kook receiving the 
 Bone, prefented it, as from his brother jilba Thulle, and 
 ■i\anted to know which hand he ufed in common ; this 
 the General wifhed to afceitain, by putting a flone in 
 his hand, which he defired him to tlirow at a diftance; 
 finding it was the right hand he naturally ufed, he was 
 again requefted to fit down, and the Bone was applied 
 to his left hand to fee if it was large enough for his 
 hand to flip through; being not found fufficiently fo, it 
 was rafped away, till judged to be wide enough, when 
 Raa Kook, the Chief Mintfler, and all the Rupacks, pro- 
 ceeded to the inveftment, in the following manner ; — 
 The General made a firing faft to each of the fingers 
 of the Captain’s left hand, and then lubricating the 
 liand w'ith oil, the Chief Mintfler placed himfelf behind 
 the Captain, holding him fall by the fhoulders; Raa 
 Kook then paffed the different firings through the Bone, 
 and giving them to another Rupack, they endeavoured to 
 xlraw his hand through; Raa Kook at the fame time, 
 viith his own hand; comprefiing that of the Captain in- 
 
the p e l e w islands. 15.5 
 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 to the fmalleft compafs he pofTibly could, fo that the 
 Bone might pafs over the joints. During this tue moil 
 profound iilence ^vas preferved, both by the Rupacks who 
 alTilled, and the people who attended as fpeclators, ex- 
 cept by the King, who occafionally fu^gellcd in wh.it 
 manner they might facilitate the operation. The point 
 being at hail obtained, and the hand fairly paffed through, 
 the whole afiembly expreffed great joy. j^lha Thulle then 
 addrefling Captain IVilfon, told him, that the Bone JhoulJ 
 be rubbed bright every day, and prejerved as a tejhmuny of 
 the rank he held amongjl them; that this mark of dignity 
 mujl, on every occafton, be defended valiantly, nor fufereil 
 to be torn from his arm but voith the lofs of Ife. 
 
 The ceremony ended, all the Rupaeks congratulated 
 Captain IFilfon on his being one of their order; and the 
 inferior natives flock.'d round to look at the Bone, and 
 appeared highly pleafed to fee his arm adorned -.vith it, 
 calling him Englees Rupack. 
 
 Thofe who have been witne.Tes of the conferring the 
 more fplendid orders of diftinclion, bellowed by fove- 
 reigns of powerful and polillied kingdoms, where the 
 Gothic hall is decorated with waving banners — where 
 mitred prelates aflill the ceremony — where the pomp of 
 regal Hate impofes on the fenfe — and the blaze of fu- 
 perb ornaments, beaming from female beauty, gracing 
 the ceremony, overpowers the fpeftator with a vail dii- 
 play of magnificence — fuch may, with a fmile of con- 
 tumely, read the conceptions of thefe children of natnr. , 
 or be difpofed to ridicule the fimplicity v.'ith whicii 
 the unadorned natives of Pelav hold a chapter of tlieir 
 highell Ordei- of the Bone. But it will be recollecled, 
 that the objeR and the end are every where the Lme. — ■ 
 This mark of dillindlion is given aird received in tliofe 
 regions as a reward of valor and fidelity, and held out 
 as the prize of merit. — In this light ftieh public honors 
 were originally confidered, and Hill ought to be fo, in 
 every Hate from PJevo to Britain. — And while they con- 
 tinue to be thus regarded, they will operate on the hu- 
 man paliions, excite cinul.ition, infpire courage, promote 
 virtue, and cliallenge refpeft. — The decoration indeed 
 
 derives 
 
i<?o ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 derives all its fplendor frpm the combined ideas of the 
 mind whilft viewing it; and tlie imagination is equally 
 imprefled with the fame fentiment, whether the badge 
 of honor^ be a ftrip of velvet tied round the knee, a 
 tuft of riband and crofs dangling at the button-hole, 
 a ftar embroidered on the coat, or a Bone upon the 
 arm. 
 
 chapter XX. 
 
 The good Condu3 of the hhaiives, not to diflurh or impede 
 the Operations of our People.— “The King informs Captain 
 Wilfon of his Intention to fend his fecond Son, Lee Boo, 
 under his Care, to England. — Raa Kook hailing alfo 
 folicited Abba Thulle’s Permiffion to accompany the Eng- 
 liih, IS refufed ly his Brother, on very prudential Mo- 
 tives. — A Jingular Occurrence refpeding one of the King’s 
 Nepheivs, — The Time of the VffeVs Departure noticed 
 ' — and, preparatory to it, an inferipiion, cut on a Plate 
 of Copper, is fxed to a large Tree, to record the Lofs 
 of the Antelope. 
 
 Nov.TN the evening the tents were all cleared, and 
 lo. X every thing carried on board from the old habi- 
 tations at the Cove. — Our people being much hindered 
 by the natives wifliing to come on board the veflel to 
 fee and admire her, it was obfen-ed by Raa Kook, and 
 mentioned by him to the King, who immediately gave 
 direftions that none but the Chiefs iliould go, and that 
 the others fhould only paddle along fide, and look at 
 her from their canoes. When all the ftores were on 
 bo; rd, and the fails bent, the Captain invited Abba 
 Thille to accompany him in her round to the watering- 
 plac e, which he declined, and went with his attendants 
 over land ; the invitation was, however, accepted by the 
 General and Ana Kooker, who were highly deliglited at 
 every manoeuvre ; their canoes, with many others, full 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. i6r 
 
 of the natives, attended them, flionting, hallooing, and 
 rejoicing, Raa Kook calling out continually to his peo-- 
 pie to obferve evei^ motion and aftlon of the Enotyh In 
 condufting their vefTcl. They carried her to the w elt 
 fide of the ifland, and moored her In fix fathom watei , 
 
 [ a-breaft of the well of frelh water. Captain IVilfan then 
 I went on fliore to the King, accompanied by Raa Kook 
 j and Arra Kooker, who related to their brother every cir- 
 cumftance they had noticed, deferibing particul '.rly the 
 ; man heaving the lead, and the manner of anthoving. — 
 Some canoes, as ufual, had been out a filhing, and 
 caught a great quantity, of which they had made no 
 diltribution, waiting for the Engl'ifh to come and fnare 
 with them ; this friendly attention could not be accept- 
 ed, as all our people were on board, and they had no 
 convenience as yet made for a fire-place in their little 
 vefiel. The King then allced the Captain to (lay and eat 
 fome of the filh with him, which he complied with, 
 the interpreter remaining with him. 
 
 Alla 'ThuUe had, In his vifits to Oroolong, been always 
 a vei7 attentive obferver of whatever he faw the Engl\lb 
 were employed in. Handing by them frequently, whilit 
 at work, for a confiderable time, and noticing eveiy oc- 
 currence. — He had already, as will be recollected, hint- 
 ed an intention of fending two of his people to Englattdy 
 whenever the velTel was ready to depart ; and this even- 
 ing, after fupper, reverting to what he had formerly 
 mentioned, he explained himfelf more fully on the fub- 
 jeft ; he told the Captain, that though his fubj efts- look- 
 ed up to him with refpeft, and regarded him as not on- 
 ly fuperior in rank, but* in knowledge, yet, that after 
 being with the Englifh, and contemplating their inge- 
 nuity, he had often felt his own infignificaace, in feeing 
 the lowed: man whom the Captain had under his com- 
 mand, exercife talents that he had ever been a ftranger 
 to ; he had therefore refolved to intrull his fecond fon, 
 whofe name was Lee Boo, to Captain IVilfon's care, that 
 he might have the advantage of improving himfelf by 
 accompanying the Engli/h, and of learning many things, 
 that might at his return greatly benefit his own coun- 
 
 V 
 
i 62 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 added, that one of the Malays from Pelehao 
 fliould aho go to attend on him. — He ciefcribcd his fon 
 as a young man of an amiable and gentle difpofition ; 
 that he was fenfible, and cf a mild temper, and fpokc 
 much in his commendation ; faid he had fent for him 
 from a diHant place, where he had been under the care 
 of an old man ; that he was then at Pehuu, taking leave 
 of his friends, and would be with him at Oroclurtg the 
 next morning ; Raa Kcoh alfo joined, with his brother 
 yirra Kookcr, in giving the fame good charafter of their 
 nephew. 
 
 Captain IVilfon replied, that he was exceedingly 
 obliged and honored by this fingular mark of his conli- 
 dcnce and dleem ; that he fhouid have thought himfelf 
 bound in gratitude to take care of any perfon belonging 
 to Pelenv, v\ horn the King might fend ; but in this cafe, 
 he wiflied to afTure him, that he fliould endeavour to 
 merit the high trufl; repoftd in him, by treating the 
 young prince with the fame tendernefs and alfeftioa as 
 his own fon. — This anfwer gave vifible fatisfadlicn ; and 
 then the converfalion changing, the King expreffed a 
 wiih that the vefTcl might go down to PeLiv before 
 her departure ; the rcafon he affigned for making this 
 requeft was, that many of the men had enjoyed various 
 opportunities, at Oroolong, of feeing the vefftl and her 
 conftrnftion ; but that this had not been the cafe with 
 the aged, the women, and the children ; that, if they 
 went down to Pekiv, thefe latter would then have the 
 pleafure of gratifying their curiofity ; that the mothers 
 would hereafter talk over to their children and families 
 the Angularity of the fight, recall the circumftance to 
 their memories, and by this means the name of the Eng- 
 lyh, and of their building fuch a veffel on the ifland of 
 Oroolong, would be preferved by his people, which was 
 what he much wiflied. — Captain JVilfon, who w’tll knew 
 the difpofition cf his own people, and was in his mind 
 iully perfuaded that their former fufpicions would revive, 
 and induce them to doubt whether fome treachery was 
 not concealed under this requeft ; fearing alfo, that the 
 eagernefs cf the natives to come on board and view her 
 
 interior, 
 
the P E L E W islands. 165 
 
 mtarior, as well as her exterior form, might caufc confu- 
 fion and delay, oppofed the King’s propofal, by fuggcll- 
 ing fuch well-conceived objections to it, that he acqui- 
 efeed, and nothing more was ever faid on the fubjeCl. 
 
 It may not be Improper in this place to notice, that 
 from the time Raa Kook was bufied with the King in 
 painting the veflel, it was obfevved, that there was a 
 penlive gloom about him, which they had never before 
 feen cloud his countenance, naturally open and cheer- 
 ful. — The Captain found it had been occafioned by a 
 difappointment he had met with. — His great attachment 
 to the Enghjh had induced him to ailc his brother’s per- 
 mifTion to accompan) them to England, to which the 
 King had refufed his confent ; afTigning the neceffity he 
 was under to objeCf to it, from the circumilance ot his 
 being the next heir, and the inconveniences that would 
 arife in cafe of his own death when he (liould be ablent ; 
 tlie fuccellion of the fovereignty of PeL-w firft devolving 
 to the brothers of the King, in fuccefiion, and after 
 their deaths reverting to the eldeft fon of the lirfl. branch 
 of the family ; the fecond fon becoming, of courfc, he- 
 reditary General of the forces. And though the good 
 imderllanding which Raa Kook poffefTed, fhewed him the 
 impropriety of what he had ddired, and the prudent 
 ground of his brother’s refufal, yet it was evident it had 
 much depreffed him ; indeed, the very itrong partiality 
 he had from the firft teftified for our countrymen, the 
 plcafure he always feemed to enjoy in their fociety, and 
 the intereft he certainly felt in their welfare, would na- 
 turally touch his fcnfibility, make him fee with regret 
 the fails of his departing friends unfurled, and accele- 
 rate the pang of a farewell look ! 
 
 • November 11. At day-light every body was bufied 
 in filling water, bending the fails, completing the fire- 
 place, and getting the veffel ready for fea. 
 
 Early this forenoon a circumftance arofe of a nature 
 too fingular to be omitted. — There was a young man 
 fi-eqnently with our people, who had taken a plcafure 
 to afiimilate himfelf to all their ways and manners, and 
 who now applied to Captain fPil/on, to folicit him to 
 
1^4- ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 take him in his vcHel to England; he was anfwered hy the 
 Captain, that it would he impoflible to do it without 
 the diredioh and confent of tlie King, who had already 
 fpoken to him of taking his fon and another man ; but, 
 that as he wifhed it, he would fpeak to the King, and 
 know his pleafure. — The young man above alluded to, 
 was the King’s nephew, and fon of that brother who 
 had been killed at jirtingall, and whofe death had ocea- 
 fioiied the war which had fo lately been terminated be- 
 tween his uncle and thofe people. — Captain IVitfon ac- 
 cordingly mentioned the affair to the King, who ap- 
 peared much difplcafed at the application ; faid his ne- 
 phew was a bad man, and negleded his family ; that he 
 liad himfelf, two or three times, finre the deceafe of his 
 father, changed his houfe and plantation for him, in 
 order to cure his rambling difpofition, but that nothing 
 feemed to affedt, or alter him. — The nephew now pre- 
 fented himfelf to urge his own fuit, probably thinking, 
 that the Captain being prefent, would fecond his re- 
 queft. — The King gave him an abfolute denial, faying, 
 ** Tou are vndutiful, and negletiful of your mother; you have 
 *< defervtng and good auoinen for your wives, to whom, as 
 « well as to all your relations, you behave ill, for wh'uh 
 “ you have beenjtflly expofed throughout the whole ifland.— 
 Tou are efbamed of your conduct, and would now fly from 
 your family; you Jball not have my confent, and I deftrs 
 “ the Captain not to countenance you ; flay at home, and let 
 *• your fenfe of Jhame amend your life.” 
 
 The Captain Intimated to Abba Thulle, that the veffel 
 being completed, and the weather and wind fair, they 
 intended to fail the next day : this circumllance feemed 
 to give him great concern ; he faid he had, by the re- 
 turn of the melfenger who came to him at the ifland of 
 Pethoull, fent word to the Rupacks of the different iflands 
 in friendfhip with him, that the day afer the day that 
 the Captain now mentioned would be the time of de- 
 parture, they all wifhing to bring the Englifb fome pre* 
 fents for their voyage, as memorials of their regard ; 
 and would in confequence come up the evening of the 
 pext day, in full hope of feeing them before they quitted 
 
 Oroolong- 
 
the PELEW islands. 165 
 
 Oroolong, a fatisfadion they would now be deprived of. 
 . — Captain JVilfon told yjbba Thulle, they had been fo 
 amply Hocked with provifions by what his goodnefs had 
 prepared for them, that they had fufficient llore for all 
 their voyage, and that the wind and weather befriend- 
 ing them, they muft requcft to take leave of him the 
 next day. The difappointment the Chiefs would feel, 
 fenfibly affeilcd the King, as well as the recolleftion 
 that he had himfelf been made the innocent inftrument 
 of deceiving them. The Captain was alfo much hurt at 
 finding the uneafinefs this circumftance had occafioned, 
 and the more fo, when he perceived that the generofity 
 of the King’s mind foon overcame it ; for he almoft di- 
 re£Hy told him, that, as it be the lajl day, he re- 
 quefted himfelf and his officers would dine with him on 
 fhore ; which they all accordingly did. — The true caufe 
 which induced the Engtl/h to think of going a day ear- 
 lier than they had given out, was to avoid the vaft con- 
 courfe of ftrangers, who they knew were coming, and 
 who, they feared, would impede their operations by the 
 number of their canoes, and their curiofity to examine 
 the veflel ; the bullle and confufion that this would ne- 
 celTarily have occafioned, muft have unavoidably incom- 
 moded our men, and prevented them from going away 
 with that calmnefs and recolle(ftion their departure, and 
 paflhge over the reef, required. — After dinner, ^na 
 Kooher, who had, from the firft day of feeing the 
 Newfoundland Dog, fet his herut on the animal, and 
 had often expreiTed a longing defire to poftefs it when 
 our people went away, now renewed his. fohcltations ; 
 fiom the earneftnefs with which he begged it, and the 
 care he aflured them he would take of it, they were in- 
 duced’ to make him happy, and relinquifh all right in 
 poor failor. 
 
 Raa Kcol, vvhofe thoughts were of a different turn, 
 and whofe ideas were wholly intent on benefiting his 
 country by every information he could obtain from the 
 Dnglijh, made many inquiries about the mcliiod of 
 building a veffel in tlieir way ; Mr. Barler drew him a 
 plan to work by, recommending the jolly-boat as a mo- 
 del. 
 
ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 del, rather than the pinnace, (lie being broader, and not 
 of fo deep a form. He expreficd a wifii to have the 
 launching-w'ays left, and faid, if he was able to com- 
 pafs fuch a purpofe, that he would do it on the fame 
 fpot, eftceming it to be fortunate. — Alha Thulle, who 
 had been diverted by yirra Kooher’s requeft, appeared 
 to lend a very fcrious attention to the fubjedt which 
 had fo much engaged Raa Kooh; obferving that avith 
 the iron and tools they had now in their poiTcflion, they 
 could do more work in a few days, than they could be- 
 fore in as many months. — While the Captain was on 
 fhore, fome words had arifen between two of his men 
 on board, which had produced a blow, and a bloody 
 nofe ; this palling on the deck, and being feen by ma- 
 ny of the natives, who were along lide in their canoes, 
 the account of it foon reached the Ihore ; the Captain 
 went immediately on board to inquire the caufe. After 
 reprimanding the parties, he returned to the King, who, 
 being apprized of the bulinefs, was told that it was a 
 trifling difpute, and the ciTcft of palCon ; on hearing 
 ■which, he faid, “ there were }n all countries had men, who 
 * he fuppofed could not he kept in order." Some of the 
 Rupacks, however, afleed if fuch an accident might hap- 
 pen to the young man who was to go with him (mean- 
 ing the King’s fon ;) Captain IVitJon aflured them no 
 filch thing could, as Lee Boo would be as his own fon, 
 and entirely frnder his own care : with which anfwer 
 they all appeared fatisfied. 
 
 Before our people quitted the Cove, they left an Eng- 
 lip} pendant hoifted on a large tree, which grew clofe to 
 where their tents had flood; and cut upon a plate of 
 copper, the following infeription, which, after being 
 nailed to a thick board, was affixed to a tree near the 
 fpot where they had built their little veffcl : 
 
 The 
 
the PELEW islands. 167 
 
 V 
 
 The Honoi*ablc 
 
 Englifli Eaft India Company’s Ship 
 The Antelope, 
 
 Henry Wilson, Commander, 
 
 Was loft upon the reef north of this ifland 
 
 In the night between the 9th and loth of 
 Aiiguft ; 
 
 Who here built a veflel. 
 
 And failed from hence 
 The I2tli day of November 1783. 
 
 The meaning of this infcription was explained to the 
 3 Cng, and that it was put up as a memorial of the Eng-; 
 {ifh having been there. — He was pleafed with the idea, 
 and explained it himfelf to his own people, promifing^ 
 that it fhould never be taken down, and if by any acci- 
 dent it fliould happen to fall, he would take care of It, 
 and have it preferved at Pelev;. 
 
 The difeourfe of the day turned much on the fubjefb 
 of their departure ; whilft they fat together, ylhba Ehulk^ 
 addrefling Captain Wilfon, faid, “ Tou are going; and 
 “ lu/jeti gone, I fear the inhabitants of Artingall w; 7 / come 
 “ down in great numbers and molefl me, as they have done 
 “ frequently before; and, having Iqfl the aid of the Engliih, 
 “ / Jhall be unable to reffl them, unlefs you will leave me a 
 ** few of your mujkets, which you have already taught me 
 “ to hope you would." — Captain IVifon fpoke to his offi- 
 cers on the propriety of doing this inftantly ; they feem- 
 ed fomewhat unwilling to put the arms they aftually 
 meant to give them, into their hands till the laft mo- 
 ment; — that miftruft which had pofTeffed their minds, 
 ftm kept its hold, and appeared too ftrongly impreffed on 
 their countenances to efcape the quick difeernment of 
 the King ; who, willing perhyis that they Ihould know 
 
i68 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 he had noticed their apprehenfions, with that calm, rc- 
 flefting temper which marked his charafter, aflced if 
 they were afraid to truft him with a few arms ? “ IVhat 
 “ is there (faid he) can make you harbour doubts of me? I 
 “ never tflfed any fear of you, but endeavoured to con- 
 “ Vince you that I wj/hed your friendfhip. Had 1 been dif 
 “ pof d to have harmed you, I might have done it long ago; 
 
 I have at all times had you in my power— dmt have only 
 “ exercifed that power in making it ufeful to you — and can 
 
 you not confde in me at the l^?” 
 
 When the foregoing pages are attentively confidered, 
 the hofpitality with which our people had been treated, 
 both by Hlba Thulle and the natives, from the firft 
 friendly interview to the prefent moment — who had 
 fpread before them whatever they had to give, or their 
 country produced, and who, added to all this, as an un- 
 equivocal proof of the high opinion he entertained of the 
 Englifh, was going to confign his own fon to their care 
 —is there a reader who, recalling all thefc circumftances, 
 can wonder they alFedled the fenfibility of Abba Thulle? 
 —Or rather, will there be found a reader who will not 
 be ready with myfelf to alk. Under what fun was ever 
 tempered the fteel that could cut fuch a paflage to the 
 heart as this juft reproach of the King’s ? Every' indi- 
 vidual felt its force, and its truth ; every individual alfo 
 felt how much his mind had injured the virtues of this 
 excellent man. — Nor w'as the wound of this reproach 
 rendered lefs acute by the confeioufnefs each man had, 
 of having been fo lately Induced, by his unjuft fears, 
 to join in fuch deftruftive counfel againft him and his 
 family. 
 
 But the eye of philofophy will candidly view and dif- 
 criminate between the two parties ; the people of Pelew 
 tutqrqd in the fchool of Nature, adted from hei impulfe 
 alonet they were open and undifguifed ; unconfeious of 
 deceit themfelves, they neither feared nor looked for it 
 in others. — Our country'men — born and brought- up in 
 a civilized nation, where Art aftiimes every form and co- 
 loring of life, and is even peifeAioned into a fclence, 
 were faftiioned by education to fufpicion and diftruft. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 169 
 
 and awake to all their bufy fugged ions. — Such is the 
 fatal knowledge the world teaches mankind, fencing too 
 often the human heart againft the inlets of its own hap- 
 pinefs, by weakening confidence, the moft valuable bond 
 of focicty! 
 
 The King’s rebuke was too powerful for our people 
 to refift; they inftantly delired the Captain to affure him, 
 that whatever had been promifed fhould be faithfully 
 fulfilled, and, to convince him they could have no fuf- 
 picions, the arms fliould be immediately given to him ; 
 they accordingly fent on board for the quantity of arms 
 they could with conveniency fpare, and on the boat’s re- 
 turn prefented him with five mufkets, five cutlaffes, 
 near a barrel of gunpowder, with gun-flints, and ball in 
 proportion. Captain JVilfon alfo made him a prefent of 
 bis own fowling-piece, with which he feemed to be par- 
 ticularly pleafed, having often feen its effedl on the fowls 
 and other birds at Peleiv. 
 
 And now the gentle fpirit of the King appeared to 
 forget the trace of all that had happened ; — but the fcene 
 enabled every one prefent to tranfmit to pofterity a moll 
 captivating piSure of the forcible, yet mild triumph of 
 virtue i 
 
 C H A P T E P. 
 
 P 
 
AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 T'JO 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 Lee T3oo an-hes, atul is intncluced to Captain Wllfon ; 
 at the King's Diftre, remains all Night on Shore, 
 The intjrejling Manner in which he delivers his Son to 
 his Care. — The Captain gives Blanchard Advice how to 
 conduct hinijelj, — In the Morning Signals Jor Jailing rear- 
 ed. — A Boat fent to bring the Captain on board. The 
 King and his Brothers accompany them to the Reef. — Mtil- 
 , iitudes of the Natives, in their Canoes, furround the Vejfel 
 to tejlify their Regard. — The King takes an aJfeSionate 
 l.eave of the Englllh. — CharaHer of Abba ’1 hulle. — . 
 Raa Kook croffes the Reef, and goes a good Way to Sea 
 before he quits them. — His Chara&er. — The EngHfh^/-c- 
 ceed on their Voyage to China. 
 
 0 
 
 Nov. T N the evening arrived the King’s fecond fon, 
 II. X Lee Boo; he ivas brought from Pelew by his 
 cider brother, Bill, to accompany our people to 
 England. Plis father introduced him to Captain Wilfon, 
 and then to the officers tvho were on ffioi e ; he approach- 
 ed them all in fo eafy and fo affable a manner, and had fo 
 much good-humor and fenfibillty in his countenance, 
 that every one was immediately impreffed in his favor, 
 and felt that intereft for him which his amiable manners 
 daily increafed. — Before dark the officers took their leave 
 of the King, and went on board the Oroolong, leaving 
 the Captain behind, whom Alba Thulle had requefted to 
 pafs the night on ffiore. The King now (having Lee Boo 
 clofe at his fide) difeourfed much with him, giving him in- 
 ttroftions how to condudl himfelf, and what he was to at- 
 tend to ; telling him he was henceforward to look upon 
 Captain JVilfon as another father, and win his affedfion by 
 iobferving his advice. — Then,addreffing the Captain, faid, 
 When Lee Boo got to England, he would have fuch fine 
 tilings to fee, that he might chance to flip away from 
 
 “ him. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. iji 
 him, to run after novelty ; but that lie hoped tlie Cap- 
 “ tain would keep him as much as he could under his 
 it eyifj and endeavour to moderate the cagcinefs of his 
 “ j'outh.” _ ^ 
 
 After further converfation relative to the confidence 
 repofed in Captain JVilforiy Abba Thulle concluded Iiis re- 
 commendation in nearly thefe exprchions : — “ I I'jwhl 
 “ in'ijh you to inform I.ee Boo of all things ‘which he ought ^ 
 “ to blow, and make him an Englifliman . — The fuljeet of 
 “ parting with my fon I have frequently rcvolw^dj — I am 
 “ well aware that the dijlant countries he m'.rjl go through, 
 “ dijftrin^ much from his own, may enpofe him to dangirs, 
 “ as well as to df safes that are unknown to us here, in eon- ^ 
 “ fquenec of which he may die ; — / have prepared my 
 thoughts to this ; — I know tlo&l death is to all men hiivitall , 
 “ and whether my fn meets this event at Pelew, or elf when:, 
 is imniateriuL — I am fatisfied, from 'what I have ohferved 
 “ of the humanity of your charaeler, that if he is fvh, j;;; 
 “ will he kind to hint; and, foould that happen, which year 
 “ uini'fl care cannot prevent, let it not hinder yu', or y;.r 
 “ hrower, or your fov, or any of your ccunirynien, returning 
 “ here; I Jhall receive you, or any of your people, in friend- 
 “ Jhip, and rejoice to fee you again.” 
 
 Captain IVilfon repeated his aiTurance, that he would 
 have the fame care for Lee Boo as for his own child,, 
 and that nothing Ihould be wanting cn his pai't to tefii- 
 'fy, in his attention to the fon, the gratitude and regard 
 he fnoukl ever feel for the father. 
 
 Tlie thoughts of the King, as well as thefe of the 
 Captain, were too much engaged, to devote much (rf 
 the niglit to deep ; Abba Thulle paffed a coalideraldc 
 part of it, as did alfo the Rupacks, in difcoiufing with 
 their young countryman, who was now launching into a 
 new and untried world, and on the point of being fepa- 
 rated by an immenfe diflancc from every former connc '- 
 tioa. — Being now fo near to their departure. Captain 
 IVifai took this opportunity to talk again with Bhr- 
 chord, and to give him advice how he fhtnild conaucL hiin- 
 felf towards the natives, and in what things lie could be 
 iudruftive and bcucficial to them j particularly in woidj- 
 
172 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 ing fuch iron as had been given to them, and what more 
 they might hereafter obtain from the wreck ; and alfo in 
 takingcareof the arms and ammunition they had left them, 
 which would be of the utmoft confequence ; requefting 
 he would never go naked, like the natives, as, by pre- 
 ferving the form of drefs his countrymen had appeared 
 in, he would always fupport a fuperioiity of charafter; 
 and, that he might he better enabled to follow this 
 advice, he was furniflied with all the clothes they could 
 fpare ; and direfted, when thefe were worn out, to 
 make himfelf trowfers with a mat, which he could al- 
 ways procure from the natives, and thereby preferve that 
 decency he had always been accuftomed to.— Nor in the 
 inftrufiions delivered to him, were forgotten an attenti- 
 on to his religion ; he was earneftly exhorted not to 
 ncgleft thofe a£ts of devotion which he had been taught 
 to praflife ; and to keep a Salhath or Sunday, and fol- 
 low thofe Chriftian duties in which he- had been edu- 
 cated — He was laftly defired to afle for any thing that 
 iic might think would be of ufe and comfort to him : — 
 when he requefted to have one of the fhip’s compafTes ; 
 and, as the pinnace was to be left, that they might have 
 the vnafis, fails, oars, and every thing belonging to her ; 
 which were ail given, as fcon as they had towed the veffel 
 over the reef. 
 
 In the morning, at day-light, an Enghfa jacl was 
 hoifted at the mall-head of the velkl, and one of the 
 fudvels fired, as a fignal for failing ; this being explained 
 to the King, he ordered boats immediately to take on 
 board yams, cocoa-nuts, fweetmeats, and other things 
 provided for the voyage ; befide which, many canoes of 
 the natives, loaded rvith a profufion of provifion, lay 
 alongfide the Oroolong ; fo that, had all the expefted 
 ' r.orthcm added their intended prefents, it would 
 
 have fupplied a (hip of five times the fize. ^ 
 
 As foon as the veffel was loaded with every thing they 
 could take on board, and ready for fca, the boat 
 lent on Ihore for the Captain ; who acquainting the 
 King therewith, he fignifitd that he and his fon would 
 come on board pvefently in his canoe. — Captain 
 
THE P E L E W islands: 173 
 
 took Blanchard, as alfo the five men who had come on 
 (hore for him, into a temporary houfc that had been 
 eredled for the accommodation of the Rttpack dSIaafh, 
 
 • who was expedled from the northward, and being en- 
 tered, he once more requefted Blanchard to imprefs on 
 his memory all that advice which he had before given 
 him, and particularly to be obfervant or his duty, that 
 the people of Pclciv might thereby fee that be retained 
 that faith and fenfe of religion in which he had oeen train- 
 ed. He then made the feamen prefent kneel down 
 with him, and unite in thankfgiving to that Supreme 
 Being, who had not only fupported their fpirits in the 
 midft of fevere toils and dangers, but had now opened 
 to them the means of deliverance. — During tins act of 
 devotion, the ICing and his Chiefs remained near the en- 
 trance of the houfe, obfeiwed and well knew what our 
 people were about, and preferved a profound filence. 
 
 It mull; alfo be noticed, that when Lee Boo came up, 
 a balket, with fome dozens of a fruit refembling an ap- 
 ple, was brought from Pele'zu ; they were of an oblong 
 lhape, and ii^color of a deep crimibn, not unlilce what 
 are called in England, The Dutch Parad'ife ylfiple .* — 
 They fpoke of them as a fruit that was very rare, and 
 faid they were juft coming in feafon. The Captain gave 
 one to each of his officers, being a fruit they had not 
 fecn before ; and the reft he carefully refervtd for his 
 young paftenger, to treat him with during his voyage. 
 
 About eight o’clock in the morning the Captain wenc 
 on board in his boat ; the King, with his fon Lee Boo, and 
 his Rupach, followed liim very foon in their canoes,accom- 
 panied by Blanchard; their little veffel was fo deeply loadr 
 ed with their fea-ftores, that a doubt arofc whether flic 
 might be able to get over the Reef, it was therefore 
 agreed to land the two fix-pounders, and leave the jolly- 
 boat behind, they having no materials wherewith to 
 repair her, and without it (lie could not much longer 
 P 2 fvvim. 
 
 * Of this fruit there arc different forts, in many of the South 
 Sea iflands ; it is the J am’ooo Apple, the Eugenia MaliKee.^Jn of 
 Linngut, 
 
-174 A N A C C O U N T O F 
 
 fwi;n. This being made known to the King, and that 
 they were in v/ant of a boat, he immediately offered to 
 li pyly them with a canoe, and pointed.to feyeral then 
 along f;de ; all which being rather too large to hoift on 
 board the veffel, the King defpatched his cldefl fon, 
 e?;// B'tU, on fbere, who foon' returned with one of a 
 proper fize. 
 
 Mr. Sharp had been defired to take the King’s fon un- 
 der his particular cate, till the Qroulong fliould arrive at 
 China i and Abba ThuUe now' pointed out Mr. Sharp to 
 hint, wliom he faid was to be itis Sucaltc ; and from that 
 moment Lee Boo attached Iiimfelf to him, keeping clofe 
 at iiis tide in wlir.tever part of the veffel he went. In 
 putting every thing to order before the Oroolong moved, 
 there was a fmall fail belonging to the pinnace, which 
 could not be found. Blanchard, was now got into the 
 pinnace, in order to take the veffel in tow ; he had, 
 with the moll unwearied affiduity, lent his countrymen 
 every affiflnnce in liispow'cr to the laft, and, having laid 
 up craxfully the fail iiiquired after, came on; beard to 
 fhew where he had flowed it; which liffring done, he 
 wifked t’nem all a profperous voyage, and without tefti- 
 fying the fmallcfl degree of regret, took leave of all 
 his old f;ip-mates, with as much cafe as if they were 
 only failing from London to Gravcjtnd, and were to re- 
 turn with the next tide. 
 
 The Oroolong new proceeded towards the reef ; and, 
 leaded as (he liad been by Abha ‘Thullcs bounty, even to 
 fupetfluity, with whatever he conceived might be ufeful 
 or pkafant to his departing friends, yet on either fide 
 of her w'erc a multitude of canoes, filled with the com- 
 mon natives, who. had all brought our people prefents 
 from themfelves, entreating they might be accepted. — 
 It was in vain they were told that the veffel was fo full 
 there was no room to receive any thing more ; each 
 held up a little fomething, “ Only this from me ” — “ On- 
 “ ly this from me,” was the general cry ; — the repetition 
 of which was urged with fuch fupplicating counte- 
 nances, and watery eyes, that this bewitching' telUmcny 
 cjf affection and gencrofity almoft overcame every one on 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 175. 
 
 board. — From fome of thofe vvho^were neareft, a few 
 yams or cocoa-nuts were accepted ; and the poor crea- 
 tures whofe entreaties could not be attended to, unaole 
 to bear the difappointment, paddled a-head, and threw 
 the little prefents they had brought, into the pinnace, 
 totally ignorant that Ihc was to return back with Blan- 
 chard. 
 
 Several canoes preceded the pinnace, to mark the 
 fafeft track for the veffel ; and others were ftationed at 
 the reef, by the King’s command, to point out the deep- 
 eft v’ater for her pa.Tage over it : by all tlie previous ex- 
 aminations, as well as by tbe prefent precautions, tlie 
 Oroolcng cleared the reef without the Icall difficulty. 
 
 The King accompanied the Engljh in their veffel, al- 
 moft to the reef, before he made a fignal for his canoe 
 to come alongfidc ; he gave Lee Boo his bleffing, wifhing 
 him happy and profperous, which his fon received with 
 
 great refpeft Seeing Captain IVilfon bufied in giving 
 
 diredlions to his people, he ftopt till he found him quite 
 at liberty, and then went up to him and embraced him 
 with great tciBernefs, /hewing, by his looks and voice, 
 bow much he was diftre/Ted to bid him farewell; lie 
 fhook all the officers by the hand, in a moft cordial 
 manner ; faying, “ 7 'ou are happy becanfe you are going 
 “ home; — I am happy to Jind you are happy — but fiill vary 
 “ unhappy myfdf to fee you going aivay.” — Then, af- 
 furing our people of his affedlionate wifhes for their fuc- 
 cefsful voyage, he went over the fide of the veffel into 
 his canoe. —Moft of the Chiefs on board left them at 
 the fame time, except Raa Kook, and a few men who 
 attended him, who would fee the Englifh clear of dan- 
 ger to the outfide of the reef. As the canoes drew clofe 
 and furrounded that of the King, tlie natives all looked 
 up eagerly, as to take leave, whilft their countenances 
 expreffed all their benevolent hearts felt, in looks more 
 expreffive than language. Our countrymen might with 
 truth fay, they left a whole people in tears; and fo fen- 
 fibly were they impreffed themfelves by this interefting 
 feene, that when uibba Thulle and his train turned back.^ 
 to Oreolon^, they were hardly abk to give them three 
 
 cheery 
 
176 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 cheers, and their eyes purfued them to catch the latefi: 
 look, whilft every man on board, with the warmeft 
 emotions of gratitude, felt the efficacy of his fervices, 
 which in a great meafure had brought about their deli- 
 verance — and the Ileadinefs of his friendffiip, which, 
 though from imaginaty- alarms at times doubted, they 
 had found firm and unffiaken to the laft. 
 
 Having now bid adieu to this good and amiable 
 prince, it may not be improper to give an outline of 
 Lis general charadfer. — It is more than probable, that the 
 curtain is for ever dropped between him and the world ! — 
 He is entered into his own unnoticed domains, where he 
 and his Anceflry have paffed a long fucceffion of ages 
 in oblivious filence, unknowing and unknown to their 
 cotemporaries Inhabiting the reft of the globe. — An 
 accident, wholly unexpedled, hath given us at laft a 
 tranfient fight of thefe people ; nor is it likely that they 
 will again be fought or looked after, as they polTefs 
 nothing but good fenfe and virtue, and live in a country 
 which fupplies no materials that may tempt the avarice 
 of mankind to difturb their tranquiUityJ®-If they have 
 not, nor yet know the comforts of civilized nations, tire 
 advantages of arts, or the blandilhments of luxury — 
 they have, in counterpoife, been ignorant of the anxi- 
 eties they awaken, the paffions which they inflame, and 
 the crimes they give birth to! — Even in their ftate of 
 native fimplicity, as piftured in the foregoing pages, 
 there is, I ffiould conceive, fufficient matter to intereft, 
 and ftill far more to admire. With regard to the excel- 
 lent man, who ruled over thefe fons of Nature, he cer- 
 tainly, in every part of his condudl, ftiewed himfelf 
 firm, noble, gracious, and benevolent ; there was a dig- 
 nity in aUhis deportment, a gentlenefs in all his manners, 
 and a warmth and fenfibility about his heart, that won 
 the love of all who approached him. — Nature had be- 
 ftowed on him a contemplative mind, which he had 
 himfelf improved by thofe refleftions that good fenfe 
 (didlated, and obfervation confirmed. His remarks on 
 «,the affair of the mullcets were as pointed, and at the 
 fame tirae as delicate a reproof as perhaps was ever 
 
 thrown 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDvS. 177 
 
 thrown out. — His converfation with Captain JVilfon, re- 
 fpe&ing his fon, whilft it fhewed an unbounded confi- 
 dence on tlie part of the King, marked alfo the force 
 of great fentiment and reafoning; and his rebuke, when 
 refufing his nephew’s felicitation, difeovered a heart tu- 
 tored in the fentiments of refined honor. 
 
 The happinefs of his people feemed to be always in 
 Abba ThuUe's thovjghts. — In order more effeftually to 
 ftimulate them to ufeful labor, he had himfelf learnt all 
 the few arts they pefTeffed, and was looked on, in fome 
 of them, to be the beft workman in his dominions. -*-Hi3 
 requeuing from Captain the Chinefe mat, was on- 
 
 ly to give his people a better'.pattern than their own to 
 follow ; and, in feuding his fon to England, and in the 
 long inftruftions given him before his departure, he 
 had not, nor could have, any other objeft in view, 
 but that of benefiting his fubjedts by the future im- 
 provements he would bring back to his country; ideas, 
 which the intercourfe he had with the Enghjh muft have 
 folely excited. — In fhort, had his lot been thrown to 
 rule over a great nation, connedted with mankind, one 
 is at liberty to conjedlure, that his talents and natural 
 difpoCtion might have made him the Pekr of the fouth- 
 ern world ! 
 
 Placed as he was by Providence in its obfeurer feenes, 
 he lived beloved by his Chiefs, and revered by his peo- 
 ple; over whom, whilft he preferved a dignity that dif- 
 tinguiflied his fuperior ftation, he reigned more as the 
 father than the fovereign. — The eyes of his fubjedls be- 
 held their naked prince with as much awe and refpedl, 
 as thofe are viewed with, who govern poliftied nations, 
 and are decorated with all the dazzling parade and orna- 
 ments of royalty; nor was the purple robe, or the fplendid 
 diadem neccfiaiy to point out a charadler, which the 
 mafterly hand of Nature had rendered fo perfeft! 
 
 Plaving pafled the reef, and being clear of prefent’ 
 danger, every one would have been in great fpirits, had 
 not the pain of quitting thefe friendly people over- 
 Ihadowed their joy . — Raa Kook remained very penfive, 
 
 , and fuffered the veffel to proceed a confiderable way 
 
 from 
 
*7® anaccountof 
 
 from the reef before he recolleacd hJmfclf, and fum- 
 moned his canoes to return back.— As this Chief had 
 been their firll and truly valuable friend, they prefented 
 him with a brace of piilols, and a cartouch-box loaded 
 with the proper cartridges. — The pinnace being now at 
 the fide of the veffeJ, the Captain and officers were pj'e- 
 paied to take leave of the General; but, when the mo- 
 rnent of fieparation arrived, he was fo affefted, that he 
 wa?' Ht nift unable to fi^ak; he»took them cordially 
 by the hand, and pointing^with the other to his heart, 
 faid,»rV inas there he fit thfimin of bidding them farewell ; 
 nor w^'e there any on bo^d who faw his departure with- 
 out lharing nearly the fjere dulrefs. — He addrefied Lee 
 Boo by his name, and ffioke a few words to him ; but, 
 being unable to proceed, he went into the boat, when, 
 ji^mediateiy quitting the rope, he gave our people a laft 
 anedlionate look, then dropped aflern. 
 
 This c.xcellent man appeared to be fomewhat upwards 
 of forty years of age, was of a middling flature, rather 
 inciineblc to be lufty; he had a great expreffion of fen- 
 fibility ill his countenance, tempered with abundant 
 ^ood-naturc. His^ charatler was firm apd determined, 
 yet full of humanit)' ; in whatever he undertook he was 
 Heady and perfevering; he delivered his orders to the 
 people with the utmoil lenity, but would be obeyed ; 
 and they, on every occafion, feemed to ferve him wilii 
 ardor and alacrity, as if mingling alFedlion with duty. 
 The reader mult have obferved, that from his firll inter- 
 view wu’th our people, he had Ihewm an attachment to 
 them, which was never after leffened or cooled. He 
 was not of fo ferious a call as the King, nor had he 
 that turn for humor and mimickry which Arra Kcoher 
 fo llrongly poireflld ; but he was always pleafant and 
 lively, had abundant good-humor, and w'eh-difpofed tp 
 laughter, when it was occafionally excited. He had an 
 eager fpirit of inquiry, and a defire to examine the 
 caufes and reafons of every effeft which he faw pro- 
 duced; and was wonderfully quick In comprehending 
 whatever was deferibed to him; his mind was llrong 
 and active, his behaviour manly and courteous, and ac-^ 
 
 companied 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 179 
 
 companied with fo nice a fcnfe of honor, that he felt 
 it wounded whenever any of the natives had, by their 
 little, trifling thefts, violated, as he judged, the laws of 
 hofpitality, which he held moft facred, and always dif- 
 covered an impatience till he could make them reftore 
 what they had taken away. This he carried fo far as 
 even to fhow his difpl^afure at the Chief Mhufer, for re- 
 queuing a.cutlafs of Captain IVUfon (at the firll inter- 
 view) thinking it a breach of this virtue, to folicit a 
 favor of thofe who were fo fituated, as not to be at liber- 
 ty to refufe the requell, though the granting it might 
 be inconvenient. He was much amufed by the peculiar 
 manner of the and their way of talking; would 
 
 frequently lit down to pick oakum with them, on pur- 
 pofe to fee more of them, without feeming to intrude. 
 Our people were probably partly indebted to his good 
 offices for the Ileady friendlhip the King had for them ; 
 
 , at leall, on their firll coming, he certainly intev^*"*-^^ 
 t his brother in their favor. He beheld all duplicity with 
 : indignatipn, and publicly, before the King, fhewed his 
 
 contempt of Soogle,, the Malay, who had dared to throw 
 out infinuations prejudicial ro the.Pngfh. He was 
 communicative to our people on every occafion, and at 
 all times willing to explain any thing to them; and, 
 had they always had the linguift at their elbow, or a 
 language in which they could have eafier converfed with 
 him, many things might have been cleared up, which 
 mull now remain undetermined. — With all thefe excel- 
 lent qualities, he appeared in his domellic character 
 equally refpectable; as the reader will recoUeft, who 
 has had a view of his pleafant deportment in his own 
 family, and has feen him in all the filent majelly of grief 
 attending the obfequies of a valiant fon who had been llain 
 in fighting for his country. — To all thefe circumllances I 
 mull add, that the concern he difeovered in taking leave 
 of his nephew, and our countrymen, evidently proved 
 there was no fmall portion of fenfibility lodged about 
 his heart. 
 
 Whilll I am doling this laft remark on the charadef 
 of Rita Kookf I cannot avoid making a general obfervati- 
 
i8o ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 on on the people of Pelew, who, though they appear- 
 ed to be Philofophers in adverfity. Stoics in pain, and 
 Heroes in death, yet, in many of the more delicate feel- 
 ings of the human breaft, tliey pofTcffed all the amiable 
 tendernefs of a woman 1 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 7 he EnglHh, in the Oroolong, quit the Pelew IJlanJs.— 
 Jin Account of their Paffage from thence to Macoa. — 
 
 ’Their Arrival there. They difpofe of their Veffe!, and 
 
 proceed to Canton, where they embark for England. 
 
 Kov. U R countrymen being now in a fair way of 
 getting to China, after parting with their hu- 
 mane fil«nds of Pelew, hauled up along the back of the 
 reef, N. W. by N. having the end of the outer breakers on 
 their lee-beam. — At noon the ifland of Oroolong bore 
 S. E. by E. -j E. diftant about four leagues, from whence 
 they took their departure ; its latitude being 7019' north, 
 and longitude 134° 40' eaft of Greenwich. 
 
 The two firft days after leaving the Pelew iflands, 
 our people had tolerable weather, with light fqualls and 
 rain, the wind variable from E. to S. E. with which 
 they fteered to the northward. — Lee Boo, the firft night 
 he flept on board, ordered Boy am, his fervant (who was 
 one of the two Malays from Pelew) to bring his mat 
 upon deck; a warmer covering was ordered for him, to 
 defend him from the cold. — He was the next morning 
 much furprifed at not feeing land. — Captain Wilfon now 
 clothed him in a Ihirt, waiftcoat, and a pair of trow- 
 fers ; he appeared to feel himfelf uneafy in wearing the 
 two frft articles, and foon took them off and folded 
 them up, ufing them only as a pillow; but, being im- 
 preffed with an idea of the indelicacy of having no 
 clothing, he never appeared without his trowfers ; and 
 aa the veffel proceeding northward, advanced into a cli-i 
 
 mate 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. i8i 
 
 I 
 
 ) 
 
 mate gradually growing colder, he felt lefs inconvenience 
 in putting on again his jacket and fliirt; to which, when 
 he had been a "little time accuftomed, his new-taught 
 fenfe of propriety was fo great, that he would never 
 change his drefs, or any part of it, in the prefence of 
 another perfon, always retiring for that purpofe to fome 
 dark corner where no one could "fee him. — The moti- 
 on of the veiTel at firft made him vciy fea fick, and obliged 
 him frequently to lie down; this licknefs abating, he 
 had one of the apples given him which had been brought 
 from Pe/tw; he exprefled a doubt about eating it; but, 
 being told it was the Captain’s defire, and that 
 Thulle had fent them for him, he obferved to Boyam, that 
 he was much indulged, none but a few great people 
 having his father’s permillion to eat of this fruit. * 
 
 This young man was remarkably clean in his perfon, 
 wafliing himfelf feveral times a day ; and as foon as he 
 was perfedtly recoveied from his fca-ilcknefs appeared to 
 be eafy and contented. The latitude, on the fourteenth at 
 noon, was 9° 38' north by obfervation. — The day follow- 
 ing was cloudy but good weather, with a fwell from the 
 N. E. — They faw a few fea-birds and flying-fifh ; and, 
 having an obfervation at noon, found they were in latitude 
 10° 45' north ; the weather continued moderate, though 
 cloudy, and their little veflel (excepting a fmall leak) 
 was found in every refpedl equal to their hopes. — They 
 had this forenoon prayers read upon deck, all our peo- 
 ple having, in this happy deliverance, too ftrong a re- 
 colledlion of the mercies of Providence not to offer them 
 pubh'cly, with hearts full of gratitude. The latitude 
 at noon was 12° i' north. — Lee Boo was now fo. well 
 recovered as to eat a flying-fifli that was caught apoa 
 deck, and fome yam, having till this time eat very lit- 
 tle. — He this afternoon told Boyam, that he ivas ferJlbL 
 his father and family had been very unhappy from knovuid'^ 
 that he had been ftek. 
 
 
 November 
 
 * This remark of Let Bees ajrees v.'ith the King’s tellinjr 
 Captain JVilfoK, when he gave hun thofc apples, that they wer^ 
 a great rcriry. 
 
iS:! A N A C C O U N T O F 
 
 November 1 7. The weather continuing fair, witli 
 the wind from the N. E. and eaft, tliey endeavoured 
 this morning to make more 100m, by re-ftowing their 
 provifion and ftores ; in doing which they difeovered that 
 the leak was under the end of one of tlie floor-timbers ; 
 it was propofed to cut it away, in order to come at and 
 flop it from within, but on more mature deliberaticn 
 this was thought to be too dangerous an attempt, as it 
 might occafion the flarting of a plank, which would ex- 
 pofe the vefltl to the almoft certainty of finking; the 
 ■idea was therefore immediately given up, as the water 
 made was eafily cleared by two men at the pump. — The 
 latitude at noon, by obfervation, was 13'^ 19' nortli. — 
 In the night they had ftrong fqualls, variable to the 
 northward, with rain, and at times had very hot pufi's 
 of wind, as if from land; they kept under an eafy fail 
 and a good look-out until day-light, but faw no appear- 
 ance of land ; the weather being very unfettled, with 
 iqualls and rain, and the wind varying at times to the 
 eaflwnrd, fouthward, and S. W. with lightning and dark 
 clouds. — On the twenty-firfl they found, by obfervation, 
 their latitude to be 17° 47' north, and the next day were 
 in 18° 29' north: the weather continuing very imfettled, 
 with frequent fqualls, the wind remaining in the E. and 
 S. E. quarters until the twenty-third, when it veered 
 round to the N. E. with rain, till the next morning, 
 the weather becoming then moderate and fair ; the 
 latitude at noon was 20° 43' north, by obfervation; 
 in the night they had fome light fqualls, and kept 
 a good look-out for the land. — In the morning, 
 about three o’clock, having great ripplings in the 
 water, they hauled up to the northward till day-light, 
 v.hcn they faw the Bajhee iflands bearing W. N. W. 
 diftant about three leagues. This circumftance much 
 plcafed Lee Boo. He was eager to learn their names, 
 which being told him repeatedly, until he could pro- 
 nounce them ; he took a piece of line, which he had 
 brought with him for the purpofe of making i-emarks, 
 and tied a knot, thereon, as a remembrance of the cir- 
 cu:nltance. — At feven o’clock the wind clianging to the 
 
 northward. 
 
the PE lew islands. 1S3 
 
 northward, they bore away through a pafTags between 
 tlie iflands, and at noQir were in the C/:;;:a fea, th.eir 
 latitude 21’ 5' north, by obfervation ; they had now 
 fair weather v. ith fniohth water, and by four o clock in 
 the afcerncon had loll fight ot the B:'Jhce iflands. . 
 
 November 26. The next morning about nine o’clock 
 they faw land upon tlicir quarter, bearing from N. E. t 
 N. to E. N. E. being part of the ifland cf Fenunfa ; 
 at noon their latitude was 21° 49' north. The fair wca* 
 tlicr continued nest day, but with a iwtll from the north- 
 ward, which wet them a little; their latitude, at nocn, be- 
 ing 2 2° 17' north..* The wind increaung in the aftcrncon 
 to a frefh gale, they now felt a material change to cold, of 
 which th.ey were the more fenfible from tire hot weather 
 they had before experienced. The next morning they 
 faw feveral Chincfe fifhing-boats, and a fmall China j uni. " 
 At eight o’clock they faw land, being a fmall hill, bear- 
 ing N. by W. at noon they were in latitude <J20 20' 
 north. The wind blowing briikly, at one o’clock in the 
 morning they got foundings at twenty-live fathom, fofc 
 ground ; they kept founding during the night, and at 
 feven o’clock in the morning they faw the land, bear ing 
 from N. by E. to W. S. W. they ftood in amongie 
 the iflands, as the wind would permit, and at noon were 
 ir latitude 22° 8' north, the high land called the 
 F.ars then bearing S. S. W. They fleered to the w.cil- 
 ward amongfl; the iflands until fix o’clock in the evening, 
 when they anchored in ten fathom water, a foft clay 
 bottom, amongll fome fmall Chir.:p vefleb. — La Bco 
 appeared quite delighted at the light of land, and the 
 num’oer of boats on the water. 
 
 November 30. The next morning Captain IVC,'-n 
 procured a pilot to conduft their vcffel between the iflanrb 
 to Alacoa; and when they came in light of it, an Eng- 
 I'lJ}} jack was hoilled at the mafl-head, which being fccii 
 by tire officers of the Portuguefi fliips at anchor in the 
 they immediately fent their boats to meet our 
 
 people, 
 
 is ihe name given hy Europeans to the Ch:i:rfe-h\\\\t vef- 
 feb employed in their home or coafling trade; feme of them are 
 very lirge, aad trade to Batavia and IVIalucca. 
 
1.84 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 people, bringing with tliem fruit and provifions, as alfo 
 men to^afiift theiBi judging, frpit^the fize of their little 
 tnat theymuft be part of |ptne English (hip’s crew 
 that had been wrecked ; and one bf the officers was fo 
 obliging as to wait with his boat to take the Captain on 
 iliore to the Governor; who, being at that time engaged 
 on particular bufinefs, dt fired to be excufed from feeing 
 the Captain, but acquainted him, by the officer on du- 
 tv, ^ that they were welcome to the port of Macoa. 
 I'his gentleman informed Captain Wilfon, that the Ho- 
 norable Company’s fupa-cargccs were ail up at Canton ^ 
 and that there was no Englijh gentleman then at Macoa, 
 but Mr. M'Jntyre, to whom Captain JVilfen immediately 
 went on taking leave of this officer, having, when be- 
 fore at Macoa, in the /Intelcpe, received many teftimo- 
 nies of this gentleman’s friendfi'.ip; who, when he heard 
 of Captain IHifon’s misfortunes, with his wonted huma- 
 nity and attention ordered provifions to ’oe fent on board 
 the ven'cl to the officers and people, and fuch other 
 necefihrics as they might (land in need of ; whilil the 
 Capt.iia wrote to the Company’s fupercargocs, to ac- 
 quaint them with the fate of the Antelope, as alfo of his 
 aiTival and fituation; which letters Mr. McIntyre im- 
 mediately forwarded to Canton. — 1 Ijev' now learnt that 
 I'eacc was eftablifiied in Europe, and that there were a 
 number of Eug!j/h and other (hips at Whampoa; that 
 fon.e of the Company’s llilps were leaded and ready to 
 fail, which was moft welcome intelligence. — Before Cap- 
 tain JViifon went on fliorc, Me Boo, on feeing the large 
 Pevtuguefe (hips at and’.or in the Pypa, appeared to be 
 greatly aflonifijcd, cxcliiming, as he looked at them, 
 t/iou, cloav, muc clonv! that is, Large, large, very large!. 
 lie gave our people an early opport.vnity of feeing t!.e 
 natural benevolence of his mind; for fome- of the Chinefc 
 boats, that are rowed by pear Tartar women, with their 
 little children tied to their hacks (and who live in faim- 
 li’es on the water) furrounded the vcfiTel, to petition for 
 fragments of viduals — the young Prince, on noticing 
 .their fui plications, gave them oranges, and fuch other 
 
THE PELEVnT islands. 185 
 tilings as he had, being particularly attentive to offer 
 them thofc things which he liked bell; himfelf. 
 
 December i. The -next morning Mr. with 
 
 a Portuguffe gentleman pf Mctcoa, accompanied the. 
 Captain on board the" Orvelmg, taking with tlicm all 
 kinds of refreflinients and provilions rea^ dreffed. Ill 
 the evening they took Pee B 30 and all the officer; on 
 ffiore, except the Chief Mate, who remained with the 
 people to take care of the veflcl, till they fliould receive 
 orders from the Company’s fupercargoes. 
 
 The Portugitefe gentleman, who paid Captain Wilj'.n 
 this vlfit, expreffied much phafure in feeing the Pehii> 
 Prince, and on going on ffiore, requeiled that the N-.-w 
 Man (as'he called Lee Boo) might be permitted to vlf t 
 his family. — This being the firtt houfe.oiir young travel- 
 ler had ever feen, he was apparently loit in filent admi- 
 ration; what ftruck moil his imagination at firil, was, 
 the upright walls and the flat cielings of the room;; he 
 feemed as if puzzling himfelf to comprehend how they 
 could be formed; and the decorations of the rooms were 
 alfo no fmall fubjecl of aftoniffiment. When he was In- 
 troduced to'the ladies of the family, his deportment was 
 fo eafy and polite, that ' it was exceeded only by his 
 abundant good-nature; fo far from being em.barrafTed, 
 he permitted the company to examine his hands, which 
 w'ere tatooed, and appeared pleafed with the attention 
 ffiewn him. When he retired with Cap.tain his 
 
 behaviour left on the mind of every one prefent the im- 
 preffion, that however great the furprife might be, which 
 the fccnes of a new world had awakened in him. It could 
 hardly be exceeded by that which his own amiable man- 
 ners and native pollffi v.-ould excite in others. 
 
 Macca being the' firil land our people had fet foot oa 
 fince they left the Pelevo iflands, they congratulated one 
 another very cordially, Lee Boo feeming to join in tiie 
 congratulation as w’armly as any one. Mr. liPlnlye 
 conducled them to his own houfe, where they were in- 
 troduced into a large hall lighted up, with a table In the 
 middle, covered for fupper, and a fideboard handi'umely 
 decorated.— Here a new feene bui'Il at oace on Lee Bm’s 
 
 mlnd^ 
 
1^6 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 mind, he was all eye, all admiration. The vefielr. of 
 glafs, appeared to be the objefts which riveted mod his 
 attention. .Mr. McIntyre fliewed him whatever he con- 
 ceived would amufe him ; but every thing that funound- 
 ed him was atti acting his eye was like his mind, loft 
 and bewildered. — It was in truth to him a feene of ma- 
 gic, a fairy tale.- Amcngft the things that folicited his 
 notice, was a large mirror at the upper end of the hall, 
 which refiefted almoft his whole perfon. Here Lee Boo 
 ftood in pci feet amazement at feeing himfelf he laugh- 
 ed — he drew back, and returned to look again, quite 
 abforbed in wonder — He made an effort to look behind, 
 as if conceiving fomebody was there, but found the 
 ghfs fixed clofe to the wall. Mr. McIntyre, obferving 
 the idea that had creffed him, ordered a fmall glafs to 
 be brought into the room, wherein having viewed his 
 face, he looked behind, to dii'cover the perfon who look- 
 ed at him ; totally unable to make out how all this was 
 produced. 
 
 Nor did Lee Boo's furprife at feeing himfelf in the 
 mirror, much exceed that of each of our own people, 
 though the caufe was different, not one of them having 
 ever got a glimpfe of their own face from the time of. 
 the wreck, each having only noticed the hollow-eyed and 
 lank look of his companions ; but when they now ftood 
 before the mirror, every one individually perceived that 
 hard labor, hard living, fpare diet, and anxiety of mind, 
 had wrought a change in every countenance far greater 
 than they could have imagined. 
 
 After palling an evening, which had been rendered 
 pleafant and cheerful from the hofpitality of their hoft, 
 and the fimplicity of Lee Boo, our people retired for 
 the night : whether Lee Boo paffed it in fleep, or in re- 
 flefting on the occurrences of the day, is uncertain ; 
 but it is more than probable they were in the morning 
 recollefted by him in the confufed manner in which 
 we recall the traces of a dream. 
 
 The next day he had more leifure to examine the 
 boufe in which they had llept ; the upright walls aad 
 ftat cieiings ftiU continued to be the objeftj of bis fui- 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 187 
 
 ptife ; he was perpetually feeling the firft, as if he 
 thought he could thereby gain an idea of their coiit 
 ftrudlion ; but the latter feetning fclf-fuppoited, was be- 
 yond what his mind could at that time comprehend. 
 
 As our people were too numerous to remain with Mr. 
 McIntyre, without trefpaiTing on him, Captain Witfon re- 
 quelled his afliftance to form an eftablilhment of their 
 own ; in which he complied, by accommodating them 
 with a houfe belonging to an Engltjh gentleman then at 
 Canton ; and having provided them with fervants, and 
 neceflaries for their table, they fent for the crew of the 
 Oroolong on fliore, leaving one officer and a few men on 
 board, who were alternately relieved. 
 
 Soon after our people came on (hore, fome of them 
 went to purchafe things they were in want of, in doing 
 which they did not forget L^e Boo, who was a favorite 
 with them all ; they bought him fome little trinkets, 
 fuch as they thought would from their novelty pleafe 
 him. — Amongft them, was a firing of large glafs beads, 
 the firft fight of which almoft threw him into an eclla- 
 fy ; he hugged them with a tranfport that could not be 
 exceeded by the interefted pofleflbr of a firing of pearls 
 of equal magnitude. — His imagination told him he had 
 in his hands all the wealth the world could afford him. 
 — He ran with eagernefs to Captain Wtlfon, to fhew him 
 his riches, and, enraptured with the idea that his fami- 
 ly ffiould fiiare them with him, he, in the utmoft agita- 
 tion, entreated Captain Wtlfon would immediately get 
 him a Cbinefe veffel, to carry his treafures to Pehm, 
 and deliver them to the King, that he might diftribute 
 them as he thought beft, and thereby fee what a coun- 
 try the Englijh had conveyed him to ; adding, that the 
 people who carried them ffiould tell the King, that Lee 
 Boo would foon fend him other prefents. He alfo told 
 Captain Wtlfon, that if the people faithfully executed 
 their charge, he would (independent of what ^bla 
 7 hulh would give them) prefent them at their return 
 with one or two beads, as a reward for their fidelity. 
 -—Happy ftate of fimplicity and innocence, whofe plea- 
 furcs can be put chafed on fuch eafy terms, and whofe fe- 
 licity 
 
i88 AN ACCOUNT OT 
 
 licity arlfes from an ignorance of tkofe objefts which 
 difquiet the human race, and agitate their paflions ! 
 But one grieves to think this fentiment cannot be 
 indulged, without reflefting how foon a knowledge of 
 the world deftroys the illufion of this enviable enchant- 
 ment ! 
 
 In a few days Captain IVilfon received letters from 
 the fupercargoes, exprefling their concern for his misfor- 
 tunes, and the fatisfa6lion they received in his fafe re- 
 turn, with his (hip’s company, after fo many perils ; 
 accompanying the letters with a variety of neceflaries, 
 and warm clothes, and advifing the difpofal of the vefTel 
 and (lores, as the Chincfe government would not admit 
 of her coming up to Whampoa without paying duty and 
 port charges to a confidcrable amount. 
 
 Mr. McIntyre alfo received letters, defiring him to 
 furnifh them with money, and every thing ell'e they 
 might be in want of. — t hey alfo received congratulato- 
 Tj letters from their particular friends, on their arrival 
 at Macoa, after the hardfhips they had fuftained ; and 
 thefe were accompanied by other letters from the com- 
 manders of feveral of the Company’s (hips, kindly of- 
 fering to accommodate them with a palTage to England. 
 — And it would be an injuftice to the .gratitude and 
 feelings of Captain Wilfon and his officers, (hould the 
 •recorder of thefe events omit to mention the kind 
 treatment they experienced from the Company’s fuper- 
 cargoes; from feveral Portuguefe gentlemen, inhabitants 
 of Macoa; and alfo from the Commodore of their (hips, 
 who being almoll ready to fail for Europe^ offered Captain 
 Wilfon, with many kind expreffions, a paffage in his (hip, 
 for himfclf, and fuch other perfons as he might wi(h to 
 take w'ith him. 
 
 WhlKl Lee Boo remained at Macoa, he had frequent 
 opportunities of feeing people of different nations ; and 
 alfo was (hewn three EngViJls women, who, Having loft; 
 their hufbands In India, had been fent from Madras thi- 
 ther, and were waiting there to return to Europe, io 
 whom the ne-M man, as he was called, gave the prefer- 
 ence to any other of the fair fex he had feen. — -This 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 189 
 
 early decifion made in favor of our country-women, and 
 made by one who could feel no prejudices, but judged 
 ( by his eye — had this amiable youth lived to have been 
 I much known in England, muft have infured him the 
 [ countenance and favor of all the ladies. 
 
 Having no quadrupeds at Pelew, the two dogs left 
 there were the only kind he had feen ; therefore the 
 fheep, goats, and other cattle which he met with whilff 
 at t\'Iacoa, were viewed with wonder. The Newfound^ 
 \ land dog, which had been given to his uncle Jlrra Kooker, 
 being called Sailor, he applied the word Sailor to every 
 animal that had four legs. — Seeing fome horfes in a lia- 
 ble, he called them Clon> Sailor, that is. Great Sailor; 
 but the next day feeing a man pafs the houfe on horfeback, 
 he was hirnfelf fo wonderfully aftoniflied, that he wanted 
 every one to go and fee the llrange light. He went af- 
 terwards to the llablcs wdiere the horfes were ; he felt, 
 he ftioked them, and was inquifitive to know what their 
 food was, having found, by offering them fome oranges 
 he had in his pocket, that they would not eat them. He 
 avas ealily perfuaded to get on one of their backs ; and 
 when he was informed what a noble, docile, and ufefal 
 animal it was, he with much earneftnefs befought the 
 Captain to get one fent to his uncle Raa Koolc, to whom 
 he faid he was fure it would be of great fervice. 
 
 They were- now waiting for a permit and boats to 
 take them to Canton, when Captain Churchill of the 
 IValpoli, having made his paffige to China againfl the 
 Monfoon, arriving at Llacoa at this time, was fo oblig- 
 .ing as to accommodate them with a paflage to lVham~ 
 ,poa; only Mr. Benger, with live or fix of the men, re- 
 maining at Macoa with tlie Oroolong, till file [lliould be 
 dif])ofed of. 
 
 Daring the time Lee Boo was in the JValpole, he had 
 fnfHcient matter to keep all his faculties awake ; the fur- 
 niture, tables, chalr- 6 , lamps, and the uprigiit bulk-heads, 
 with the deck over head, were all furpriling ; after his 
 eye had in filence run over thefe objefts, he whifpered 
 to Captain IVilfon, that Clow Ship was Houfe, I: is 
 more than probable that nothing 0:1 board the Walpole 
 
19^ ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 efcaped his notice, as it was evident nothing on (hors 
 
 At Canton, the number of houfcs, the variety of 
 
 (hops, and the multitude of artificers, induced him to 
 fay, there was a Tackalby for every thing. — Being at 
 the Company’s table, at the faftory, the vefleJs of glafs, 
 of various fhapes and files, particularly the glafs chan- 
 deliers, attradfed his notice. — When, on looking round, 
 he furveyed the number of attendants ftanding behind 
 tne gentlemen’s chairs, he obferved to Captain 
 that the King, his father, lived in a manner very dif- 
 ferent, having only a little fifh, a yam, or a cocoa-nut, 
 which he eat from off a . leaf, and drank out of the (hell 
 of the nut ; and when his meal was finiflied, wiped his 
 mouth and fingers with a bit of cocoa-nut liufk ; 
 whereas the company prefent eat a bit of one 
 thing, and then a bit of another, the fervants always 
 fupplying them with a different plate, and different forts 
 of veflels to drink out of. — He feemed from the firft 
 to reliili tea ; coffee he difliked the fmeil of, and there- 
 fore refufed it, at the fame time telling Captain Wilfon 
 he •would drink it if hi of'iL’rcd him. — On their arrival at 
 Macoa, one of the feaman h-Ing much intoxicated, Lee 
 Boo exprefled great concern, thinking him very ill, and 
 applied to Mr. Sharp, the furgeon, to go and fee him ; 
 being told nothing material ailed him, that it was only 
 the effect of liquor, that common people were apt to 
 indulge In, and that he would. foon be well, he appear- 
 ed fatisfied ; but would never- after even tafte fpirits, if 
 ^ny were offered him, faying, it >was not drink Jit for 
 gentlemen. — As to his eating and drinking, he was in 
 both temperate to a degree. 
 
 After they had been about five or fix days at Canton, 
 Mr. Btnger, and the men who remained with him at 
 Macoa, accompanied by Mr. McIntyre, came up in one 
 of the country boats to Canton. — ^The window where 
 Lee Boo was then at breakfaft looked towards the water ; 
 the moment he got a diftant view of them, without 
 faying a word to tire Captain, or other perfon, he fprang 
 from his feat, and was at the edge of the river befois: 
 the boat reached the fhore ; he received them with fuch 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 19s 
 
 )0}' and eagernefs, and (hook their hands with fuch ex- 
 prcfllons of affedlion, as won their warmeft regard ; he 
 I'eemed impatient till he could get them into the houfe, 
 fearing that by (laying behind they had not fared fo 
 well as himfelf. 
 
 When our people went on board the Walpole, Mr. 
 McIntyre had kindly undertaken to manage the bufineGi 
 of difpofing of the Qroolon^; (he waa accordingly put up 
 to auftion, and fold for feven hundred Spanijh dollars. — 
 It having been judged that the two time-pieces would 
 fetch more money at Canton, they were brought up there 
 for fale, as were alfo the furgeon’s inllruments, they be- 
 ing Intended as a prefent to Mr. Sharp; but the car- 
 penter’s mate objefting to relinqui(h his (liare in tliem, 
 in confequence of his tools having been difpofed of, Mr. 
 Sharp declined the o(Fer ; they were therefore put up to 
 I fale at Canton, with the time-piece, and bought by Cap- 
 tain Wiljon, who prefented them to Mr. Sharp, as an ac- 
 knowledgment for his attention to, aud care of, the 
 (hip’s company, of whom not a fingle man had died, or 
 < been unable to do duty for any length of time (ince 
 ( their leaving England. ,, 
 
 Whilft at Canton, feveral gentlemen, who had been at 
 Madagafcar, and other places, where the throwing of 
 the fpear is praftifed, and who themfeWs were in fome 
 degree (killed In the art, having expreffed a wi(h to fee 
 Lee Boo perform this exercife ; they aflenibled at the 
 hall of tire faftory for that purpofe. — Lee Boo did not 
 at firft point his fpear to any particular obje£i, but on- 
 ly (hook and poifed it, as is nfually done before the 
 weapon is thrown from the hand ; this they were alfo 
 able to do : but propofing to aim at fome particular 
 point, they fixed this point to be a gauze cage which 
 r hung up in the hall, and had a bird painted in the mld- 
 £ die ; Lee Boo took up his fpear w'lth great apparent indif- 
 I ference, and, levelling at the little bird, ftruck It through 
 the head, aftonKhing all his competitors, who, at the 
 great diftance from whence they flung, with much diffi- 
 culty even hit the cage. 
 
192 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 • He was greatly pleafed witli the ftone buildings and 
 fpacious rooms in the hoafes at Canton; but the flat cicl- 
 ings Rill continued to excite his wonder; he often com- 
 pared them with the floping, thatched roofs at Pelcw, 
 and faid, by the time he went back he flrould have learnt 
 how it was^donc, and would then tell the people there in 
 what manner they ought to build. — The benefiting his 
 country by whatever he faw, feemcd to be the point to 
 which all his obfervations were direftcd. 
 
 Being at the houfe of Mr. Freeman, one of the fuper- 
 cargoes, amongR the things brought in for tea, was a 
 fugar-dilh of blue glafs, which much flruck Lee floods 
 fascy. The joy with which he viewed it, induced that 
 gentleman, after tea, to carry him into another room, 
 wheie there were two barrels of the fame kind of blue; 
 glafs (which held about two quarts each) placed on 
 brackets : bis eye was again caught by the fame allur- 
 ing color, he looked at them eagerly, then went away, 
 and returned to them with new delight : the gentleman 
 obferving the pleafure they gave him, told him he would 
 make him a prefcnt of them, and that he fhould carry 
 them to Pele’w; this threw him into fuch a tranfport 
 of joy he could hardly contain himfclf ; he declared 
 them to be a great treafure, and that wlien he returned, 
 his father, Abba Thulle, fhould have them : he wiflied 
 his relations at Peletv could but fee them, as he was 
 fure they would be loR in aftonifhment. 
 
 As there were fome of the Company’s Ihips that were 
 foon to fail for England, Captain IVilfon declined two 
 advantageous offers of the command of country fiiips, 
 thinking it his duty to embrace the earlieff opportunity 
 of acquainting, in perfon, the India Company, with 
 the fate of the Antelope, aud the particular circumRances 
 attending it. 
 
 It Rill remained for him to lay before the companions 
 of his adverfe fortune, a Ratement of the different fales, 
 and give to every man an equal fliare of what they had 
 produced ; which being fettled. Captain WllJ'on acquaint- 
 ed bis officers and men, that they were now at liberty 
 to provide for themfelves as opportunity fliould offer, at 
 
THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 195 
 
 the fame time recommending to them all, but particu- 
 larly his officers, to return tfl England, where, he had 
 no doubt, but that the Honorable Company would re- 
 compenfe, in fome meafure, every individual for the 
 hardfhips they had fuftained ; declaring that he felt 
 himfclf in the higheft degree obliged to them for the good 
 order, the unanimity, and the excellent ccnduft they 
 had fo cheerfully perfevercd in, during the trying/cenes 
 they had experienced together, and which had afforded 
 them an opportunity of teRifying their zeal for the ge- 
 neral fervice ; which it (hould be his bufmefs to reprefeut 
 in fuch terms as their whole behaviour truly merited. 
 
 Mr. Sharp, who, from the time of leaving the Pelcto 
 iflands, had taken Lee Boo under his immediate care, 
 now refigned his charge to Captain W'tljon, and came 
 home in the Lafcells, Captain JVaieJield; the other offi- 
 ■ccrs and people engaged in different fliips, as vacancies 
 offered, but mofl. of the men embarked in the Tori, 
 Captain Blanchard; nor did any of them feparatc with- 
 out fome emotions of concern in quitting thofe compa- 
 nions with whom they had (hared fo many difficulties. 
 
 Lee Boo embarked with Captain lEilfon in the Morfe, 
 Captain Jofeph Elliot, who, in the moft friendly manner, 
 accommodated them to England. And, as we have now 
 difpofed of, and difperfed all thofe who formerly com- 
 pofed the complement of the Antelope, I fliall, for tlie 
 prefent, leave their refpcdled Commander purfuing, with 
 our young Prince, his voyage to England. — Being in- 
 clined to hope that the charafter and condudf of tliefe 
 hitherto unknown people, whom I have introduced in 
 the foregoing narrative, have interefted the reader, I 
 fliall now give fome account of the Government, Cuf- 
 toms. Manners, and Arts, of the Natives of Pclcnv, as 
 far as I have been able to colleiS: them, from the differ- 
 ent reports of the Captain, and fuch of his officers who 
 have favored me with their communications. 
 
 5 . 
 
 R 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 fp4 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 ■General Idea of the Ifands.. — Of the King. — Of the Gene- 
 — Of the Chief Minifter. — Of the Rupacks. — Of 
 the Nature of Property at Pelevv. 
 
 T H E Palos or Pelciu iflands are a chain of fmall 
 iflands, fituated between the 5th and 9th degree 
 of north latitude, and between 130° and 1360 degrees 
 of eaft longitude from Greennvich, and lie in a N. E. and 
 S. W. direAion: they are long but narrow, of a mo- 
 derate height, well covered with wood, at leaft fuch of 
 the idands as our people had an opportunity of feeing. 
 They are circled on the weft-fide by :a reef of coral, of 
 which no- end could be feen from any eminenc^ they 
 were on ; this reef in fome places extends five or fix lea- 
 gues from the Ihore, and in no parts that were vifited, 
 lefs than two or three. 
 
 The reader wdll bear in mind that the Antelope -was 
 not a (hip particularly fent out to explore undifcovered 
 regions, or prepared to inveftigate the manners of man^ 
 kind; it had not on board philofophers, botanifts, 
 draughtfmen, or gentlemen experienced in fuch fcienti- 
 fic purfuits as might enable them to examine with judg- 
 ment objefts which prefented themfelves, or trace nature 
 through all her labyrinths. — Diftrefs threw them on thefe 
 iflands, and when there, every thought was folely occupied 
 on the means of getting away, and liberating themfelves 
 from a fitaation of all others the moft horrible to the 
 imagination, that of being cut off for ever from tjic fo- 
 ciety of the reft of the world. 
 
 Forlorn and melancholy as their lot at firft appeared^ 
 the gloom it call over them was foon difpelled, by find- 
 ing themfelves amongft an humane race of men, who 
 v.’ere fuperior to the wifti of taking any advantage of 
 their diltrefs; who had hearts to feel for what our peo- 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 195^ 
 
 pie fuflered ; benevolence to relieve their immediate 
 wants; and generofity to co-operate with them in eveiy 
 effort to work out their deliverance. — 1 he Engiyh pof- 
 feffed what was in their eftimation of the higheft value — 
 iron and arms. The Malay wreck had, for the firll 
 time, thrown in their way a few pieces of the lormcr ; 
 the life and power of the latter had only been diicover- 
 cd to them by the ill fortune of our countrymen. — Thefe 
 objefts, fo defiiable to them, they might unqueftionably 
 have poffeffed themfelves of, the number of our people, 
 capable of bearing arms, being only twenty-feven, the 
 Captain and Surgeon included; but their notions of 
 moral reffitude lay as a barrier agalnft the intrufion of 
 fuch a thought; — renouncing evei7 advantage of power, 
 they approached them only with the fmiles of benevo- 
 lence. 
 
 All the varied courtefies offered to the Enghfi by tl e 
 natives, from whom a very different line of condutl Iiad 
 been apprehended, operated forcibly on their m.inds;. 
 and their misfortune happening at a moment when their 
 afliffance was very miaterial for Abba EhuHe’s lei vice' 
 againft his enemies, this circumftance foon formed a 
 conneftlon, and produced an unreferved intercourfe and 
 fteady friendfliip between the natives and our countrymen,, 
 w'hich, during the thirteen weeks they remained there, 
 afforded them opportunity of obferviiig the manners 
 and difpofitions of the inhabitants, and thereby to form 
 fome notion of their government and cuffoms.— If thev 
 ■were not' enabled to trace the current of power through 
 all its various channels, their obiervations could purfue 
 it to the fountain-head, from whence the whole feemed 
 to take its rife; and it appeared beyond a doubt that 
 the chief authority was lodged in the perfon of 
 
 ABBA THULLE, THE KING. 
 
 At Pclciv the King rvas the firll on f ■ ■ , 
 vernment. He appeared to be cor.fidercd ;u ■ 
 of his people; and, though divelled of al 
 corations/of royalty, had every mark of dittinvti- l 
 
19^ an ACCOUNT OF ij! 
 
 to^ his peifon. His Rupacls or Cliiefs approached hini ||j 
 with the greateft refpeft; and his common fubjedls, 
 whenever they pafTed near him, or liad occafion to ad- ( 
 drefs him, put their hands behind them, and crouched 
 towards the ground; — even if they were pafiing any 
 houfe or place where the King was fiippofedto be, they 
 humiliated themfelves in the fame manner, till they ' 
 
 had got beyond his probable prefence, when they re- 1 
 
 fumtd their ufual mode of walking. On all occaOons 
 the behaviour of yllba ThuUe appeared gentle and gra- 
 cious, yet always full of dignity ; he beard whatever 
 his fubjcifts had to fay to him, and, by his affability and 
 condefeenfion, never fufiered them to go away dilfatis- 
 iied — This perfonage, however great he was held at 
 i’eh'w, was not underflood by our people to poffefs a 
 iovereignty over all the iflands which came within their 
 knowledge. — The Rupacks of Emungs, Emillegue, and 
 ^■h'tingafl, and the Rupack Maath, were independent in 
 their own territories. — Yet Aloa 1 huile had feveral if- 
 hi.ids over which he ruled; and all the obfervations that 
 foJo^v arc folely confined to his government, though it 
 is not in probable that the other Iflands might have much 
 i:; ihti'- 
 
 Upon all occarrcncos of moment, he convened the 
 RupdcLs and officers of flntc ; their councils were always 
 held in the open air, upon tlie fijuarc pavements which 
 have fo frequently been mentioned in the foregoing ’ 
 narrative, w'herc tht- King fnfl flated the biifinefs upon 
 which he had alTemblcd them, and fnbmitted it. to their 
 eoufidcration ; each Rupack piefent delivered his opinion, 
 but without riling from his feat: when the matter be- 
 fore them was fettled, the King, Handing up, put an' 
 end to the council. — After which they often entered 
 into familiar converfation, and fometimes chatted toge- 
 ther for an hour after their bufinefs was defpatched. 
 
 When any mefl'age was brought to the King, whe- < 
 thcr in council or clfewhere, if it came by one of the 
 common people, it was delivered at fome diftance, in 
 a lovv voice, to one of the inferior Rupachs; who, bend- . 
 Ing in an humble manner, at the King’s fide, delivered 
 
 the 
 
1 
 
 THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 197 , 
 
 tlie meffage in a low tone of voice, with his face turnctl 
 afide. — His commands appeared to be abfolutc; thouglr 
 he aclcd in no important bufiaefs without the advice of 
 his Chiefs. In council there was a particular ftone on 
 which the King fat ; the other Rupachs did not always ^ 
 take the fame place, feating tlicmfelves fometiines oa 
 his right hand and fomctiines on his left. 
 
 Every day in the afternoon the King, whether he > 
 
 rvas at Pe/ecu, or with the Engljh at Oroohr.g, went to j 
 
 fit in public, for the purpofc of hearing any requeils, iS 
 or of adjufting any difference or difpute which might 
 have arifen among his fubjeefs. 
 
 As thefe people had but little property to create dif- ^ 
 
 fen-fion, and no lawyers to foment animofity, it is pro- 
 bable that the immutable- boundaries of riglit and wrong 
 were perfeftly underflocd, and not often violated; when- 
 ever they were, the offending party received the King’s 
 cenfure, which expofed them to general fhame; a fen- 
 tence to uncorrupted minds, far more fevere than any 
 penal Inftltution. — They could not recur to the dubious 
 conftrucflon of five hundred laws, vaguely conceived, 
 and worfe underffood; under tlic obfcurlty of whlcl), 
 in civilized countries, the artful villain too often takes 
 Ihelter, and the injured fit down more oppreffed. — Hap- 
 py for them, they were ignorant of that cafaiftry and 
 refinement which can argue vice into virtue ! nor were 
 acquainted with the laudanum of rhetoric, whofe pro- 
 perty will occafionally benumb and lay' dormant the 
 power of common underftandings! — They had no con- 
 ception that tliere exifted polifhed nations, where it w;:,i 
 infinitely more expenfive to fue for juffice than to fub- 
 mlt to fraud and opprclTion ! — nations where men’s orj'js 
 only', not men’s 'word:, were credited! and where there 
 were found wretches who dared attack the properties 
 and lives of their fellow-citizens, by affertions of fet'u- 
 hood, whiLI they folemnly and impioufly Invoked tiie 
 - God of Heaven to^ atteft. their truth ! — Born the chil- 
 dren of Nature, and fecluded from the corruption of 
 • tiie world, her laws were their general guide. — Their ' 
 wants were few, and they faw nothing to cxcita 
 R 2 artlpzid 
 
198 ANACCOUNTOF' 
 
 avtifutcl ones. — Eevery one feemed to be occupied with 
 their own humble purfuits; and, as far as our people, 
 in a flay of three months with the natives, could de- 
 cide, appeared to conduft themfelves toward each other 
 with great civility and benevolence ; for they never ob- 
 ferved any wrangling or open paffion. — Even when chil- 
 dren were difputing or fighting, they llrongly marked 
 their difpleafure, by Itifling with rebuke their little im- 
 petuofities. 
 
 THE general. 
 
 Tlie next in power was the King’s brother, Raa Kooi^ 
 officially General of ail his forces. — It was his duty to 
 fummon the Rupacls to attend the King, on whatever 
 expedition or purpole they were called ; but though 
 Raa Kooli afted as Commander in Chief, yet all tlie ex- 
 ecutive orders came fiom the King, whenever he attend- 
 ed in perfon, as fully appeared when they went on the 
 fccond expedition to AilmgalU where the canoes attend- 
 ant on tlie King conveyed to the General all the refolu- 
 tions wliich he tliought advifable to adopt. — The Gene- 
 ral, as the King’s next brother, was his prefumptive 
 heir; the fucceffion of Pekiu not going to the King’s 
 children, till it had palled through the King’s brothers; 
 fo that after the demife of Abla Tbulk, the fovereignty 
 would have defeended to Raa Kocl, on his demife to 
 Arra Kooh:r, and, on the death of this lall brother, 
 it would liave reverted to the eldell fon of Abba ThuUc; 
 on v. hich contingency, Bill being the prefumptive 
 heir, would, during the reign of his laft furviving uncle, 
 iiave become of courfe the hereditary General ; as Lee 
 Boo would when the fovereignty had fallen to his elder 
 brother. 
 
 the minister. 
 
 The King was always attended by a particular Chief, 
 or Rupaci, who did not appear to pofiefs any hereditary 
 
 office. 
 
the PELEW islands. 199 
 
 office, but only a delegated authority.-He was always near 
 the King’s perfon, and the Chief who was firll confult- 
 ed: but whether his office was religious oi civil, or 
 both, our people could not leai'n with any certainty.— 
 He was not confidered as a warrior, nor ever bore arms; 
 and had only one wife, whereas the other Rupacks had 
 two. — The Engltfh w'ere never Invited to Ids houfe, or 
 introduced into it, although they were condudled to ai* 
 molt all thofe of the other Chiefs. 
 
 THE RUPACKS. 
 
 This clafs, though confiderable in number, could on- 
 ly be regarded as Chiefs, or, to deferibe them by Europe* 
 an notions, might be denominated the nobles: they were 
 not all of the fame degree, as was diflinguiffiable by 
 a difference in the Bone they w'orc ; fome were created 
 whilft our people were there, after the fccond engage- 
 ment at ArUngall. — Thefe marks of honor were confer- 
 red folely by the King, in the manner already deferibed, 
 w’hen Captain IViifon was inverted with the highejl Order of 
 the Bone. * — 'i he principal Rupacks generally attend the 
 King, and w'ere always ready at his command, to accompa- 
 ny him on any expedition, with a number of canoes, 
 properly manned, and armed with darts and fpcars, 
 who W'ere to remain w'ith him till they had his permif- 
 fion to return home with their dependants. — I'hougH 
 in this part of their government we trace an outline 
 of the feudal’ fyftem, yet, from the very few opportu- 
 nities our people could have of invertigating points of 
 internal government, it appeared to them that the titles 
 of Rupacks were perfonal badges of rank and diftinc- 
 tion, nor did they apprehend they w'ere hereditary 
 honors, unlefs in the reigning family, who muft of ne- 
 ceffity be of this clafs; therefore, as to the extent 
 
 of 
 
 * Our penple never knew what animal this was a bone of; 
 but, by ful.mitting the infpeiilion of it to the bell authority in 
 this country, it is fuppofed to be part of the bone of a whale, or 
 Ibnie animal of that I'pccics. 
 
300 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 of the power or privileges of the Rupach, I conceive 
 it far better to leave thefe matters to future dlfcoveries 
 (fhould any hereafter be made)than to obtrude opinions 
 on a fnbjedi that might turn out to be fallacious. — Thus 
 much feemed certain, that all thofe of the firft order 
 were fummoned to yllla 'Thulle's councils, paid him on 
 every occafion a villble obedience, and were themfelves 
 much refpedfed by the reft of the people. 
 
 PROPERTY. 
 
 Confideiing that during the time our people remain- 
 ed on thefe Illands, their minds were principally engag- 
 ed by their o^vn concerns, it will hardly be fuppofed they 
 had much lelfure to inveftigate a fubjeit of this nature. — 
 As far as they could obtain intelligence on this point, 
 they underllood that the natives only polTeffed a pro- 
 perty in their work and labor, but no abfolute one 
 in the foil, of which King appeared to be general pro- 
 prietor. — A man’s houfe, furniture, or canoe, was con- 
 fidered as his private property ; as was alfo the land al- 
 lotted him, as long as he occupied and cultivated it; 
 but whenever he removed with his family to another 
 place, the ground he held reverted to the King, who 
 gave it to whom he pleafed, or to thofe who folicited to 
 cultivate it. Every family occupied fome land for their 
 maintenance, necelfity impofed this labor on them ; and 
 the portion of time which they could fpare from provid- 
 ing for their natural wants, palTed in the exercife of 
 fuch little arts, as, while they kept them indullrlous 
 and active, adminiftered to their convenience and com- 
 fort. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 201 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Of the Produce of Pelew, and of the Way of Life of the 
 Nathjes, 
 
 PRODUCE. 
 
 E very part of the ifland called Coorcoraa, of 
 which Pehiu was the Capital (as far as our peo- 
 ple had opportunities of making oblervations) feemed 
 to bear the marks of induftry and good cultivation. — 
 All the illands which our people faw were well covered 
 with trees of various kinds and fixes, feme of them be- 
 ing very large, as may eafily be conceived by their ca- 
 noes made out of trunks, which, when of the largell 
 dimenlhms, were capable of carrying twenty-eight or 
 thirty men. — They had a great variety of timber- trees, 
 among which was noticed the Ebony, and a tree, that, 
 being pierced or wounded by a giinblet, there ran from 
 it a thick white liquid, of the confiftcnce of cream. — 
 They had alfo a fpecies of the Manchineel tree, in cut- 
 ting down of which our people ufed to get bliftered and 
 fwelled ; the Inhabitants pointed out the caufe, faying, 
 that it was owing to their being fprinkled by the fap of 
 this tree. — This they reckoned among the the unlucky 
 trees, and advifed our people againft the ufe of it.— — 
 But the moft lingular tree noticed at Pekiv, was one, 
 in fixe and in its manner of branching, not unlike our 
 Cherry Uet, but in its leaves refembling the Myrtle. Its 
 peculiarity was, that it had no bark, having only an out- 
 ward coat of about the thicknefs of a card, darker than 
 the infide, though equally clofe in texture; the color of 
 the interior part being nearly that of mahogany, and 
 fo extremely hard, that few of the tools which the Eng- 
 Tfh liad could work it, the wood breaking their edges 
 
 ahnolt 
 
2C2 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 almoft every moment ; a circumftance which, very early 
 in the conftruftion of their veffel, determined our peo-- 
 
 pie againft the ufe of it They had alfo-the Cabbage- 
 
 tree; and a tree whofe fruit nearly refembled an air 
 mond; * the Caranibola; and the wild Bread-fruit, call- 
 ed by the natives Ri’a’mali . — Yamsf and cocoa-nuts be- 
 ing the chief article of fuftenance, were attended to 
 with the utmoft care; the former were of the grey 
 mottled kind; the latter were in large plantations, af- 
 fording both food and fliade.— The beetle-nut they had 
 in abundance, and made great ufe of it, though only 
 when green; contrary to the pradtice of the people of 
 India, who never ufe it but when dry. — ^They poirefled 
 Plantains and Bananas, Seville oranges and lemons; 
 neither of thefe were in any confiderable quantity ; there- 
 fore only produced on vifits, or occafions of more than 
 common ceremony. — To thefe may be added, the jam- 
 boo-apple, mentioned in page 173, as brought when 
 Lee Boo firft appeared. — I'his counti-y produced fome 
 fugar-cane, and great abundance of the bamboo; like- 
 wife the ’Turmeric, which the )iatives ufed as a die, 
 and with which the the wo.men ftained their dcins. — 
 They have ochre, both red and yellow, with w'hich they 
 paint their houfes and canoes. 
 
 None of the iflands the Eugli/h vifited had any kind 
 of grain; nor any quadruped whatever, except fome 
 brownilh grey rats, which ran wild in the woods, and 
 three or four meagre cats, which rvere feen in fome 
 houfes at Peleiu, probably brought on fome drift or part 
 of a canoe of other iilands, wrecked on the reef. 
 This might excite them to admire fo much the two 
 dogs our people left with them, which unluckily were 
 both males. 
 
 As to birds, they had plenty of common cocks and 
 hens, which, though they were not domefticated, but 
 ran about the woods, yet loved to get near their noufes 
 and plantations; and, uhat will appear fmgular (con- 
 lidering their little variety of food) they had never 
 
 made 
 
 * ‘Terfftinalla cats^pa of L l N N JE u s* 
 
 f Arum efculcntum of L i N N JE u s. 
 
THE r E L E W ISLANDS. 203 
 
 made any ufe of them, till our people faw them, and 
 told the natives they were excellent to eat. — -The Eng- 
 Ij/Ij, at the delire of Abba Thutte, killed fome, and boil- 
 ed them; the King was the firft who tailed them ; he 
 thought them good, and frequently partook of them af- 
 terwards, fo that our people put them in poflefilon of 
 a.newdiHi; the men appeared pleafed at feeing them 
 killed, and would go out on purpofe to drive them in 
 their way. Tliough the natives had not till now made 
 thefe birds an article of food, yet, when they went in- 
 to the woods, they frequently eat their eggs ; but they 
 did not admire them for being newly laid; the luxury 
 to them was, when they could fwallovv an imperfeft 
 chicken in the bargain. — Pigeons they had alfo in the 
 woods. — At the time of breeding, they took the young 
 from the nefl, and brought them up near their houfes, 
 keeping them on a perch tied by one leg, and feeding 
 tliem on yams; this bird was accounted a great dainty, 
 as we have had occafion to fee, by its being fo fparlng- 
 ly.ufed,and none, but thofe of a certain dignity, permitted 
 to eat thereof. — The poeple of Pelew were wonderful- 
 ly aftlve and expert in climbing up trees in quell of 
 thefe nells, or any thing elfe that was an objeft of their 
 purfuit. Thefe which I have mentioned, were the only 
 birds they ufed to eat. — Our people left them two 
 geefe, the only remains of their live flock. 
 
 Several birds were feen flying about, whofe plumage 
 appeared to be extremely beautiful, but they probably 
 might be of the fame kinds as are found in different 
 countries between the tropics. — The iflands had alfo feve- 
 ral fmall birds, whofe notes were very melodious, particu- 
 larly one which ufed to flng e\cery morning and evening, 
 and had a pipe fweet as a flagelet ; our people often 
 thought they were under tlie very tree whence the 
 notes of this little bird came, yet none of them were 
 ever certain they had feen it. 
 
 They had a variety of filh, befide the fort I have 
 already deferibed (page 83) and feveral fmaller kinds, 
 of very beautiful colors and a vaiiety of fliapes, particu- 
 larly one to which the Englijh gave the name of the 
 
 Unicorn) 
 
20-}. ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 Unicorn, from a horn growing out of its forehead; its 
 Cdn was rough, like a fmall thark or dog-jijh, which it' 
 alfo refembled i» Ihape and color. They had the grey 
 mullet, which they crimped, and frequently eat raw. 
 They kill the fhark, when they chance to come within 
 the coral reef ; this they do by fpearing them, and after- 
 wards getting ropes round them, then dragging them 
 onfliore; the flelh of the fliark was efteemed by them 
 as very delicate. They had alfo feveral kinds of fhell-fifh ; 
 fuch as the fea cray-fifllf of the fame fort as in the 
 Mediterranean and o\X\tr European coafts:— and turtle, 
 which the natives boiled, and feemed to admire. They 
 had befide oyfters, mufeles, and a variety of cockles, 
 particularly the Kima cockle ; * this they frequently got 
 by diving, at which the natives were amazingly ex- 
 pert ; they would fometimes dive down in fix or feven 
 fathom water, and if the fhell was very large, two of 
 them would contrive to bring It up between them. This 
 fifh they commonly eat raw. 
 
 The ifiands of Pelew, when viewed from the fea, 
 exhibited high, rugged land, well covered with wood. 
 The mterior part was Jn many places mountainous, but 
 the vallies were extenfive and beahtlful, fpreading before 
 the eye many delicious profpefts. The foil was in gene- 
 ral rich ; they had a great deal of grafs, which, having no 
 cattle w'hatever to eat down, grew high, and was fcorch- 
 ed and burnt up by the heat of the fun. Our people 
 faw no river at Pelew; their fuppHes of frefh w’ater be- 
 ing from fmall ftreams and ponds, of which there were 
 many. TJie chief fource at Oroolong, was the well at 
 the back of the ifland, which afforded the Englijh -fuf- 
 ficient for their ufe whilft they remained there, and 
 enough to water their veffel for their voyage, by colleft- 
 ing it daily in cafks till they had obtained as much as 
 they Hood in need of. 
 
 OF 
 
 • Cbemo Cigas of L I N N i v s. 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 205 
 
 OF THEIR WAY OF LIVING. 
 
 
 From the above account of the fcanty produce of 
 thefe iflands, it muft be evident that no luxury reigned 
 in them. To their ufual mode of living, on particular 
 occafions they added fome fweetmeats, which they 
 obtained by the aid of a fyrup extradled either from 
 the palm-tree, or the fiigar-cane (which grows fpon- 
 taneous) and with which alfo the/ made their fweet 
 drink. Their fweetmeats were of three forts; — 
 the firft, and the one that was moft plentiful, was 
 made of the kernels of old cocoa-nuts, feraped into 
 a coarfe kind of flour, then mixed with the fyrup, 
 and fimmered over a flow fire till it became of a proper 
 confiflence, and whilft warm was put up In leaves; it 
 acquired fuch hardnefs by keeping, that a knife would 
 hardly cut it ; the natives called it Woolell, and was the 
 fame our fallors denominated Choke-Dog . — The fecond 
 fort was ir-ade of the fruit already mentioned as refembling 
 the almond, not bruifed, but whole, boiled in the fame 
 manner, and put in leaves. — The third was a wet fweet- 
 meat, clear and tranfparcnt; this v-is uncommon, but 
 was made at Captain coming away, and prefent- 
 
 ed to him in the fame large tureen of wood which was 
 brought out on his firft vifit to the King, yibha Tlmlk^ 
 when he prefented it, faid, that he gave him the tureen,* 
 but that his wives had prepared the fweetmeat on pur- 
 pofe for him. _On the Captain’s noticing that it appear- 
 ed different from any of the forts he had feen before, 
 and wlfhing to know of what ft was made, Raa Kook 
 defpatched a man, who in an hour returned with two 
 frefh-gathered plants; from the root of them this fvveet- 
 meat was made, which in flrape, fize, and color, re- 
 fembled a common turnip ; f its leaves were tliree feet 
 S and 
 
 * Our people could never learn the name by which tlie natives 
 called this veficl, of which ow was feen, a 1 therefore have 
 termed it a tureen, as refemhlmg it in form. 
 
 f It was probably the ‘facca Jiuiiu:tijitla of L i Si n u s. 
 
2o6 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 and upwards in length, but narrow and green ; Cap- 
 tain JVilfon was going to tafte a bit of the root raw, 
 but they would not fuffer him, fignifyingthat it was not 
 ^ood, by fpitting, as if they had fomething unplcafant 
 in their mouth. This fweet-meat did not keep fo well 
 U3 the other two forts, growing foon four. — '1 hey had 
 alfo a method of feraping the kernel of the cocoa-nut 
 into a pulp, which when mi.xed with fame of their fweet 
 drink, and the juice cf the four orange, had the appear- 
 ance of curds and whey. 
 
 Their mode of preferving fi(h, when there was plenty, 
 fo that it wmuld keep a day or two, has been fully ex- 
 plained in page 128. Some of the other forts of fi/h 
 they boiled in falt-water, and eat without any kind of 
 fauce; they alfo boiled the fea cray-fifh ; but the fmaller 
 fort of firell-filh, and the Kima Cockle, they ufually eat 
 raw, fqueezing only a little orange or lemon-juice over 
 it and the grey itmllet (though they fometimes boiled 
 it) y^et was more commonly eaten raw: as foon as 
 caught they cleaned and crimped it, then laid it about 
 an hour in the fun to harden, by which time it was ful- 
 ly dreft to their tafte. 
 
 They had no fait, nor did they make ufe of fauce or 
 feafoning in any thing they eat. Their drink was as 
 fimple as their diet : at their meals, the milk of the 
 cocoa-nut was their ufual beverage ; they very feldom 
 drank water, and indeed fo very little of any thing, that 
 it was a matter of furprife to our people, who Conftantly 
 obferved it ; yet on vifits, or occafional rejoicings, they 
 appeared to relifh their fweet drink, and ftierbet, which, 
 latter had only the addition of fome juice of orange. 
 
 They rofe in general at day-light, and as foon as 
 they were up, both men and women went to bathe in 
 freih water : they had feparate bathing-places ; and every 
 man whofe bufmefs led him near thofe appropriated to 
 the women, was-pbliged to make fome particular halloo, 
 which, if anfwered by a female -voice, he could not go 
 on, but either turned another way, or waited till the 
 women who were bathing had left the water. 
 
 About 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 207 
 
 About eight o’clock was their hour of breakfafting j 
 after which, if there was any council to be held, the 
 King met his Chiefs, and the common people went to 
 their different occupations ; at noon thef dined ; and 
 flipped foon after funfet, ufually retiring to reft two 
 hours after. Though this W'us their common way of 
 living, yet on occafions of public rejoicing or feftivity, 
 they would dance the greateft part of the night. 
 
 They had no method, that vras obferved, of meafur- 
 fng time but by the height of the fun. — Their feafons 
 were divided into the wet and diy, as in other tropical 
 countries. They had fome knowledge of the ftars, hav- 
 ing names for feveral of them, which they pointed out 
 to our people. 
 
 Every part of the Pekw iflands, that the Engli/h vi- 
 ftted, appeared populous, though to what extent of po- 
 pulation they could never afeertain ; but probable con- 
 jefture might be formed, from j^bba Thulle and his al- 
 lies having fent out, in the laft expedition againft Ptl:~ 
 IriUf near four thoufand men ; nor had our people rea- 
 fon to fuppofe but that there were many more left be- 
 hind equally lit for fervice : even had tlie occafion re- 
 quired it, perhaps their number of canoes might not 
 have been adequate to carry to battle near their full 
 ftreixgth. 
 
 C H A P T E P- 
 
 I- >. . 
 
2t>8 • 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 OJ their Houfes. — "Their dcmefuc Implements, — "Their Wea- 
 pons of War, — Their Canoes. 
 
 THEIR HOUSES. 
 
 T HEIPv houfes were raifed about three feet from 
 the ground, placed on large ftones, which appear- 
 ed as if cut from the quarry, being thick and oblong ; 
 on thefe pedellals the foundation beams were laid, from 
 whence fprang the upright fupports of their fides, which 
 w'ere croffed by other timbers grooved together, and 
 faftened by wooden pins ; the intermediate fpaces clofe- 
 ly hlled up with bamboos and palm-leaves, which they 
 platted fo clofely and artificially as to keep their habita- 
 tions warm, and exclude all wet ; and their being raifed 
 from the ground prefen-ed them from any humidity. 
 The floors were in general made of very thick plank, a 
 fpace of an inch or two being left between many of 
 them. But in fame of the houfes they were compofed 
 of large bamboos fplit, which being pei"petually trodden 
 over, render them very flippery, — The interior part of 
 the houfe w’as without any divifion, the whole forming 
 one great room. — In general, the fire-place flood about 
 - the middle of it, funk lower than the floor, with no tim- 
 ber below it, the whole fpace being filled up with hard 
 rubbifli. Their fires were in common but fmall, being 
 molUy ufed to boil their yams, and to keep up a little 
 fame at night to clear away the dews, and fmoke the ' 
 nofquitoes. — Their windows came to the level of the 
 floor, and ferved both for doors and windows, having 
 ftepping-flones at all of them to enter by ; to prevent 
 any inconvenience from wind or rain, which fo many 
 apertures might occafion, each of them had a bamboo 
 
 frame 
 
 rrJr 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 209 
 
 ^rame or fhutter, interwoven as the fides of the houfcs 
 were, which, Aiding on bamboo rods, were eafily flipt 
 on one fide when any body wanted to go in or out. — Or 
 the top of the upright fides, beams wers laid acrof 
 from whence fprang the roof, which was pointed like 
 our barns, the whole infide being clear ; this made their 
 houfes within very lofty and air)"'; the outfide of the 
 roof was thatched very thick and clofe with bamboos or 
 palm-leaves. — This was the general form of their houfes ; 
 fome of which were from fixty to eighty feet in length, 
 but thefe were appropriated to public ufes, fuch as meet- 
 ings of bufinefs, or feftivity ; at other times they ferved 
 the natives to afiemble and chat together, when the wo- 
 men ufually brought their work, and joined in the con- 
 verfatlon. Thofe which were more properly domeftic 
 habitations, were the fame both in Aiape and texture, 
 though lefs in dlmenfion. — It was remarked, that the 
 family kept on one fide of the central fii-e-place, and the 
 fervants on the other. 
 
 OF THEIR DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTS. 
 
 In a country^ where no aid could be obtained from 
 the alCftance of iron tools, and where every thing which 
 was convenient and ufeful could only be produced by 
 much time, labor, and patience, and at lafi faOiioned by 
 fuch poor means as neceffity, ftimulating invention, by 
 Aow degrees brought about, it will not be expelled that 
 their domeftic implements would be numerous. 
 
 Among the .things moft eflentlal to their idea of com- 
 fort, were little balkets, which they always carried about, 
 with them ; they had different forts, fome of them were 
 of very nice texture, woven from Alps of the plantain 
 leaf. In thefe they ufually carried their beetle-nut, 
 their comb, and their knife ; nor did they omit having 
 a little twine in it, to tie up any thing they might 
 want to keep together. They had alfo wooden bafttets 
 with covers, very nicely carved, and inlaid with Aiells.- 
 S 2 Thefe 
 
 ilL. 
 
210 an’account of 
 
 Tlicfe they hung up In their houfes, for ufe and decora- 
 tion. 
 
 Their heft knives were formed of a .piece of the 
 hirge mother of pearl oyller-fliell, ground narrow, and 
 the outward fide a little polilhcd. — The fort more com- 
 mon was made of a piece of fome mufcle-flrell, or of a 
 fplit bamboo, which they lliarpen to an edge, and ren- 
 der exceedingly ferviceable. 
 
 Their combs were formed of the orange tree ; the han- 
 dle and teeth fafnioned from the folid wood, and not in fe- 
 parate pieces clofely connefted togetherlikethofe brought 
 from u'.oft of the latc-dircovercd iflanps. 
 
 No man fUrred abroad without his baflcct of bectlc- 
 nut. — The common order of people had a fhort piece of 
 bamboo, in which they carried the powdered chinam, 
 to ftrew over the bcctle-nut before they put it in their 
 mouths. The RuJ>iicis or great people had their chinam 
 in a long flender bamboo, nicely polifhed, and inlaid 
 w'ith pieces of (hells at each end ; and thefe were often 
 iiot inelegantly fancied. 
 
 Their filhing-hooks w-ere of tortoife-fhell. Their 
 twine.o, their cords, and all their fifhlng-nets, were well 
 manufadlured, and made from the hulks of the cocoa- 
 nut. The mats on wln’ch they flept, and threw over 
 them w'hen at reft, were formed of the plantain-leaf. 
 
 At their meals they generally ufed a plantain-leaf In- 
 ft ead of a plate ; the ftiell of the cocoa-nut ferving as a 
 tup to drink out of, which they fometimes polifticd very' 
 nicely. They made alfo velTcIs of a kind of earthen- 
 ware, of a rcddifii blown color, and moftly of an oval 
 fiape. In thefe they heated their water, and boiled their 
 bf!i, yams, &c. — Our people obferved the natives were 
 i articularly careful ,of this pottery, never permitting any 
 of it to approach the fire unlefs gradually, and always 
 moving it with great caution ; from which circum- 
 ftances It is probable they have not yet been able to 
 difeover a method of burning it fufficiently. 
 
 A bundle of eocoa-nut hulks, tied together, formed 
 a bloom, to dud or fweep their habitations. — The only 
 c;)uvcr,ivncy they had of keeping water in their honfes, 
 
 or 
 
ZIl 
 
 T HE PELEW ISLANDS. 
 
 or bringing it from their fprings, was in thick bam- 
 boos, that had a bore of five or fix inches diameter ; 
 thefe they placed upright, and ftooped them when they 
 wanted to pour any out, being at the upper end lipped 
 fo as to form a kind of fpout. 
 
 Their hatchets were not unlike thofe of the South Sea 
 iflands, of which fo many have been feen in England ; 
 the blade part being made of the llrongeft part of the 
 large Kima Cockle, ground to a fliarp edge. — But they 
 were happy to adopt iron, when it had been given to 
 them. 
 
 They had alfo another kind of hatchet, which was 
 formed In a manner to move round in a groove, that the 
 edge might a6t longitudinally or tranfverfely, by which 
 It would ferve as a hatchet or an adze, as occafion re- 
 quired. — Uncouth as their hatchets might appear to our 
 people, it was a matter of furprife, to obfeiwe in how 
 little a time the natives were able to fell a tree with 
 them, though not without breaking feveral. 
 
 The things which I have above meniioned were fuch 
 as their natural wants required ; when thefe had been 
 provided againft, ingenuity thereto fuperadded_ a few ar- 
 ticles, which might in thefe iflands be deemed luxuries. 
 The flicU of the tortoife was there remarkably beautiful, 
 and the natives of Pelew had difeovered the art of 
 moulding it into little trays or dilhes, and Into fpoons, 
 with which, on particular occafions, they eat their fifh 
 and yams. — Some of the great ladies had alfo bracelets 
 of the fame manufafture, and ear-rings Inlaid with 
 fhells. 
 
 How they conceived this art of working the tortoife- 
 fliell, or the idea of improving on a natural advantage, 
 or what procefs they made ufe of to efiFeft it, our peo- 
 ple had no opportunity of difcoveiiig. 
 
 On days of public feftivity, there was ufually brought 
 out the veflel mentioned in page 68, and there defer ibed 
 as repre^ittj^ng a bird, the top of which lifted off, form- 
 ing its back. It contained about thirty-fix Englt/b 
 quails ; and was filled with fweet drink for the King 
 ?,;id liis Ru^acks. This was /ibha Tbulk's property ; and 
 
 whea 
 
«i2 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 when one confiders it as the work of fo much time and 
 patience (and the more eftimable, as being the only vcf- 
 fel of the kind in their country) the King’s giving it 
 to Captain W'llfon at his departure, as already mentioned, 
 was an additional proof of the liberality of thele people, 
 who were ready to diveft themfelves even of what they 
 moll valued, to give to their friends. 
 
 THEIR WEAPONS OF WAR. 
 
 The principal weapons ufed in their battles, were 
 fpears ; they were commonly about twelve feet long, 
 formed of the bamboo, with the pointed end made of 
 fome wood exceedingly hard ; they were barbed tranf- 
 verfely, fo that, having once entered the body, it was 
 difficult to draw them out without lacerating the fleffi, 
 and widening to a great degree the wound. 
 
 Another war-weapon was the dait and fling. — The 
 fling was a piece of wood about two feet in length, 
 with a notch made in it, wherein the head of the dart 
 was fixed., — ^The dart was of bamboo, pointed with an 
 extreme hard and heavy kind of wood, like the fpear, 
 which they comprefled with their hand, till the elafticity 
 of the bamboo had formed fuch a curve as experience 
 told them would reach the objeft aimed at ; then let- 
 ting it flip from the notch, it flew forth, and fell by its 
 gravitation with the point downward, fo as to effeft the 
 purpofe of being deftruftive if it fell upon the enemy. — 
 It is hardly to be conceived wdth what addrefs they di- 
 refted this weapon, or the diftance at which it would 
 prove mortal. Their fpears w^ere only calculated for a 
 certain diftance, not being in general miffible beyond fif- 
 ty or fixty feet. — They had other fpears about eighteen 
 feet long, which were only ufed when they came to 
 clofe quarters with the enemy. 
 
 When they went to battle, fome of the car- 
 
 ried in their canoes a kind of fword, made oPreiy hard 
 wood, and inlaid with parts of fhells ; this they only 
 
 made 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 213 
 made ufe of in perfonal engagement ; they were of fuffi- 
 cient weight to cleave a man’s fkull. 
 
 Our people faw a very few daggers, made of the 
 fting of the Ray-jijb, which is jagged all upwards from 
 the point ; they Iheathed them in a bamboo, their 
 handles were of wood, formed into fome grotefque fliape; 
 the whole length of the weapon not exceeding thirteen 
 inches. 
 
 THEIR CANOES. 
 
 As their battles were generally fought in canoes, thefe 
 may with propriety follow the account of their warhke 
 implements. 
 
 They were, like moft other canoes, made from the 
 trunk of a tree dubbed out ; but our people, who had 
 often feen veffels of this fort in many other countries, 
 thought thofe of Pelenj furpaffed in neatnefs and beau- 
 ty any they had ever met with elfewhere ; the tree out 
 of which they were formed, grew to a very confiderable 
 height, and refcmbled much the Engii/h Afh. — They 
 were painted red, both within and without,* and inlaid 
 with (hells in different forms. — When they went out in 
 ftate, the heads and ftems were adorned with a variety 
 of fliells ftrung on a cord, and hung in feftoons. — The 
 fmalleft veffel that they built, could hold four or five 
 people, the larged; were able to contain from twenty- 
 five to thirty. — They carried an outrigger, ’but only on 
 one fide ; and ufed latine fails made of matting. —As 
 they were not calculated to refid a very rough fea, they 
 rarely went without the coral reef, and feldom within 
 
 • As their mode of applying their paint was uncommon, it may 
 merit being particularly deferibed ; — The colors are crumbled with 
 the hand mm water, whilft it is warming over a gentle fire in 
 earthen p^pfchey carefully (kim from the furfacc, whatever dry 
 leaves or dirt may float on the top; when they find it fufficiently 
 thick, they apply it warm, and let it dry upon the wood : ■ the next 
 ■ day they rub it well over with cocoa-nut od; and with the dry 
 hufk of the cocoa-nut, give it, by repeated rubbing, a polifli and 
 (lability that the waves cannot walh qAT. 
 
214 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 it, had they any violent fea to encounter ; whenever it 
 blew hard the natives always kept clofe under fiiore. — 
 In vifits of ceremony, when the King or the great Ru~ 
 packs approached the place where they intended to land, 
 the rowers fiourifhed their paddles with wonderful ad- 
 drefs, and the canoes advanced with a {lately movement; 
 at other times they got on with an amazing velocity. — 
 When they went againft yirtingall, the little canoes, 
 which oui people termed frigates, as carrying orders 
 from the King to his officers, flew about like arrows, 
 and fcarcely feemed to touch the water. — In the grand 
 expedition to Pehhiv, where a fleet of upwards of three 
 hundred canoes, of different fizes, w'ere colledted toge- 
 ther, they formed a moil beautiful and fplendid appear- 
 ance. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Of the People and their Cufionis. — Of their Marriages.—^ 
 Of their Funerals. — Of their Religion.— General Charac- 
 ter of the Natives. 
 
 T he natives of thefe Iflands are a flout, welbmadc 
 people, rather above the middle flature ; their 
 complexions are of a far deeper color than what is un- 
 derflood by the Indian copper, but not black. — Their 
 hair is long and flowing, rather difpofed to curl, which 
 they moflly form into one large, loofe curl round their 
 heads ; fome of the women, who have remarkably long 
 hair, let it fall loofe down their backs. — It has already 
 been obfeiwed, that the men were entirely naked ; the 
 women wore only two little aprons, or rather thick 
 fringes, one before and one behind, aboutj|J§ inches 
 deep and feven wide ; thefe were made of in^iuflcs of 
 the cocoa-nut flripped into narrow flips, which they dy- 
 ed with different fhadcs of yellow : this, their only drefs 
 tliey tied round their waifts, commonly with a piece o 
 
 liiif 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 215 
 
 Jine, though fuch as were of higher rank ufed aftring of 
 fome kind of beads ; one of a coarfe fort of cornelian, 
 worn by Erre Befs^ who underftanding that Captain 
 IVilfon had a daughter, gave 5 t to Mr. H, IVilfon, be« 
 fore his departure, as a prefent for his filler. 
 
 Both men and women were tatooed, or, as they call 
 it, melgothed; this operation took place, as our people 
 conceived, at a certain period of youth, they having 
 never feen any children of either fex marked by it. — 
 The men had their left ear bored, and the women both-; 
 a few of the firll wore beads in the perforated ear, 
 the latter put either fome leaf through, or an ear-ring 
 of tortolfe-lhell inlaid. The cartilage between the nof- 
 trils was alfo bored in both fexes, through which they 
 frequently put a little fprig or blolTom of fome plant or 
 ihrub that accidentally caught their fancy.* 
 
 When the men and women grevv up, their teeth were 
 blacked : this was done by the means of fome dye; our 
 people, whilft they remained at Pelew, had no oppor- 
 tunity of feeing how the elfedl was produced, under- 
 llanding only it was an operation that was both tedious 
 and painful ; but it was afterwards fully explained by 
 Lee Boo to Captain IVilfon, on his paflage to England.-^ 
 At Saint Helena, Lee Boo appeared much delighted at 
 finding fome groundfel, and chewing it, rubbed his 
 teeth with it. — Captain Wilfon telling him it was not 
 good to eat, he gave him to underftand that they had it 
 at Pelenv, and ufed it with four other herbs, bruifed to- 
 gether and mixed with a little chinam into a pafte, 
 which was applied to the teeth every morning, in or- 
 der to dye them black ; the patients lying with their 
 heads upon the floor, and letting the faliva run out of 
 their mouths. — At night, he faid, the pafle was taken 
 away, and they were perm.itted to eat a little. — The 
 
 fame 
 
 * Perhaps it is o-wing to the defire of having the feent of flow- 
 ■ers, without the inconvenience of holding them, that the Eafera 
 people bore the cartilage between the noftrils. The common peo- 
 ple in Italy alfo wear fweet-fmelling flowers ftuck behind the ear, 
 in fuch a manner as to fall on the face, that they may enjoy their 
 fragrance when working or walking. 
 
2i6 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 fame procefs was repeated the day following, and five 
 days were neceffary to complete the operation . — Lee Boo 
 deicribed it as a thing which gave them a great deal of 
 trouble, and made them extremely fick. 
 
 Both fexes were very expert at fwimming, and ap- 
 peared to be as perfeftly at eafe in the water as on land. 
 — The men were admirable divers ; if they faw any 
 thing at the bottom of the fea which attracted their 
 notice, they would jump overboard inflantly and bring it 
 . up- 
 
 THEIR MARRIAGES. 
 
 Thefe were probably no more than a civil contraft, 
 but at the fame time that kind of contraft which was 
 regarded as inviolable. — They allowed a plurality of 
 wives, but in general had not more than two ; Raa 
 Aboi had three ; the King five, though not living toge- 
 ther. — ^They did not appear to be in any degree jealous 
 of them, permitting them to partake of all their diver- 
 fions. 
 
 When a woman was pregnantj although fhe accompa- 
 nied her hulband, yet flie never flept with him, but al- 
 ways feparated at night; and this was uniformly prac- 
 tifed by all the fex, even among the loweft clafs of the 
 inhabitants ; and it was remarked, that during that pe- 
 riod the utmoft attention was obferved to women in that 
 fituation. — When any Chief appeared with his two 
 wives, they ufually fat on either fide of the hufband, 
 and the people feemed to pay them no other attention, 
 but what is ufual in an intercouife of the fexes, where 
 the greateft good manners prevail. — One of our people, 
 endeavouring to make himfelf agreeable to a lady be- 
 longing to one of the Rupacks, by what we Ihould term 
 a marked afiiduity, Jrra Kooker, with the greateft civili- 
 ty, gave him to underftand it was not right to do fo. 
 
 They name the children very foon after they are born ; 
 this is moft probably done without any ceremony — One 
 
 of 
 
THE PELEW rSLANDS. 217 
 
 of Abha Thulle's wives lay'in of a fon, at Pelenu, during 
 the time our people were at Oroolong; the King, out of 
 liis regard for Captain IVllfon^ named the little boy Cap- 
 tain, and afterwards informed Captain Wilfon of tlie cir- 
 cumftance. 
 
 THEIR FUNERALS. 
 
 In the foregoing narrative an account hath been given 
 of the ceremony obferved by Mr. Sharp, at the interment 
 of Raa Kook's fon, in the ifland of PethouU. Mr. M. 
 Wilfon, at that time at Pelew, was prefent at another 
 funeral, of a young man who had died of the wounds 
 he had received in the fame battle in which the King’s 
 nephew had loft his life. — The account he gave me of it 
 was as follows : — That accidentally noticing a number 
 of the natives going towards a fmall village, about two 
 miles from the capital, and hearing that the King was 
 gone thither, curiofity induced him to join the throng. 
 When he got to the place, he found a great crowd, 
 furrounding a pavement on which Abba Thulle was feated. 
 The dead body was brought from a houfe not far dillant. 
 The proceflion ftopped as it paffed before tlie King, 
 who, without rifing from his feat, fpolce very audibly, 
 
 for a Ihoit time, and then the proceflion went on 
 
 Whether what he fald was an eulogium on the departed 
 youth, who had fallen in his country’s feiwice, neither 
 of the linguifts being prefent, could not be afeertained ; 
 but from the folemn manner in which the King deliver- 
 ed his fpeech, ,and the refpeflful fllence with whicli t!-,e 
 people liftened to him, it is by no means improbable 
 but that this was the purport of it. 
 
 Mr. M. Wilfon followed the body to the place of in- 
 terment ; he obfened an elderly woman getting out of 
 the new-made grave, whom he conceived might be the 
 mother, or fome near relation, whom affedlion had 
 drawn to the melancholy feene, to be fatisfied that eve- 
 ry thing was duly prepared. — When the corpfe was laid- 
 in the earth, the lamentation of the women attending 
 
21* ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 was very great. — appeared, on this occafion, as well 
 as at, the funeral of Raa Kook's fon, that no men, but 
 thofe who conveyed the body, were prefent ; thefe laft 
 fad offices were left to the tenderncfs of the weaker fex : 
 the men only affembled round the body, before it was 
 carried to the grave, where they preferred a folemn fi- 
 lence ; their minds, from principles of fortitude or phl- 
 lofophy, being armed to meet the events of mortality 
 with manly fubmiflion, diverted from the external terti- 
 mony of human weaknefs. 
 
 They had places appropriated to fepulture. Their 
 graves were made as ours are in country church-yards ; 
 .having the mould raifcd up in a ridge, over where tlie 
 body was depofited. — Some had ftones raifed above 
 them, with a flat one laid horizontally over, and fur- 
 rounded by a kind of hurdle-work, to prevent any one 
 from treading over them. 
 
 THEIR RELIGION. 
 
 There are few people, I believe, among the race of 
 men, whom navigation hath brought to our knowledge, 
 who liavc not (hewn, in feme inftance or other, a fenfe 
 of fomething like religion,however it mightbe mixed with 
 idolatry or fuperitition ; and yet our people, during their 
 continuance with the natives of Peleiv, never faw any 
 particular ceremonies, or obferved any thing that had 
 the appearance of public worfhip. — Indeed, circum- 
 ilanced as the Engli/h were, they had not enough of the 
 language to enter on topics of this nature; and it 
 might alio have been indifereet to have done It, as fuch 
 inquiries might have been mifconceived or mifeonftrued 
 by tlie natives. Added to this, their thoughts were 
 naturally all bent on getting away, and preferring, whili'l 
 they remained there, the happy intercourfe.that fubfift- 
 ed between them. 
 
 Though there was not found on any of the iflands 
 they vifited, any place appropriated for religious rites, 
 -it would perhaps be going too far to declare, that the 
 
 people 
 
THE PE LEW ISLANDS. 219 
 people of Pele-w had abfolutely no idea' of religion. — In- 
 dependent of external ceremony, there may be fuch a 
 thing as the religion of the heart, by which the raied, 
 may, in awful filence, be turned to contemplate the God cf 
 Nature; and though unbleffed by tliofe lights which have 
 pointed to the Chriftian world an unerring patli to hap- 
 pinefs and peace, yet they might, from the light of ren- 
 fon only, have difeovered the efficacy of virtue, and tire 
 temporal advantages arifing from moral re£lltude. — The 
 reader will, by this time, have met with fuff.cient occ'ur- 
 rences to convince him, that the inhabitants of theffi 
 new-difeovered regions had a fixed and rooted fenfe of 
 the great moral duties ; this appeared to govern their 
 conduft, glow in all their ailions, and grace their lives. 
 —Arifing from fuch principles, we fee them laborious, 
 indullrious, benevolent. — In moments of danger, firm, 
 and prodigal of life; under misfortunes, patient; in 
 death, refigned. — And if, under all thefe civcumfiancer, 
 he can conceive that the natives of Peh'U' pafied their cx- 
 iftence away, without foiue degree of Corjielencey feme 
 degree of Hope, I have only to fay, his idea of mankind 
 ir.uil widely differ from my own. 
 
 Supcrflition is a word of great latitude, and vaguciv 
 denned ; though it hath, in enlightened ages, been 
 called the offspring of igmorance, yet in no times hath 
 it exiffed without having fome connecIioH with religion. 
 — Now the people of Pe’wM, had beyond ail doubt, feme 
 portion of it, as appeared in the wifh expreffed by the 
 King, when be faw’ the fhip building, that the Engiyh 
 would take out of it fome particular wmod, w hich he per- 
 ceived they had m.ade ufe of, and which he obferved to 
 them was deemed to be of Ul-omcn or vr.prepltlous. 
 
 I'hcy had alfo an idea of an evil fpiiit, that often 
 counteradled human affairs; a very particular iufcance of 
 this was fecn when Mr. Barker (a moil valuable mem- 
 ber in the Englifi fociety) fell backward from the fide 
 of the veirel, then ou the flocks; Raa Kook, who hap- 
 pened to be prefent, obferved thereupon, that it was 
 owing to the unlucky nvood our people had futfered to re- 
 main 
 
220 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 rriiiin in tlie vefTcI, tliat tlie evil fpirit had occafioncd this 
 inifchief to Mr. Banker. 
 
 In the paflage from Pelew to China, fomewhat was dif- 
 covered in Prince Lee Boo, pretty fimilar to what is com- 
 monly Q^c^fecondftght ; — at the time when he was (as be- 
 fore mentioued) very fea-fick, he faid how much he was 
 concerned at thedidrefs liis father and friends were feeling, 
 who kne-Tx: what he was then fuffering. — The fame anxiety 
 operated on him, on their account, when he perceived his 
 cliffo'ution drawing near, as we fhall have occafioa to 
 mention hereafter. 
 
 They certainly entertained fo flrong an idea of Divi- 
 nation, that whenever any matter of moment was going 
 to be undertaken, they conceived they could, by fplit- 
 ting the leaves of a particular plant that was not unlike 
 our bulrnlh, and mcafuving the drips of this long, 
 narrow leaf on the back of their middle finger, form a 
 judgment whether it would or would not turn out 
 profperous : this was obferved by Mr. M. IVilfon, in his 
 lirll vifit to the King at Pciew; and on inquiry was af- 
 terwards explained to the Engli/J}, by the linguift, as 
 being done to difeover if their arrival foreboded good 
 or ill fortune.— It was noticed by fcveral of our people, 
 that the King recurred to this fuppofed oracle on differ- 
 ent occafions, particularly at the time they went on the 
 fecond expedition againil Artingall, when he appeared to 
 be very unwilling to go on board his canoe, and kept all 
 liis attendants wailing, till he had tumbled and twifted 
 his leaves into a form that fatisfied his mind, and pre- 
 dicted fuccefs. — Our people never obferved any perfon 
 but the King apply to this Divination. 
 
 It is hardly probable but the fond anxiety of a pa- 
 rent, ca giving up a fon into the hands of firangers, 
 who were to convey him to remote regions, of which lie 
 could form to himfelf but very imperfeft notions, would, 
 on fo intereiling a point, induce him to examine his ora- 
 cle with uncommon attention ; and it is as little to be 
 doubted but that every thing wore, to his imagination, 
 a profperous appearance. — Yet, to evince the fallacy of 
 Ids prophetic leaves, they certainly argued not the truth, 
 
221 
 
 THE PELEW ISLANDS. 
 
 nor prelentecl to the fatlicr’s mind even a fufpicion, that 
 the I’on he parted with he fliould fee no more ! 
 
 On this fubjeft, I would further wifh to bring back 
 to the reader’s recolleftion a few occurrences already no- 
 ticed: As Raa Kook, and others of the natives, 
 
 were two or three times prefent when Captain IF i/Jhn, on 
 z Suncia^^ evening, alfemblcd his people to read prayers 
 to them, they expreffed no furprife at what was doing, 
 but appeared clearly to underlland that it was the mode 
 in which the En^iyh addrefied that invillble God, whom 
 they looked.up to for prote£iion ; and, however differ- 
 ent their own notions might be, they attended the En^- 
 hfi on thefe occafions with great refpeef, fceming defir- 
 ous to join in it, and conflantly preferring the mofl pro- 
 found filence — the General never allowing the natives 
 to fpeak a fingle word, and refufing even to receive a 
 meflage from the King, which arrived at the tents dur- 
 ing divine fervice. 
 
 The ceremony ufed by Raa Kook, after the funeral 
 of his fon, when he repeated fomething to himfelf whill’c 
 he was marking the cocoa-nuts, and the bundle of bee- 
 tle-leaves, which the old woman was to place on the 
 young man’s grave, had every appearance of a pious of- 
 fice ; — and when he planted the cocoa-nuts, and fome 
 other fruit-trees, on the Ifland of Oroolong, what he ut- 
 tered in a low voice, as each feed was depofited in the 
 • earth, im.prefTed thofe prefent as the giving a benediction 
 to the future tree that was to fpring from it. — The King 
 alfo, when he took leave of his fon, faid a few words, 
 which, by the foleranity they were delivered wi;h, and 
 the refpeftful manner in which Lee Boo received them, 
 induced all our countrymen to conceive it was a kind of 
 blcfiing. 
 
 I muft, in this place, add a circumflanee that paffed 
 in converfation with Captain IVilfon and Lee Boo, after 
 he had been fome time in England; the former telling 
 him, that faying prayers at church was to make men 
 good, that when they died, and were buried, they might 
 live agai.i above (pointing to the fliy ;) Lee Boo, with 
 great carncllnefs, replied — All fane Felezu — Bad men 
 T 2 ' Jla^j 
 
222 
 
 AN ACCOUNT O T 
 
 J}ay in eart/j—gooJ men go tn/o Jly — become very leautifuiy 
 holding his hand in the air, and giving a fluttering mo- 
 tion to his fingdrs. — This furely conveyed a llrong idea, 
 that they believed the fpirit exilled when the body was 
 no more. 
 
 After combining all thefe fadts, and uniting them 
 with the moral characters of the people, the reader is 
 left in a fituation to judge for birnfelf (independent of 
 I^ee' declaration) whether it is probable that their 
 lives could be conducted with that decency we have feen, 
 and their minds trained to fo llrong a fcnf& of julllce, 
 propriety, and delicacy, without having fome guiding 
 principle of religion. — Thus much, at leafl, I think we 
 may be authorized to aflert. — If all this was effected 
 ■without it, it proves that the natives of Pelew had been 
 happy enough not only to difcover, but to be perfeCtly 
 convinced, that P n'tue was its oo.vn reward. 
 
 GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE NATIVES. 
 
 I fliall clofe this account of the Pelcw iflands with a 
 few general leniarks on the difpofltion and charaCter of 
 the natives. 
 
 'Fhe conduct of thefe people towards the EngTiJh was, 
 from the firll to the lafl, uniformly courteous and atten- 
 tive, accompanied with a politenefs that furprifed thofe 
 on whom it vva.s beftowed. At all times they feemed 
 lb cautious cf intruding, that on many ocealions they 
 iacriliced their natural curiofity to that refpeCt, which 
 natural gciod manners appeared to them to exaCf. Their 
 liberality to the Englijh at their departure, when indi- 
 vidual;. poured In all the befl they had to give, and that 
 of articles too of which they had far from plenty them- 
 fclvcs, llrongly dcmonflialcd that thefe teilimonles of 
 fiiendfnip were tlie eiTufion of hearts that glowed with 
 the flame of philanthropy ; and when our countrymen, 
 from want of llowage, were compeiltu to retule the 
 further marks of kindnefs which were offered them, the 
 entreating eyes and fupplicating gdlures with which they 
 
 folicited 
 
the P E L E W island 3 . 225 
 
 lolilited their acceptance of what they had brought, 
 molt forcibly exprefTcd. how much their minds were 
 wounded, to think they had not anived ca. Iy enough to 
 have their little tributes- of affection received. 
 
 Nor was this conduct of theirs an oftentatious civiL'ty 
 exercifed tow'aids Itrangers. — Separated as they were 
 from the reft of the world, the charafter of a ftranger 
 had never entered their imagination. — They felt our 
 people were diftrefled, and in confequence wifhed they 
 Ihould ftiare whatever they had to give. It was not 
 that worldly munificence, that beftows and fpreads its 
 favors with a diftant eye to retribution — Their bofoms 
 had never harboured fo contaminating a thought — No ; 
 it was the pure emotions of native benevolence. — It 
 was the love of man to man. — It was a feene that pic- 
 tured human nature in triumphant coloring — And, whlllt 
 their liberality gratified the fenfe, their virtue ftruck the 
 Ireart ! sT 
 
 Our people had alfo many occafions to obferve, that 
 this fpirit of urbanity operated in all the intercourfe the 
 natives had among themfelves. The attention and ten- 
 dernefs Ihewn to the women was remarkable, and the 
 deportment of the men to each other mild and affable ; 
 infomuch that, in various feenes of which they were 
 fpe<ftators, durirrg their ftay on thefe iflands, the Englifh-, 
 never faw any thing that had the appearance of conteft, 
 or paftion : every one feemed to attend to his own con- 
 cerns, without interfering with the bufinefs of their 
 neighbour. — The men were occupied in their plantations, 
 in cutting wood, making hatchets, line, or fmail cords: or 
 fome in building houfes or canoes : others in making 
 nets and fifhing-tackle. The forming of darts, ipears, 
 and other warlike rveapons, engroffed the attention of 
 many more; as alfo the making of paddles for tfieir 
 boats, the fafhionlng of domeftic utenfils, and the pre- 
 paring and burning the chinam. — Such as had abilities 
 to conduift any ufeful employment were called by the 
 natives 'Tachalbys ; of this clafs were reckoned the peo- 
 ple who built, or inlaid the canoes j fuch alfo were thofe 
 
 who ■ 
 
22+ ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 who manufactured the tortoife-fhell, or made the po'c- 
 tcr)^ 
 
 As induftr)', however zealous, miift be flow in pro- 
 ducing its pui-pofe, unaided by proper implements, and 
 labor rendered extremely tedious from this deficiency, 
 yet, in i-egions where fucli advantages are denied, we 
 do not find that the ardor of attempting is abated. A 
 Heady perfeverance, to a certain degree, accompliflres 
 the end aimed at; and Eurape hath not, without reafon, 
 been aftonifhed at the many Angular produ6lions import- 
 ed from the fouthein difeoveries, fo neatly and curioufly 
 wrought by artlefs hands, unaflifted but by fuch Ample 
 tools as ferve only to incrcafe our furprife, when we fee 
 how much they have effefted. — Every man, by his daily 
 labor, gained his daily fuftenance : neceflity impoAng 
 this exertion, no idle or indolent people were feen, not 
 even among thofe whom fuperior rank might have ex- 
 empted; on the contrary, thefe excited their inferiors 
 to toil and activity by their own examples. The King 
 himfelf was the betl maker of hatchets in the ifland, 
 and was ufualiy at «'ork whenever difengaged from mat- 
 ters of importance. — Even the women (hared in the 
 common toil ; they laboi'cd in the plantatioiis of yams, 
 and it was their province to pluck out all the weeds that 
 (hot up from between the Hones of the paved caufeways. 
 They manufaftured the mats and bafkets, as well as at- 
 tended to their domeAic concerns. The buAnefs of 
 tatooingwas alfo carried on by them; thofe who entered 
 on this employment were denominated Tackalbys artheil, or 
 female artiHs. — Their manners were courteous, though 
 they were far from being of loofe or vicious difpoAti- 
 ons ; — they in general rejected connexions with our 
 people, and refented any indelicate or unbecoming free- 
 dom with a proper fenfe of mpdeHy. 
 
 In fuch feenes of patient indufiry, the years of fleet- 
 ing life pafled on ; and the cheerful difpoAtion of the 
 natives fully authorized our people to fuppofe, that there 
 were few hours of it either irkfome or oppreflive. They 
 were Hrangers to thofe pafiions which ambition excites — 
 to thofe cares which affluence awakens. — Their exiHence 
 
 appeared 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 225 
 
 appeared to glide' along like a fmooth, undifturbed llream; 
 and when the natural occurrences of life ruffled the 
 furface, they polTefled a fufficient portion of fortitude 
 to recover foon its wonted calm. — Their happinefs feem- 
 ed to be fecured to them on the firmed bafis; for the 
 little which Nature and Providence fpread before them, 
 they enjoyed with a contented cheerfulnefs; nor were 
 their bofoms habituated to' cherifli willies which they had 
 not the power of gratifying. And it will not furely 
 be denied, that in civilized nations the error of a con- 
 trary conduft exhibits, among tiie inaftive, many me- 
 lancholy, repining countenances; whild it prompts more 
 daring and uncontrouled fpirits to aim at compaffing 
 their views by injudicc, or rapine, and to bieak down 
 the facred barrier of fociety. 
 
 From the general charatder of thefe people, the rea- 
 der, I fiiould conceive, will be difpofed to allow, that 
 their lives do credit to human nature; and that, how- 
 ever untutored, however uninformed, their manners 
 prefent an intereding pi^ure to mankind. — We fee a 
 defpotic government without one diade of tyranny, and 
 power only exercifed for general happinefs, the fubjefts 
 looking up with filial reverence to their King. — And, 
 whild a mild government, and an affedflonate confidence, 
 linked their little date in bonds of harmony, gentlenefs 
 of manners was the natural refult, and fixed a brotherly 
 and difintereded intcrcourfe among one another. 
 
 I am well aware, that in the expedition againd Pd(~ 
 leiv, the dedroying the houfes and plantations of the 
 little ifiand belonging to it, which the natives, through 
 fear, had abandoned, as well as the killing thofe whom 
 they captured in battle, are both of them circtlmdances 
 which will appear to militate againd that humanity which, 
 throughout this work, I have attributed to the people 
 of Pr/fw. — Refpe<ding the firll, though the landing in 
 an enemy’s country', and fpreading devaftation and 
 didrefs, is by' no means a practice new in the annals of 
 hidory', political r.ecejjity qualifying the meafure; yet in 
 thefe regions it feemed alfo to militate fo much againd 
 their accudomed maxim, uevey to take an enemy by fur- 
 
226 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 prife, but to give previous notice of a meditated attach, that 
 I am ftrongly inclined to think that this might have 
 been a new art of war fuggefted to the King by the 
 Malay favorite, as it totally contradifted that open 
 gcnerofity with which they at all times conduced hofti- 
 lities. 
 
 As to their putting their prifoners to death, Raa 
 Kook, on being cenfured for it by Captain Wilfon, fald, 
 it had not been altvays fo ; and, in affigning the reafons 
 for being compelled to do it, feemed to Ihelter the pro- 
 ceeding under the plea of political necejftty. 
 
 The number captured in any of their battles muft, 
 from their mode of engaging, be at all times very 
 trifling. In the moft coufiderable engage ent our peo- 
 ple witnefled at Artingall, no more than nine were made 
 prifoners, which the natives accounted a great many ; 
 nor were thefe put to death in cold blood, it rather 
 might be called the clofe of the battle. It was general- 
 ly the effeft of unfubfided paffion or revenge, the ter- 
 minating blow being, in moft cafes, given by fome one 
 who had loft a near relation, or friend, in the battle, 
 or was h^felf fulferlt^ under the pain of a wound. 
 Situated,%efide, fo nearly as thefe iflands vvere to each 
 other, it was next to Impoflible to detain their captives; 
 they had no prifons to confine them; no cartel canoes 
 to negotiate an exchange; and, going about the ifland 
 freely, the lives of the Sovereign, or his Chiefs, were 
 at all times aflailable by any vindiftive fpirit. They had, 
 as t!ie General told Captain U'ilfon, InefFeftually ftrove 
 to detain them as menial fervants. Therefore, revolting 
 as the idea is, if they have, in this refpeft, adopted a 
 maxim which prevails among the Indian tribes in America, 
 and in the numerous ftates of Africa (though the num- 
 ber of lives facrificed can never here be many) one 
 hath only to lament that political neefftty hath (in com- 
 mon with a multitude of other uncivilized countries) 
 thrown a fhade over thefe new-difeovered iflands. 
 
 It fliould be the caution of every writer, to endeavour 
 to difaim crilicifm, by meeting objeftions that may be 
 made. — ^After the good difpofitioa which the people of 
 
 Pelew 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 227 
 
 Peletu have been feen to poflefs, it may poffibly be laid, 
 they were addidled to pilfering wlien opportunity of- 
 fered ; a cenfure which many, I believe, have thought 
 has been too feverely pafled on the poor inhabitants of 
 the fouthern ocean. — But in the Peleiv iflands, it was 
 never done but by thofe of the loweft clafs; and whenever 
 complaint was made of any thing being taken clandeftine- 
 ly away, the King, as well as his Chiefs, confidered it 
 as a breach of holpitality, nor could their indignant fpi- 
 rits reft till the article purloined was fearched for, and 
 if found, reftored. — Should fome Eaftern Prince, magnifi- 
 cently decorated, accidentally, as he paffed along, drop 
 a diamond from his robe, and were a poor peafant (who 
 knew how great an acquifition it was) purfuing the fame 
 tfaft, to fee it fparkling in the duft, where is that refift- 
 ance, that felf-denial, which would go on and leave it 
 untouched? — A nail — a tool — or a bit of old iron, was 
 to them the alluring diamond. — They had no penal 
 ftatute againft petty larceny. They fought only the means 
 of rendering eafier the daily toils of life, and compafling 
 with facility that, which they Imperfeftly accomplilhed 
 by unwearied perfeverance ! And, I am confident, the 
 voice of reafon will unite with me in aftertlng, that they 
 muft have been more than men, had they afted lefs like 
 men. Virtuous in the extreme would be deemed that 
 country, where the confclence of no individual, in the 
 cool moments of refledflon, could upbraid him with a 
 heavier tranfgreffion, than applying to his own ufe a bit 
 of iron that lay before him ! 
 
 In the name of humanity, then, let us judge with lefs 
 rigor our fellow-creatures; and, ftiould any one be dif- 
 pofed, for fuch trivial fallings, to cenfure the benevolent 
 inhabitants of Pelew, that cenfure, I truft, for the fake 
 of juftice, will never be paffed on them by thofe who 
 live in civilized and enlightened nations — for Such muft 
 be too well convinced of the Inefficacy of the beft-di- 
 gefted laws, and the Inability of their own internal po- 
 lice to reftrain the vices of mankind, by obferving, that 
 all which prudence can re\’olve, wifdom plan, or power 
 ‘enforce, is frequently unable to protect their Property by 
 
 night. 
 
228 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 night, or their Perfons, at all times, ev^n under meridi- 
 an funs. — They will refleft, that every bolt and bar is 
 a fatire on fociety ; and painfully recoiled!, that it is 
 not the daring plunderer alone they have to guard againft; 
 they are alfailable under the fmile of dijfemhled friendfhip, 
 by which the Generous and the Confiding are too often 
 betrayed into a fituation beyond the Ihelter of any pro- 
 teeing law ; a wound which perhaps, more than any 
 other, hath tortured the feelings of fenfibility ! 
 
 Waiting, therefore, that long-expe6!ed sera, when 
 civilization, fcience, and philofophy, flraH bring us to 
 a more confirmed praGice of real virtue, it becomes us 
 to view with charity thofe errors in others, which we 
 have not yet been able to correft in ourfelves. 
 
 If the enlightened fons of Europe, enjoying the full 
 blaze of advantages unknown in lefs favored regions, 
 have hitherto made fo flow an advance toward moral per- 
 feilion, they are furely pafling the fevereft cenfure on 
 themjelves, if they expedl to find it in a happier man- 
 ner approached by the dark and unfriended children of 
 the Southern World! 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 /inecdotes of Lee Boo, fecond Son of Abba Thulle, from 
 the 'Time of leaving Canton to his Death. 
 
 H aving given a faithful narrative of all the 
 material occurrences which happened to our peo- 
 ple during the time they remained in the Pelenv Iflands, 
 as well as fuch information concerning their produce, 
 manners, dlfpofitlon, way of life, and charafter of the 
 natives, as could be collefted in that fpace of time, from 
 the intercourfe our countr}’men had with them ; I fliall 
 clofe this work with fuch anecdotes of Prince Lee Boo, 
 as I have received from fome of my particular friciidj 
 who often faw liim, added to thofe I have myfelf befn 
 
 witnefs 
 
THE P E L E W I S L A D 22-) 
 
 wknefs of ; — infignificant as the amount of the whole 
 may be, yet I think them worth recording ; — from a 
 trifling flcetch, or a mere outline, enough may be gain- 
 ed of charafter, to convey to the mind no fallacious idea 
 of the objeft aimed at. — In the prefcnt cafe, no more 
 than an outline can be delineated. — Had not this youth, 
 who came here almoll a ftranger to our language, and 
 who lived more than five months with us, been fnatched 
 away fo foon to fill an early grave, I might have been 
 enabled to ofler the public a more finifliLd pidlure of 
 him. 
 
 In the flight acquaintance made with him at Mixcoa 
 and Cavion, he hath, I trull, interefted the reader by 
 tliat ingenuous opennefs, which was the refult of native 
 fimplicity; he is there feen in the charadler of a new- 
 born creature, juft entering a world he was quite aftran- 
 ger to, darting his bewildered eyes on eveiy fide, and 
 folicited by fuch a variety of novelty, that he knew not 
 where to fix his attention. However beautiful, how- 
 ever ftupendous the objedls may be which furroiinj 
 us, when they have been within our view through all viie 
 pvogrefiive advance of early years, they infenfibly ceaje 
 to engage our notice. — The peafant, bred at the foot of 
 JEtna or the jUid;s, fees, with indifference, thofe won- 
 derful operations of Nature, which feduce fo frequently 
 from diftant countries the inquifitive traveller.— The 
 cafe of Lee Boo was directly otherwife; if I may be al- 
 lowed the expreflion, he was born at the ftr.tc of man- 
 hood, with his mind in full vigor, and iiiflantly found 
 himfelf encompaffed by feenes not only totall” iww, bet 
 totally beyond his conceptions — feenes which to him 
 were fo bordering on encb.antment, they were uifficlent 
 to have half overfet the inexperienced faculties of our 
 young traveller, had he not conftaatly had his Menlor at 
 at his elbow to clear up all his difficulties, point his 
 judgment properly, and give him a juft expl.inaticn of 
 whatever became an objedl of his notice ar.d lurpidk*. 
 
 Wc left them together, as the reader will reculLcl, 
 on board the Morfe Imliaman, purfuing their pafl'age to 
 Earo^.: ; he was treated with much kindnefs and atten- 
 U tion 
 
2SO ANACCOUNTOF V 
 
 tion by the Comnianclsr, Captain Elliot, and Lee Boo % 
 was fo courteous and plcsifant during the whole voyage, 
 that every one was ready to render him every fervice in L 
 their power. 
 
 ■He was extremely defirous of knowing the name and 
 country of every fliip he met at fea, and would repeat ‘p 
 what he was told over and over till he had fixed it well 
 in his memory; and, as each inquiry was gratified, he 
 made a knot on his Line; but thefe knots now having 
 greatly multiplied, he was obliged to repeat them over 
 every day to refrelh his memory, and often to recur to 
 Captain IViljcn, or others, when he had forgot what 
 any particular knot referred to. The officers in the 
 Morfe with whom only lie affociated, when they faw 
 him thus bufied with his Line, ufed to fay he was read- 
 ing his journal. He frequently affied after all the peq- i 
 pie of the Oroolong, who had gone aboard different /hips I 
 ■ at China, particularly after the Captain’s fon, and Mr. 
 '.Sharp, 
 
 He had not been long on the voyage before he fo- 
 licited Captain Wilfon to get him a book, and point out 
 to him the letters, that he might, when he knew them, * 
 -be inftrufted in reading; all convenient opportunities ^ 
 were allotted to gratify this wiih of his young pupil, | 
 who difeovered great readinefs in comprehending every j 
 information given him. j 
 
 On arriving at Saint Helena, he was much ffruck 
 with the foldiers and cannon on the fortifications; and ' 
 the coming in foon after of four Englijh men of war, 
 afforded him a fight highly delighting, particularly thofe 
 w'hich had two tier of guns. It was explained to him 
 that thefe kind of /hips were intended only for fighting, 
 and that the other veffels which he then f|w in tire Bay 
 were deftined for commerce, to tranfpoA^^d exchange 
 from one country to another itsproduce an1 pnt nufa£lures. 
 C^utain Buller, the Commander of his ^^jefty’s /hip 
 Ehe Chafer, had the goodnefs to take him on board his. 
 own, and another /hip, to let him fee the men exercifed 
 at the great guns and fmall arms, which exceedingly im- 
 preffed his imagination. ' 
 
THE PE LEW fS LANES.' 231 
 
 On being carried to fee a fciiool, he exprefTed a wifh 
 that he could learn as the boys did, feeling his own de- 
 ficiency in knowledge. 
 
 Ele delired to ride on horfeback Into the countiy, 
 \thich he was permitted to do ; he fat v/cll, and gallop- 
 ed, {hewed no fear of falling, and appeared hlgbly' 
 pleafed both with the novelty and pleafure of the ex- 
 crclfe. 
 
 Villting th.e Company’s garden, he noticed fomc 
 Ihady walks formed v/ith bamboos arching overhead on 
 Lttice-work. He was (Inick with the refrething cool- 
 nefs they afforded, and obfefved, that Iris own country- 
 nten were ignorant of the f.cvantr.pys tbey might enjoy, 
 faying, that on this ifland they had but little vroed, 
 yet applied it to a good parpofe; that at Pelczu they 
 had great abundance, and knew not how to ufe it. — 
 Adding, that when he went back, he ■would fpcak to 
 the King, tell him how defedlive tliey were, and have 
 men employed to make fuch bowers as he had fecn. 
 
 Such were the dawnings of a mind tint felt its cv;n 
 darknefs — ^and had the good-fenfe to catch at every ray 
 of light that might lead him forward to information 
 and improvement! 
 
 Before the Morfe quitted Satnt Helena, the Lafcellcs 
 arrived, by which occui-rence Lee Boo had an interview 
 witli his firft friend, Mr. Sharp ; he had a light of him 
 from a window, and ran out with the ucmcll: impatience 
 to take him by the hand ; happy, after fo long a fepa- 
 ration, to meet him again, and evincing by his ardor 
 the grateful fentiments he retailed of the attention that 
 gentleman had Ihcwn him. 
 
 As he drew near the Br'utjh channel, the number of 
 veflels that he obferved purfuing their different courfes, 
 increafing fo much, he was obliged to give up the keep- 
 ing of his journal; but was rtill very Inquifitlve to know, 
 whither they were falling. — ^When the Morfe got to the 
 JJle of Captain U i!fon,'h\a brother, the Prince, 
 
 with fcveral ether paffengers, quitted her, and coming- 
 in a boat between the Needles, arrived fafe at Portf- 
 moutb the fourteenth of fuly 1784. — On landing, the 
 
 number 
 
2jJ ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 nunibcr and fize of the men of war t'len in harbour, 
 the variety of houfes, and the ramparts, were all objefts 
 of attradlion; he feemed fo totally abforbed in filcnt 
 furprife, tliat he had no leifure to a/lc any qiicllions. — 
 The olficer of the 3Torfe charged with the defpatches 
 fetting off immediately for London, Captain M^ilfon, im- 
 patient to fee his family, accompanied him, leaving his 
 young traveller in the care of his brother, to follow him 
 by a coach, which was to fet off in the evening. As 
 boon as he reached town, he was conveyed to the Cap- 
 tain’s houfe at RotherhUhe, where he was not a little 
 happy to rejoin his adopted father, and in being intro- 
 duced to his family. 
 
 Though part of his journey had paffed during the 
 night, yet, with returning day, his eyes had full em- 
 jdoyment on every fide; and when he was got to what 
 was now to be, for fome time, bis deflined home, he 
 aniyed in all the natural glow of his youthful fpirits. 
 Whatever he had obferved in filence, was now eagerly 
 diiciofed. He deferibed all the circumftances of his 
 journey; faid it was very pleafant — that he had been 
 put into a little houfe, which was ran away with by 
 herfes — that he flept, but flill was going on ; and, whilft 
 he went one way, the fields, houfes, and trees, all went 
 another — every thing, from the quicknefs of travelling, 
 appearing to him to be in motion. 
 
 At the hour of reft he was fliewn by Mr. 3T. WiJfon 
 up to his chamber, w'hcre, for the firft time, he faw a 
 four-poft bed; be could fcarce conceive what it meant — 
 he jumped in, and jumpqd out again ; felt and pulled alide 
 the curtains ; got into'lbed, and then got out a fecond 
 time, to admire its exterior form. At length, having 
 become acquainted with its ufe and convenience, he laid 
 him.felf down to deep, faying that in England then tvas a 
 /. oufe for every thing. 
 
 it was not, I believe, more than a week after his ar- 
 rival, when I was invited, by my late valued friend Ro- 
 b rt Rnfileigh, Efq. to dinner, where Captain IVi'fon, 
 and his young charge, were expeifled. — Lee Boo then 
 poffeffed but very little Engli/h, yet, between words and 
 
 aQions, 
 
T H t: p:e l e'w i's land s. 233 
 
 ^ftions, made himfelf tolerably underftood, and feemed 
 to comprehend the greater part of what was faid to 
 him, efpecially, having the Captain by him to explain 
 whatever he did not clearly comprehend. — He was drefl 
 as an Englijbman, excepting that he wore his hair in 
 the fafliion of hk country ; appeared to be between nine- 
 teen and twenty years of age, was of a middling fta- 
 ture, and had a countenance fo ftrongly marked with 
 fenfibility and good-humor, that it inftantly prejudiced 
 every one in his favor ; and this countenance was enliven- 
 ed by eyes fo quick and intelligent, that they might 
 really be faid to announce his droughts and conceptions 
 without the aid of language. 
 
 Though the accounts I had previouUy received of this 
 ncKv man (as he was. called at Macoa) had gi'eatly raifed 
 my expeftatioas, yet when I had been a little time in 
 his company, I was perfeAly aftonilhed at the eafe and 
 gentlenefs of his manners; he was lively and pleafant, 
 and had a polltenefs without form or reftraint, which 
 appeared to be the refult of natural good-breeding. — 
 As I chanced to fit near him at table, I paid him a 
 great deal of attention, which he feemed to be very 
 fenhble of. — Many queftions were of courfe put to Cap- 
 tain WUJ'jn by the company, concerning this perfonage, 
 and the country he had brought him from, which no 
 European had ever vifitcd before; he obligingly entered 
 on many particular circumilances which were highly in- 
 terefting, fpoke of the battles in which his people had 
 afiifted the King of Pelew, and of the peculiar manner 
 the natives had of tying up their hair when going to 
 war ; Lee Boo, who fully underllood what his friend was 
 explaining, very obligingly, and unafleed, untied his own, 
 and threw it into tile form Captain IVilfon had been de- 
 feribing. — T might tire the reader vvere I to enumerate 
 the trivial occurrences of a few hours, rendered only 
 of confequvnce from the fingularity of this young man’s 
 fixation ; fuffice it to fay, there was in all his deportment 
 fuch affability and propriety of behaviour, that when he 
 took leave of the company, there was hardly any one 
 U 2 prefent 
 
23 + ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 prefent who did not feel a fatisfaftion in having had an 
 interview with him. 
 
 I went to RotherhUhe, a few days after, to fee Captain 
 WHfcn; Lee Boo was reading at a window, he recolledled 
 me inftantly, and flew with eageinefs to the door to 
 meet me, looked on me as a friend, and ever after at- 
 tached himfclf to me, appearing to be happy whenever 
 we met together, — In this vilit I had a good deal of 
 converfation with him, and we mutually managed to 
 he pretty well undei flood by each other; he feemed to 
 be pleafed with every thing about him, faid. All Jlne 
 country, Jlne Jreet, fine coach, and hotife upon hnufe up to 
 Jt:y, putting alternately one hand above another, by which 
 I found (their own habitations being all on the ground) 
 that every feparate floiy of our buildings he at that 
 time confidered as a diflindb houfe. 
 
 He was intredueed to feveral of the Direftors of the 
 India Company, taken to vilit many of the Captain’s 
 friends, and gradually fliewn mofl of the public build- 
 ings in the different quarters of the town ; but. his pru- 
 dent condutlor had the caution to avoid taking him to 
 any places of public entertainment, left he • might ac- 
 cidentally, in thofe heated reforts, catch the fmall-pox, 
 ,a difeafe which he purpofed to inoculate the young 
 Prince with, as foon as he had acquired enough of our 
 language to be reaf ned into the neceflity of fubmitting 
 to the operation; judging, and furely not without good 
 reafon, that by giving him fo offenfive and troublefome 
 a diflemper, without lirft explaining its nature, and pre- 
 paiing his mind to yield to it, it might weaken that 
 unbounded confidence which this youth placed in his 
 adopted father. 
 
 After he had been a while fettled, and a little ha- 
 bituated to the manners of this country, he was feat 
 every day to an Academy at Rotherhithc, to be inflrudled 
 in reading and writing, which he was himfelf eager to 
 attain, and mofl afliduous in learning; his whole deport- 
 ment, whilft tliere, wus fo engaging, that it not only- 
 gained him the' cfleem of the gentleman under whofc 
 tuition he was placed, but ^Ifo the affedion of his young 
 
 , CO m- 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 2J5 
 
 companions ; — in the hours of recefs, when he returned 
 to the Captain’s houfe, he amufed the whole family by 
 his vivacity, noticing every particularity he faw in any 
 of his fchool-fellows, with great good-humor mimicing 
 their different manners, fomctimes faying he would have 
 a fchool of his own when he returned to Pelc’W, and 
 fliould be thought verj* wile when he taught the great 
 people their letters. 
 
 He always addreffed Mr. W'tJfon by the appellation of 
 Captain; but never would call Mrs. JVilfon (to whom be 
 behaved with the warmeft affection) by any other name 
 than that of Mother, looking on that as a mark of the 
 greateft refpedf. — Being often told he fliould fay Mit». 
 iyUfon, his conftant reply was. No, no — Mother, Mo- 
 ther. 
 
 Captain Wilfon, when invited to dine with his friends, 
 was generally accompanied by Lee Boo; on which oc- 
 cafions, there was fo much eafe and politenefs in his be- 
 haviour, as if he had been always habituated to good 
 company ; he adapted himfelf ver)" readily to whatever 
 he faw were the cuftoms of the country, and fully con- 
 firmed me in an opinion which I have ever entertained, 
 that natural good manners is tlie natural refult of natural 
 good fenfe. 
 
 Wherever this young man went, nothing efcaped his 
 obfervation; he had an ardent defire of information, 
 and thankfully received it, always exprefling a wifli to 
 know by what means effefts which he noticed, were 
 produced. I was one day in compaaiy with him, when 
 a young lady fat down to the harpficord, to fee how he 
 was afl'efted with mufic ; he appeared greatly furprifed 
 that the inllrument could throw out fo much found; it 
 was opened, to let him fee its interior conftrudlion, he 
 pored over it with great attention, watching how the 
 jacks were moved, and feemed far mere dlfpofed to 
 puzzle out the means which produced the founds, than 
 to attend to the mufic that was playing. He was af- 
 terwards requeffed to give us a Pehu fong ; he did not 
 wait for thole repeated entreaties v'hich fingers ufually 
 require, but obligingly began one as foon as allied ; tlie 
 
 tones. 
 
2.36 AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 tones, however, were fo har/h and difcordant, and bis- 
 bteaft feemed to labor with fo much exertion, that his 
 whole countenance was changed by it, and every one’s 
 ears ftunned with the horrid notes. From this famplc 
 of Peleit) finging, it is not to be wondered, that a chorus 
 of fuch performers had the effedf (as hath been related) 
 of making our countrymen at Oroolovg fly to their arms } 
 — it might, in truth, have alarmed a whole garrifon. — 
 Though when he had been fome time here, he readily 
 caught two or three EngUJh fongs, in which his voice 
 appeared by no means inharmonious. 
 
 Lee Boo’s temper was very mild and compalfionate, 
 difeovering, in various inftances, that he had brought 
 from his father’s territories that fpirit of philanthropy, 
 whieh we have feen reigned there; yet he at all times 
 governed, it by diferetion and judgment. — If he faw 
 the young afl<ing relief, he would rebuke them with what 
 little Engl'ijh he was inafter of, telling them, it was a 
 fliame to beg when they were able to work; but the 
 entreaties of old age he could never withftand, faying, 
 mt^ give poor old man — old man not able to 'work. 
 
 I am perfe£Uy convinced, that Captain IVilfon, from 
 the coniidence which the King had repofed in him, 
 would have held himfelf inviolably bound to proteft and 
 ferve this young creature to the utmoft extent of his 
 abilities; but, independant of what he felt was due to 
 the noble charafter of ^hba 7 hulle, there was fo much 
 gentlenefs, and fo much gratitude lodged at Lee Boo’s 
 heart, that not only the Captain, but every part of his 
 family, viewed him with the warmell fentiments of dlf- 
 intereiled affection. — Mr. H. Wilfon, the Captain’s fon, 
 being a y^outh of a very amiable charaftcr, and a few 
 y'ears younger than Lee Boo, they had, during their 
 voyage to, and ftay in China, become mutually attached 
 to each other, and meeting again under the father’s roof, 
 their friendfhip was flill more cemented; the young 
 Prince looked on him as a brother, and, in his leifure 
 hours from the Academy, was happy to find in him a 
 companion to converfe with, to exercife the throrving of 
 the fpear, or partake in any innocent recreation. 
 
 Boyamy 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 237 
 
 Boyam, the Malay, wlioni tlie King had fent to at- 
 tend on his fon, proving an unprincipled, difhoneft fel- 
 low, Lee Boo was fo difgufted at his condudf, that he 
 entreated Captain Wilfon to fend him back to Sumatra 
 (which he had learned was the Malay’s own country;) 
 and Tom Rofe who had picked up a great deal of the 
 PeL uo language, having got to Englaiul, he was engaged 
 (from his tried hdelity) to fupply his glace ; an exchange 
 which gave great fatisfa<flion to all parlies. 
 
 Captain IVilfon being now and then incommoded with 
 fevere head-achs, which were fometimes relieved by ly- 
 ing down on the bed; on thefe occafions the feelings 
 of Lee Boo west ever alarmed. He appeared always un- 
 happy, w'ould creep up foftly to his proteftor’s cham- 
 ber, and fit filent by his bedfide for a long time toge- 
 ther, without moving, peeping gently from time to 
 time between the curtains, to fee if he llept, or lay 
 cafy. 
 
 As the anecdotes of this fingular youth are but fcan- 
 ty, being all unfortunately limited to a very Ihort peri- 
 od, I would unwillingly, in this place, w'ithhold one, 
 where his own heart deferibed itfelf. The Captain hav- 
 ing been all the morning in London, after dinner afleed 
 his fon if he had been at fome place, he had, before he 
 went to town, diredled him to call at, with a particular 
 mefiage ? The faft w^as, the two young friends had been 
 amufing tliemfelves w'ith throwing the fpear, and the 
 bufinefs had been totally forgotten. — Captain IVilfon 
 was hurt at the negledt, and told his fon it was very idle 
 and carelefs ; this being fpoken in an impatient tone of 
 voice, which Lee Boo conceiving was a mark of anger 
 in the father, flipt unobferved out of the parlor. I'he 
 matter was inftantly forgotten, and fomething ell’e talked 
 of, when Lee Boo being miffed, Harry Wilfon was fent 
 to look after him, w'ho finding him in a back room 
 quite dejedled, defired him to return to the family ; I^ee 
 Boo took his young friend by the hand, and on entering 
 the parlor went up to the father, and laying hold of his 
 hand joined it with that of his fon, and preffing them 
 together, dropped over both, thofe tears of fenfibility, 
 
 which 
 
23S A N A C C O U InT T O F 
 
 which his afFeftionate heart could not on the occafioii 
 fupprefs. 
 
 Captain IVilfon and the young Prince dining with me 
 early after his arrival, I was afieing how he was affedled 
 by paintfog ; on mentioning the fubjeft, Dr. Carmichael 
 Smyth, whom I liad requefted to meet this ftranger, wilh- 
 cd me to bring a miniature of myfelf, that we might 
 all thereby obferve if it llruck him ; he took it in his 
 hand, and inftantly darting his eyes toward me, called 
 out, Mi[f:r Keate — very nice, very good. — The Captain 
 then afldng him, if he underftood what it fignlfied ? he 
 replied, Lee Boo underjiand well — that Miffer Kecie die — 
 this Mijfer Keate live. — A treatife on the utility and in- 
 tent of portrait painting could not have better defined 
 the art than this little fentence. 
 
 Mrs. Wilfon defiring Lee Boo, who was on the oppo- 
 fitc fide of tlie table, to fend her fome cherries, perceiv- 
 ing diat he was going to take them up with his fingers, 
 jocofely noticed it to him, he inftantly reforted to a 
 Ipoon ; but, fenfible that he had dilcovered a little un- 
 pol.ienefs, his countenance was in a moment fufiTufed 
 wit 1 a blufh, that vifibly forced itfelf through his dark 
 com. 'lesion. 
 
 A ’ady, who was of the party, being Incommoded by 
 the vi,:l. nt heat of the day, was nearly fainting, and 
 obli i J to leave the room ; this amiable youth feemed 
 m eh hftrefTM at the accident, and feeing her appear 
 agai'i 'vhtn we were fummoned to tea, his inquiries and 
 p; vticuhr attention to her, as ftrongly ma ked his ten- 
 dernefs, as it di ’ his good-breeding. 
 
 He W1S fo.id of riding in a coach beyond any other 
 c"’ V ya..ce, b.-cauf., he fail, people could be carried 
 V. re thev wanted to go, and at the fame time fit and 
 c .n'.-;rfc together. He feemed particularly plcafed at 
 gniv'g to cliurch, and, though he could not comprehend 
 th .* fervice, yet he perfecfly underftood the Intent of it, 
 and alwavs behaved there with remarkable propriety and 
 attention. 
 
 Captain WVJ'on kept liim from going abroad, except 
 to vifit friends, for the reafon already affigaed, as alio 
 
 from 
 
THE PELEW ISLANDS. 239 
 
 from anotlier prudential confideration, tliat his mind 
 miglrt be tranquil, nor too much drawn off from the 
 great objeft in view, the attaining the language, which 
 would enable him to comprehend fully every purpofed 
 information, and to enjoy better whatever he fliould then 
 be (liewn. , he river, the (hipping, and the bridges 
 he was forcibly Itruck with ; and he was feveral times 
 taken to fee the guards exercifcd and march in St. yames’s 
 park, a fight which gratified him much, every thing 
 that was military greatly engaging his attention. To 
 a y'oung creature, fituated as he was, and whofe eye 
 and mind were ever in queft of information, circum- 
 ftances perpetually (jccurred, that at the time interelled 
 thofe who were about him, but which at prejet\t would 
 be trefpaffing too much on the reader to mention. 
 
 I went to fee him the morning after Lunardi's firll 
 afcent in the balloon, not doubting but that I (horrid 
 have found him to the greatelt degree aftoniflred at an 
 exhibition w’hich had excited fo much curiofity even 
 amongft ourfelves; but to my great furprife, it did not 
 appear to have engaged him in the Icaft. He faid, he 
 thought it a very foolifb thing to ride in the air like a bird, 
 when a man could travel fo much more pleafantly on horfehaci 
 or in a coach. — He was either not aware of the difficulty 
 or hazard of the enterprife, or it is not improbable that 
 a man flying up through the clouds fufpended at a 
 balloon, might have been ranked by him as a common 
 occurrence, in a country which was perpetually fpread- 
 ing before him fo many objefts of furprife. 
 
 Whenever he had opportunities of feeing gardens, 
 he was an attentive obferver of the plants and fruit-trees, 
 would afle many queftions about them, and fay, when 
 he returned home, he would take feeds of fuch as would 
 live and flouriffi in Pelew ; talked frequently of the 
 things he fliould then perfuade the King to alter or 
 adopt ; and appeared in viewing moll objefts to con- 
 fider how far they might be rendered ufeful to his own 
 country. , 
 
 He was now proceeding with hafty ftrides in gaining 
 the Englifh language, and advancing fo rapidly with his 
 
 pen. 
 
240 A N A C C O U N T o F 
 
 pen, tliat lie would probably in a rtiort time have writ- 
 ten a very fine hand, when he was overtaken by that 
 veiy difeafe, which with fo much caution had been 
 guarded againft. On the 1 6th of December he felt him- 
 felf much indifpofed, and in a day or two after an 
 eruption appeared all over him. — Captain IVilfon called 
 to inform me of his iincafinefs, and was then going to 
 Dr. Carmichael Smylh, to requeft he would fee him, ap- 
 prehending that it miglit be the fmall-pox. 
 
 Dr. Smylh, with whofe profeffional abilities are united 
 every accomplifliment of the fcholar and the gentleman, 
 and whofe friendfiiip I feel a pride in acknowledging 
 myfelf long poffeffed of, defined me to go with him to 
 Rotherhithe, When he defeended from Lee Boo’s cham- 
 ber (where he rather wilhed me not to go) he told the 
 family that there was not a doubt with refpeft to the 
 difeafe, and was fony to add (what he thought it 
 right to prepare them for) that the appearances were 
 fuch as almoft totally precluded the hope of a favora- 
 ble termination ; but that he had ordered whatever the 
 prefent moment required. Captain IVilfon earneftly fo- 
 llcited the continuance, if poflible, of his vifits, and 
 was alTured that how’ever inconvenient the diftance, he 
 would dally attend the IfTue of the diftemper. 
 
 When I went the fecond day, I found Mr. Sharp 
 there, a gentleman fo often mentioned in the foregoing 
 narrative, who, hearing of his young friend’s illnefs, 
 had come to affift Captain Wilfon, nor ever ftirred from 
 the houfe, till poor Lee Boo had yielded to his fate. 
 
 The Captain having never had the fmall-pox himfelf, 
 was now precluded going into Lee Boo’s room, who, 
 informed of the caufe, acquiefeed in being deprived 
 of feeing him, ftill continuing to be full of inquiries 
 after his health, fearing he might catch the difeafe; 
 but though Capiain W'lljon complied with the rejjtiefl: 
 of his family in not going into the chamber, yet he 
 never abfented himfelf from the houfe ; and Mr. Sharp 
 conftantly took care that every diredtion was duly at- 
 tended to, and from him I received the account of our 
 unfortunate young ftranger during his illnefs, which he 
 
 bore 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 241 
 
 Lore with great firmnefs of mind, never refufing to take 
 any thing that was ordered for him, when told that 
 Dr. Smyth, to wliofe opinion he paid the greateft defer- 
 ence, defired it. — Mrs. Wilfon happening to have fomc 
 indifpoTition at this time, which confined her to her bed, 
 Lee Boo, on hearing of it, became impatient, faying, 
 What, 'Mother til! Lee Boo get up to fee her ; which he 
 did, and would go to her apartment, to be fatisfied hew 
 fhe really was. 
 
 On the Thurfday before his death, walking acrofs the 
 room, he looked at himfelf in the glafs (his face being 
 then much fwelled and disfigured;) he fhook his head, 
 and tnrnedaway, as if difgufted at his own appearance, and 
 told Mr. Sharp*\\\dX his father and mother mtuh grieve, for 
 they knew he was very fick ; this he repeated fevcral times. 
 — At night, growing worfe, he appeared to think him-- 
 felf in danger; he took Mr. Sharp by tlie hand, and, 
 fixing his eyes ftedfellly on him, with carneftnefs faid. 
 Good friend, when you go to Pelew, tell Alha Thulle that 
 Lee Boo take much drink to make fmall-pox go away, lut he 
 die; — that the Captain and Mother (meaning Miftrels 
 Wilfon) very kind — all Englilh very good men; — was much 
 forty he could not fpeak to the King the mimlcr of fine things 
 the Englilh had got. — Then he reckoned what had been 
 given him as prefents, which he wifhed Mr. Sharp would 
 dillribute, when he went back, among the Chiefs; and 
 requefted that vciy particular care might be taken of the 
 blue glafs barrels on peddlals, which he directed fiiould 
 be given to the King. 
 
 Poor Tom Rofe, who ftcod at the foot of his young 
 mailer's bed, was Iheddiug tears at hearing all this, which 
 Lee Boo obferving, rebuked him for his weaknefs, alk- 
 ing, Why f. 'Old d he be crying ft becavfe Lee Bco die? 
 
 Whatever he felt, his fpin’t was above complaining ; 
 and Mrs. Wilfcn's chamber being adjoining to iiis own, 
 he often called out to inquire if file was better, always 
 adding, left fiie might fufier any dilquietude on liis ac- 
 count, I -ee Boo do well. Mother. The fmall-pox, whicli 
 had been out eight or nine*' days, not rifing, he began 
 to feel himfelf fink, and told Mr. Sharp he was going, ^ 
 X away. 
 
242 ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 acL'ny. His mind, liowevrr, remained pcrfedUy clear 
 and calm to the laft, though what he fr.ffcrcd in the lat- 
 ter part of his exiltcnce was fevere indeed ; the llrength 
 of his conllitution llriiggled long and hard Ergainlf the 
 venom of his diftemper, till exhaulled nature yielded in 
 the conteft. 
 
 Dr. Smyth had the goodnefs, every day on his return 
 from Roiherhiihe^ to inform me of the ftate of his pa- 
 tient, but never gave me any hope of his recovery. 
 Being under an engagement, with my family, to pafs a 
 week at the houfe of my friend, Mr. Brooke Watfon, at 
 Sheen (who was equally anxious and alarmed as ourfelves 
 •for this amiable young man) I vequefted the Doftor 
 would have the goodnefs to continue to me his informa- 
 tion.— The fecond day after I left town, I received the 
 intelligence of his deatli, which deeply affefted us all. — 
 I cannot give an account of this melancholy event fo 
 well as by tranfcribing Dr. Smyth’s letter, by which it 
 was conveyed to me. 
 
 Monday, Dec, 27, 1784. 
 
 My Deer Sir, 
 
 It is an uapleafdnt tadt for me to be the herald of 
 bad news, yet, according to my promife, I mull in- 
 form you of the fate of poor Lee Boo, who died this 
 morning without a groan, the vigor of his mind and 
 body refilling to the veiy laft — Yefterday, the fecondary 
 fever coming on, he was feized with a flilverlng lit, 
 fucceeded by head-ach, violent palpitation of the heart, 
 anxiety, and difficult breathing; he again ufed the warm 
 bath, which, as formerly, afforded him a temporary relief) 
 he had a bliller put on his back, which was as ineffeftual a» 
 thofe applied to his legs. He expreffed all his feelings to 
 me, in the moft forcibleand pathetic manner, put my hand 
 upon his heart, leant his head on my ai-m, and explained 
 his uneafinefs in breathing; but when I was gone he 
 complained no more, Ihewing that he complained with 
 a view to be relieved, not to be pitied.— In Ihort, living 
 
 or 
 
THE P E L E W ISLANDS. 243 
 or dying he has given me a leffon whjch_ I (hall nevei* 
 forget; and furelj, for patience and tortitude, he was 
 an example worthy the imitation of a Stou.—l did not 
 fee Captain IVilfon when I callecMhis morning, but the 
 maid-fervant was in tears, and every perfon in the family 
 woi-e the face of grief ; poor Zee alfeaionate tem- 
 per made every one look I'pon him as a brother 01 a 
 child. — Compliments to the ladies, and to Mr. hatpi, 
 who, I make no doubt, will all join in regretting the 
 untimely end of our poor Prince. — Irom you, my luen , 
 fomething more will be expccled ; and, ^houg i you can 
 not bring him back to 'life, you are called upon 
 licularly confidering his great attachment to you; no 
 to let thememorv of fo much virtue pafs^ away unre- 
 corded.— But I am interrupted in thefe meiancholy i?- 
 fledlions. and have only time to affure you ot (what 
 will never pafs away but with myfclf) the lincere fnend- 
 ftiip of your affectionate, &c. 
 
 JA* CARMICHAEL SMYTH. 
 
 Captain Wilfin notified to the India Ploufe the unfor- 
 tunate death of this young man ; and received orders to 
 condud every thing with proper decency remeaing his 
 funeral. He was intened in Reiherouhe chvncn-yuro, 
 the Captain and ills brother attending. All the young 
 people of t^c Academy joined in this tedimeny 01 ic- 
 gard; and the concouife of people at the church wa.s 
 fo great, that it appeared as ii the whole parifli had a.- 
 fembled to join in feeing the lad ceremonies paid to one 
 who was fo much beloved by all wlio had known him 
 
 in it. , , 
 
 The ItieJia Company, focn after, crdcred a tom o to oe 
 ereCled over his grave, with the following inlcnptiun, 
 which I have traufciibcd from it: * 
 
244 
 
 AN ACCOUNT O F 
 
 To the Memory 
 of Prince Lee Boo, 
 
 A native of the PELEw,or Palos Iflands; 
 and Son to Abba Thulle, Rupack or King, 
 of the Ifland Coorooraa-; 
 who departed this Life on the 2 7 th of December 1784* 
 aged 20 Years; 
 
 This Stone is infcribed 
 
 by tlie Honorable United East India Company, 
 ^s a Teftimony of Efteern for the humane and kind 
 Treatment afforded by his Father to the 
 Crew of their Shio the Antelope, 
 
 Captain Wilson, v’hich was 
 v'recked off that Ifland in 
 the Night of the 9th of Auguft 1783^ 
 
 Stop, Reader, ftopf — let Nature claim a Tear — 
 A Prince of Miney Lee Boo, lies bury’d here. 
 
 Among the little property which he left behind, be- 
 fide what he had particularly requefted Mr, Sharp to 
 convey to his father and fiiends, there were found, after 
 his death, the ftones or feeds of moft of the fruits he 
 had tailed in England, carefully and fcparatcly put up. — 
 And when one conlidcrs that his flay with us was but 
 £vc months and twelve days, we find, that in the midll 
 cf the wild field of novelty that encompalTed him, he 
 l ad not been negleflful of that which, before his de- 
 parture from Pelcnv, had been probably pointed out to 
 I im as a principal matter of attention. 
 
 From 
 
THE P E L E ISLAND S. 245: 
 
 From thefe trifling anecdotes of tliis amiable youth, 
 cut off in the moment that his character began to blof- 
 fom, what liopes might not have been entertained of 
 the future fruit fiicli a plant would have protUrced !-- • 
 He had both ardor and talents for improvement, and 
 every gentle quality of the heart to make him beloved ; 
 fo that, as far as the dim fight of mortals is permitted 
 to penetrate, he might, had his days been lengthened, 
 have carried bad: to his own country — not the vices of a 
 new world — -but thofe folid advantages which his own' 
 good fenfe would have fuggefted, as likely to become 
 moll ufeful to it. 
 
 But — how carry Lack ? — That event depended not on 
 himfelf; — a naked, corfiditi" Rrangcr — he tnilled im- 
 plicitly to others, and Id't the protefting arms of a fa- 
 ther without apprchenlion — without llipulation. — The 
 evening before the Orodottg failed, tlie King allted Cap- 
 tain IVilfon, how long it might be before his return to 
 Pch’w? and being told, that it would probably be about 
 thiity moons, or miglit chance to extend to fix moVe, 
 Alba Tbulle drew from his balke.t a piece of Line, and, 
 after making thirty knots on it, a little dillance from 
 each other, left a long fpace, and then adding fix others, 
 carefully put it by. 
 
 As the (low but fare Heps of Time have been moving 
 onward, the Reader’s imagination will figure the anxi- 
 ous parent reforling to this cherifhed remembrancer, and 
 
 with joy untying the earlier records of eacli elapfir.g 
 period ; — as he fees him advancing on his Line, he will' 
 conceive that joy redoubled ; — and, when nearly approacir- 
 ing to the thiriidh knot, almoil accufing the planet of the 
 night for pallrug fo tardily away. 
 
 When verging towards the termination of his la'.c[l 
 reckoning, he wall then picture his mind glowing witii 
 paternal affeftion, cccafionally alarmed by doubt- -■’’cL 
 lull buoyed up by hope ; — 'he will fancy him pacing 
 iuquifitively the fca-fhote, and often commanding his 
 people to afeend every rocky Ireigbt, and gfar.ee their 
 eyes along the level line of the horizon which bountls 
 the furrounding ocean, to fee if haply it might not in. 
 
246 ■ ANACCOUNTOF 
 
 fome part be broken by the diflant appearance of a re- 
 turning fail. 
 
 Laftly, he will view the good Alha Thulle, wearied 
 out by that expeftation, which fo many returning moons, 
 fince his reckoning ceafed, have by this time taught him 
 he had nourifhed in vain. — But the Reader will bring 
 him back to his remembrance, as armed with that un- 
 lliaken fortitude that was equal to the trials of vaiy'ing 
 life. — He will not in him, as in lefs manly fpirits, fee the 
 paflions rufhing into oppofite extremes — Hope turned to 
 JDefpair — converted to Hatred. — No — After fome 
 allowance for their natural fermentation, he will fuppofc 
 them all placidly fubfiding into the Calm of Refignation ! 
 
 Should this not be abfolutely the cafe of our friendly 
 Ring — as the human mind is far more pained by uncer- 
 tainty than a knowledge of the woijl — every reader will 
 lament, he (hould to this moment remain ignorant, that 
 his long-looked for Son can return no m.ore. 
 
 At Rome, the life of one citizen faved, gave a claim 
 to the civic wreath. — At Pekvi, fo many of our coun- 
 trymen refcued from diilrefs, and by Abba Thulle's pro- 
 tetlion and benevolence, not only faved from inevitable 
 deftruftion, but enabled to return in fafety to their fami- 
 lies and friends, hath fure a ftronger claim to a wreath, 
 from British Craiitude! 
 
 A VOCABU- 
 

 A 
 
 VOCABULARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PEL 
 
 E 
 
 W 
 
 L A N G U A 
 
 PEL 
 
 E W. 
 
 E N G L I S I 
 
 /Irracat 
 
 • 
 
 - 
 
 A man. 
 
 Avthell 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 A woman. 
 
 Nalakell 
 
 . 
 
 - 
 
 A child. 
 
 Rupack 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 A Chief, or title of rank, 
 
 Cattam 
 
 . 
 
 - 
 
 A father. 
 
 Cathdl 
 
 . 
 
 * 
 
 A mother^ 
 
 Alor'wakell 
 
 
 _ 
 
 A wife. ' 
 
 Talacoy 
 
 - 
 
 •- 
 
 A male infant. 
 
 Sucal'ic 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 'A friend. 
 
 T ackalby ' 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 A wwkman, or artificer. 
 
 Bothelutb 
 
 
 - 
 
 The head. 
 
 Vngelell 
 
 - 
 
 . 
 
 The teeth. 
 
 Kimath 
 
 . 
 
 _ 
 
 The arms. 
 
 Kalahalath 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 The body. 
 
 Arrajfack 
 
 
 - 
 
 Blood. 
 
 Oroojbck 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 Bones. 
 
 'Root 
 
 
 - 
 
 A wonisa’s bread. 
 
 Ccltcti] 
 
248 A VOCABULARY OF 
 P E L E W. ENGLISH. 
 
 Cokeeth 
 
 - 
 
 The thighs. 
 
 Playe 
 
 - 
 
 A dwelling houfe. 
 
 Pye 
 
 - 
 
 A public hall, or large houfe. 
 
 Morahalo'w 
 
 - 
 
 A town. 
 
 Podemy 
 
 - 
 
 Home, a man’s dwelling. 
 
 Trir 
 
 - 
 
 A fpoon. 
 
 Oylcfs . 
 
 - 
 
 A knife. 
 
 Petutll 
 
 - 
 
 A Clip. 
 
 ^tall 
 
 - 
 
 A bafon. 
 
 Tatur 
 
 - 
 
 Plates, or diflies. 
 
 Koluck 
 
 - 
 
 Oil. 
 
 ylleutfs 
 
 - 
 
 Cocoa-nuts. 
 
 Cocow 
 
 - 
 
 Yams. 
 
 Ccjfall 
 
 - 
 
 T urmeric. 
 
 Pook 
 
 - 
 
 Beetle-nut. 
 
 Ctirra Curra 
 
 - 
 
 Lemon. 
 
 Too 
 
 - 
 
 Plantains or bananas 
 
 Caboo 
 
 - 
 
 Cabbage; i. e. the head of the cab- 
 bage-tree. 
 
 Elouth 
 
 - 
 
 MolalTes. 
 
 Outb 
 
 
 A torch.* 
 
 Kan 
 
 
 Smoke. 
 
 Karr 
 
 
 Fire. 
 
 Callow 
 
 
 A cat. 
 
 Pyaap 
 
 
 A rat. 
 
 Cokall 
 
 
 An ifland. 
 
 Paaihe 
 
 
 A rock. 
 
 Colocol 
 
 
 A fand, or fhoal, in the fea. 
 
 Cootoom 
 
 * As the torches at Pelew have been frequently mentioned, 
 ard by accidtnt omitted in their proper place, I mull notice them 
 here to deferibe them. — On being analyled, they appear to be & 
 KeCn mixed with fmall pieces of wood — This Refin is probably 
 tire exudation of feme tree ; bpt it is uncertain, whether the wood-, 
 is fmall bits of bark, which inevitably, in feraping it off, mix with 
 the Refin, or whether they are purpofely joined witli it to fupply 
 the place of a wick, and render it lefs liable to run and diffolve 
 haftily like a flick of wax. They have long leaves twined and, 
 tied round them, to prevent their flicking to the hand. — \Vlu;c» 
 lighted, they afford an agreeable fmelL 
 
THE PELEW LANGUAGE. 249 
 P E L E W. ENGLISH. 
 
 Cootoom - ^ 
 
 Arral 
 
 Garagar 
 
 Athagell 
 
 Mevrooke 
 
 nils 
 
 AMI 
 
 Mallatye 
 
 Coybattle 
 
 Tarfe 
 
 Peeforfe 
 
 Difoma 
 
 Beefakell 
 
 Gill 
 
 Cray 
 
 Ouguth 
 
 Poop 
 
 Thoup m 
 
 Neekell 
 
 Cumathuck Neeksll 
 Arool 
 Cojfacurra 
 Kerthough 
 
 Kim 
 
 Kiffitruck 
 
 Aaiuell 
 
 Craalrutell 
 
 Cochivoou 
 
 Cyep 
 
 Mclh 
 
 DoothucP 
 
 Oleek 
 
 Niefe 
 
 Bujhook 
 
 Siulebuc 
 
 ■Mungeegy 
 
 Earth or land fit for cultivation, 
 Frelh water. 
 
 Wood ; i. f. trees. 
 
 Bamboo. 
 
 Rattans. 
 
 Spears or darts. 
 
 A leaf of a tree, bulb, or plant. 
 
 A canoe, or boat. 
 
 A mart. 
 
 A fail. 
 
 A paddle, or oar. 
 
 The bottom piece of the outrigger. 
 The (hell ornaments of the canoes. 
 A rope. 
 
 Small line, or cord. 
 
 A fi(hing-net. 
 
 Fifiiing-pots, or balkets, made of 
 fplit bamboo. 
 
 The fea. 
 
 Filh. 
 
 Fifii-fcales. 
 
 Skaite, or large flat-fifh. 
 
 The common cockle. 
 
 Ditto ; the flutings of this cocklc- 
 (hell are circular, not radiated. 
 Kima-cockle. 
 
 The mother of pearl (hell. 
 
 T urtle. 
 
 Cray-fi(h, or lobfter. 
 
 Birds. 
 
 Pigeons. 
 
 A fowl. 
 
 The tropic-bird. 
 
 Large bat, or fiying-fox. 
 Eggs. 
 
 Feathers, or quills. 
 To fly. 
 
 To fwim. 
 
 Coyofs ' 
 
2J0 A VOCABULARY OF 
 PELEW. ENGLISH. 
 
 Coyofs 
 
 - 
 
 The fun. 
 
 dlls 
 
 . 
 
 To be fun-burnt, or bliftered. 
 
 Pooyer 
 
 . 
 
 The moon. 
 
 ylhhthduk 
 
 . 
 
 Stars. 
 
 Mecftxs 
 
 . 
 
 Seven ftars, or Pleiades. 
 
 Tangle 
 
 - 
 
 Sky. 
 
 Tabbath 
 
 - 
 
 Clouds. 
 
 Koyyoou 
 
 - 
 
 Wind. 
 
 Katt akatt 
 
 - 
 
 Fog, hazy or thick weather : 
 literally fmoky. 
 
 Kull 
 
 - 
 
 Rain. 
 
 Kull akoyyoou - 
 
 - 
 
 Wind and rain, a fquall. 
 
 Myoojcok 
 
 - 
 
 Little wind, or a calm. 
 
 Coreo-we 
 
 - 
 
 Lightning. 
 
 7 h drum 
 
 - 
 
 Thunder. 
 
 PaJfapijJfoo 
 
 - 
 
 Repeated claps of thunder. 
 
 Efano 
 
 - 
 
 Rainbow. 
 
 Cocook 
 
 - 
 
 Day. 
 
 OJfmethcllaa 
 
 - 
 
 Mid-day, or noon. 
 
 Cotharaa trioook 
 
 - 
 
 Afternoon, or evening. 
 
 Cappafay 
 
 - 
 
 Night. 
 
 Olongkalla allakath 
 3Ietgull 
 
 - 
 
 Day-light, or dawn. 
 
 . 
 
 Darknefs. 
 
 Pe^ielurattle - 
 
 - 
 
 Morning, or fun-rife. 
 
 Cdeookell acoyofs 
 
 - 
 
 Sun-fet. 
 
 Coltho coyofs 
 
 - 
 
 Yefterday. 
 
 Mogali 
 
 - 
 
 Burning hot. 
 
 3dai rajfem 
 
 - 
 
 Cold. 
 
 Mathrabith 
 
 - 
 
 Hunger. 
 
 Munga 
 
 - 
 
 To eat. 
 
 3Ielnn 
 
 . 
 
 To drink. 
 
 Meethingglfs - 
 
 . 
 
 To be fatisfied with eating. 
 
 Phomor acocook 
 
 - 
 
 Breakfaft. 
 
 Weetacallell acoyofs 
 
 
 Dinner. 
 
 Comofoy 
 
 - 
 
 Slipper. 
 
 Mffeeowe 
 
 - 
 
 To cook, to drefs victuals. 
 
 31or'wgough 
 
 - 
 
 To broil viiftuals. 
 
THE PE LEW LANGUAGE. 251 
 P E L E W. ENGLISH. 
 
 Mceahe 
 
 - 
 
 A fweetmeat made of almonds and 
 molafles. 
 
 Sopojfup 
 
 - 
 
 A fweetmeat made of a fmall root 
 like a turnip. 
 
 Kalpatt 
 
 
 A fweet pudding made of boiled 
 yams and molafles. 
 
 Woolcll - 
 
 - 
 
 A fweetmeat made of fcraped co- 
 coa-nuts and molafles. 
 
 Mtubtngaa 
 
 - 
 
 Mouldy. 
 
 Mokoot 
 
 - 
 
 Rotten. 
 
 R'tamoll 
 
 
 The wild bread-fruit. 
 
 Kuthull 
 
 - 
 
 The Jamboo apple. 
 
 Othough 
 
 . 
 
 Beads. 
 
 Clootie 
 
 - 
 
 To cough. 
 
 Ognofs 
 
 - 
 
 To fneeze. 
 
 Suam pepah 
 
 - 
 
 To be pleafed, or glad. 
 
 Gurragur 
 
 - 
 
 To laugh. 
 
 Maim 
 
 - 
 
 To play, to toy. 
 
 Puckajoogel 
 
 ■ 
 
 To deceive, to fpeak or aft in joke, 
 or doubtfully. 
 
 Cooihung 
 
 • 
 
 Wife, or oinning — as Coothung ar- 
 racat, a wife man. 
 
 Thtngarmger 
 
 - 
 
 Foolilh, or a fool — as Thingarln- 
 ger art bed, a foolilh woman. 
 
 Motur 
 
 - 
 
 To be angry. 
 
 Merengell 
 
 - 
 
 To be in pain. 
 
 EUmangle 
 
 - 
 
 To cry. 
 
 Adapat 
 
 ■ 
 
 To lay down to fleep, e. to go 
 to reft. 
 
 Parr 
 
 - 
 
 A mat to fleep on. 
 
 Moopat 
 
 - 
 
 To fleep. * 
 
 Peekeeifs 
 
 - 
 
 To awake from fleep. 
 
 Moratle 
 
 . 
 
 To walk. 
 
 Arranworoot - 
 
 - 
 
 To run, or make hafte. 
 
 Mooboo 
 
 > 
 
 To fall down. 
 
 Cockanu'o 
 
 - 
 
 To take care, i. e. not to flip or 
 fall in walking. 
 
 BorrUhocar - 
 
 - 
 
 To arife from where you are fitting, 
 
 to move out of that place. 
 
 Amum 
 
252 A VOCABULARY OF 
 PELEW. ENGLISH. 
 
 Amuno 
 
 
 Come in, i. e. come into a houfe 
 (an invitation or requeft.) 
 
 Bomgeeaye 
 
 - 
 
 Sit down. 
 
 Porvonve 
 
 - 
 
 To {loop down. 
 
 Koomacarr 
 
 ' 
 
 To exchange, to barter, to give 
 one thing for another. 
 
 Lelocoy 
 
 - 
 
 To talk. 
 
 Moraamaiu - 
 
 - 
 
 To cheer, to huzza. 
 
 Arrah 
 
 - 
 
 To call to a perfon at a diftancc, 
 as halloo! 
 
 Mora mey 
 
 - 
 
 Come to me. 
 
 Mathach 
 
 . 
 
 Don’t be afraid. 
 
 Ongeelairecoy 
 
 - 
 
 Means that a thing or bufinefs is 
 well done. 
 
 Mungou 
 
 - 
 
 To fetch, to bring fomething want- 
 ed. 
 
 Kiboteleck 
 
 - 
 
 The right fide. 
 
 Kibotehm 
 
 - 
 
 The left fide. 
 
 Annabcokecth 
 
 - 
 
 To give any thing, to make a pre- 
 fent. 
 
 Aclmethack 
 
 - 
 
 Thank you. 
 
 Atalell 
 
 - 
 
 What is the name? 
 
 Aygaa 
 
 - 
 
 This thing, or that thing. 
 
 Kitra 
 
 - 
 
 What is it called ? 
 
 S’wallo'w 
 
 - 
 
 A matbalket. 
 
 Galas 
 
 - 
 
 A fmall ditto. 
 
 Kiffeem 
 
 - 
 
 An adze or hatchet, made of fliell. 
 
 Sous * 4 
 
 - 
 
 Signifies a file made of fifh-lkin. 
 
 Carute 
 
 - 
 
 The drefs worn by the women. 
 
 Mulaloiu 
 
 - 
 
 To wadi any thing, or themfelves. 
 
 MaJapall 
 
 - 
 
 To wafh or wipe the hand after eat- 
 ing. 
 
 MooreoUow - 
 
 - 
 
 To clean, to fweep a room. 
 
 Mootteetur 
 
 - 
 
 To work, or labor. 
 
 Meekemoth • 
 
 - 
 
 To throw water out of a boat or 
 veffcl. 
 
 Morojoock 
 
 - 
 
 To beat, as with a hammer, or to 
 
 as in a mortar. 
 
 Majahth 
 
THE PELEW LANGUAGE. 253 
 P E L E W. ENGLISH. 
 
 Mafahclh 
 
 Matheethy 
 
 Marafam 
 
 Bomgeetee 
 
 Meeleekotuch 
 
 Jiclaloo 
 
 Mokamat 
 
 Cocuath 
 
 Umkarr 
 
 Umkarra lills 
 
 Mathee 
 
 Maathey 
 
 Mora'ick 
 
 Thoo 
 
 Moringell 
 
 Macekathe 
 
 Melgoth 
 
 Prothoihuch. 
 
 Clowe 
 
 Owmuckell 
 
 Kickaray 
 
 Koomangle 
 
 Cathep 
 
 Merow 
 
 Croyee'.b' 
 Icmathe 
 Peepack 
 Sola, Sola 
 
 Moofefs 
 
 Moofefs akoyyou 
 
 Aaa 
 
 Deak 
 
 Naak 
 
 Kow • - 
 
 To reduce, to make lefs. 
 
 To enlarge, to make bigger. 
 
 To repair, to mend any thing. 
 
 To throw any thing away. 
 
 To ftrike, to give a blow. 
 
 To pilfer, to take any thinj flily. 
 War, to fight. 
 
 Fighting as children. 
 
 Wounded. 
 
 A wound made by a fpear. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Dead. 
 
 Sick. 
 
 A bile or blotch. 
 
 To be in pain from a bile or blotch. 
 To itch. 
 
 To tattoo or mark the body and 
 limbs. 
 
 Their wooden fword. 
 
 Large. 
 
 A thing of a middling fize. 
 
 Small. 
 
 Long. 
 
 Short. 
 
 A rneafure, anfwering to our fa- 
 thom. 
 
 A great diftance. 
 
 A Ihovt diftance. 
 
 A great many, abundance. 
 Enough, plenty, generally fpoke 
 twice ; as. Sola, Sola, enough, 
 enough. 
 
 Too much of any thing. 
 
 Too high a wind. 
 
 Yes. ' 
 
 No. 
 
 Me, myfelf. 
 
 You. 
 
 Y 
 
 Arrabceta 
 
2_J4 a vocabulary of 
 
 p E L E W. ENGLISH. 
 
 jirrcbeela 
 Oleeakech 
 Okeakem - 
 Mungeet 
 IVeel 
 
 IVeel alrecoy 
 
 Mogull 
 
 Omacareiu 
 
 'Joomgthcotooath 
 
 Joomgib 
 
 Dehiifs 
 
 Moraheth 
 
 Maouth 
 
 J}go mey 
 
 Vealai'ich 
 
 Cngeel 
 Oul mey 
 
 Dcegaa 
 
 Morakattoio - 
 
 Mey 
 
 Pomray 
 
 Calakaa 
 
 Mayfackarangath 
 Ley mey 
 Meimathtjfa 
 
 M'lffak 
 
 Mereaerick 
 
 Myyufi 
 
 The other fide of any thing. 1 
 
 High, or above. 
 
 Low, or downwards. j 
 
 Not good. 
 
 Good. 
 
 Very good. 
 
 Bad, or difpleafing. 
 
 To turn or tack, as a (hip or boat. 
 To caulk, or flop a leak. 
 
 Their oakum, made of cocoa-nut 
 huflcs. 
 
 To defert orforfake a place or per- 
 fon. 
 
 Means for a perfon to go before to 
 fome place. 
 
 Means that you will follow and 
 join them. 
 
 I^Icans go away, or out of my fight,. \ 
 , being difpleafed wfth the perfon 
 to whom it is fpoke. 
 
 A diflike of what is offered you, or 
 declaration that you will not ac- 
 cept it. 
 
 It will do, it is very well. 
 
 Give me that thing near you, or in 
 your hand. 
 
 I have not what is afleed for. 
 
 Go away. Hand afide, keep at a, 
 diftance. 
 
 Con^ 
 
 To aWTiy. 
 
 Prefently. 
 
 Give me that. 
 
 Bring me that. " 1 
 
 Let me look at it. jt 
 
 To look out, to efpy. T 
 
 To fearcb, to look for a thing loft. I 
 To paddle a canoe. I 
 
 Lngoorutb ■ 
 
THE PELEW LANGUAGE. 7SS 
 PEL’EW. ENGLISH. 
 
 Lagooruth 
 
 - 
 
 To paddle faft. 
 
 ArreCy Arret - 
 
 '■ 
 
 Signifies to the men In the canoe» 
 to exert themfelves. 
 
 Morru 
 
 - 
 
 To hinder work^ to impede It. 
 
 Calcm 
 
 - 
 
 To give a portion of provifion to 
 each Chief or family at a feaft. 
 
 Arrack 
 
 . 
 
 To flop. 
 
 Meefoos 
 
 - 
 
 To make obeifance, to Hoop to a 
 Chief. 
 
 ZIeelhip 
 
 - 
 
 Broke like a flick or piece of wood> 
 purpofely. 
 
 Moorookem 
 
 
 Broke like a piece of pottery or 
 fhell, falling to the ground, ac- 
 cidentally. 
 
 Melocketh 
 
 - 
 
 Broke like a rope by teniion. 
 
 Arrafook 
 
 - 
 
 A white ftone. 
 
 Coreick 
 
 • 
 
 Red. 
 
 Koivfe 
 
 - 
 
 White. 
 
 Ka/s 
 
 - 
 
 Black. 
 
 Coteetoiu 
 
 . 
 
 Blue. 
 
 Meelemo'w 
 
 . 
 
 Green. 
 
 Koothoo 
 
 . 
 
 Yellow. 
 
 Carcereeack 
 
 . 
 
 Brown. 
 
 Thelhrmck 
 
 . 
 
 Peace. I 
 
 Tong 
 
 - 
 
 One. > 
 
 Oroo 
 
 
 Two. 
 
 Othey 
 
 - 
 
 Three. 
 
 Gang 
 
 - 
 
 Four. 
 
 Aeem 
 
 - 
 
 Five. 
 
 Malong 
 
 . 
 
 Six. 
 
 O'weth 
 
 - 
 
 S^ven. 
 
 Tei 
 
 • 
 
 Eight. 
 
 JEtfpu 
 
 - 
 
 Nine. 
 
 Makolh 
 
 
 Ton. 
 
 Oloyuck * 
 
 - 
 
 T wenty 
 
 Ockathey 
 
 - 
 
 Thirty. 
 
 Ockaiuaugh 
 
 - 
 
 Forty. 
 
 Oclcem 
 
256 A V 0 C A B U L A R Y, es-f. 
 PE LEW. ENGLISH. 
 
 Ockeem 
 
 Ockgollom - - 
 
 Ockg>weeth 
 Ockeye . , 
 
 Gckatuew 
 
 Mackoth adart • 
 
 Fifty, 
 
 Sixty. 
 
 Seventy. 
 
 Eighty. 
 
 Ninety. 
 
 A hundred. 
 

 
 
 ^1