and stood by the throne. The two first chiefs approached him, half bent, holding the jewels suspended by strings, and presented them to his majesty. He received them with dignity and grace, and afterward bade them stand erect. He put such questions to them as he thought proper, and as the occasion required, all of which were answered to his satisfaction. The under chiefs were then called, twenty five in number. They also approached half bent, kneeled, brought their breasts to the ground, and kissed the king's feet. He then bade them rise, and questioned them as he had done the others. After this ceremony was over, the women were brought according to the treaty. When they were collected, the king told each Englishman, if he saw any woman with whom he was pleased, he might take her. Next he said the same to his officers, who are denominated rupacks; and last he gave the same liberty to his common men, till the sixty were selected. I was curious to know whether any of the women would be unwilling to go with those by whom they were chosen; but I discovered in their countenances only cheerfulness and pleasure.

The articles of the treaty being settled, the people of both ties assembled round the square, where the seat of the king was, and partook of the various refreshments, which the bounty of the island could supply. They amused themselves in dancing, and in different plays, for several hours, while the king was settling the details of the future conduct of this portion of his subjects. One rupack only was removed from his office in Artingall. When every thing was arranged to the satisfaction of the king, we re-embarked for Pelew, and took the broken rupack and the sixty women with us.

This was not the first time that our people had gone out with Abba Thulle against the people of Artingall. The crew of the Endeavour, now with us, had been engaged in the same way, while the Panther was gone to China. The officers told me, that the men of Artingall had fought terribly, and that no people were more brave. The inhabitants of Pelew had taken several of them prisoners, and had put them to death in a manner not agreeing with their general character for humanity. I cannot account for the degree of cruelty, which, on this occasion, was practised by those; who had so many good sentiments and real virtues in most of the departments of life. The Pelews seemed to think themselves at

liberty to disregard the feelings of humanity toward prisoners, when they would treat an open enemy with magnanimity and justice. When they were asked, why they were so barbarous toward their captives, and yet so generous and honourable toward the same persons as enemies; they answered, that an enemy would meet them face to face, but the captives would be plotting destruction under the appearance of contentment and good will. It is certainly inhuman beyond any apology, or extenuation, to cut off the leg of a prisoner, and beat his own face with it, while he is yet living, although this is intended to be a mode of death, and not of protracted torment. The maxim, handed down from their forefathers, was, that more is to be feared from one prisoner than from five open enemies. The force of education and prejudice may account in part for this contradiction in the character of the Pelews on the score of humanity; but it cannot prevent us from seveverely condemning the cruelty which they too often manifested toward the victims of their conquests. If some prisoners act treacherously, it is not a sufficient reason for the conquerors to treat the whole with barbarity. From the testimony of my predecessors at these islands, I am compelled to believe, that the sentiments of Abba Thulle have not always had the same good influence over his subjects as they appeared to have when I was with them. The conduct of the expedition, of which I was a part, and where I had the opportunity of minute personal observation, was remarkably judicious, politic, and humane. The general character of the people also was friendly and excellent, although there can be no doubt that their virtues were very much owing to the extraordinary talents and worth of Abba Thulle.

From the sentiments and conduct of these islanders in regard to prisoners, I was led to devote much reflection to this subject, and particularly to the effect upon them as a body, which is produced by the treachery of one, or a few. Let those, who are taken captive, who have asked and received quarter, and who have thrown themselves upon the mercy of the conqueror under the rules of honour and confidence, never be guilty of any crimes, sedition, infidelity, or conspiracy, toward the sovereign who protects them, or the people upon whose hospitality they live. The influence of falsehood and crime in the conduct of a few prisoners, is incalculably bad upon all their companions or successors. The responsibility therefore,

which attends the condition of a prisoner, is very great and important. Christian communities should remember this, and apply it to soften the miseries of war.

We returned to the Panther the 25th of June, and found both our vessels ready for sea. But before I proceed in the narrative of our voyage, I wish to mention a striking instance of retribution which attended the abuse of power by a European among these people. Captain Wilson, when he went to China, left at the Pelew Islands a man named Madan Blanchard. This man was much caressed by the king, and every body was compelled to pay him great respect by the royal order. He became arrogant and licentious, as persons are apt to do, when suddenly raised to unusual power and consequence. The natives told me, that he would take their tarra root, yams, cocoa nuts, canoes, wives, and every thing he chose; and if they made any complaint, would contrive to have them beaten and disgraced. What little address he had for the purpose of justifying himself with the king was greatly assisted by the fear, which the king entertained, that Blanchard might be able to make the English believe on their return to the islands, if he were offended, that the nation had been insulted through him, and that vengeance ought to be taken. He continued this course of abuse for nearly three years, when he went over with a rupack, who was his favourite, and with six or eight men to a small island, where the people had been injured by him. They intended to spend the night there, as was supposed, in some pursuit of selfishness and vice. In the evening a quarrel arose, and Blanchard and his party were put to death, except two who escaped in their

canoe.

Such was the conduct, and such the fall of a man, on whom the English had placed great hopes, that he would effect some important good by his stay among the Pelews. Instead of teaching the nation better principles than they had, and labouring to elevate their affections and character, as a Christian ought, he did considerable toward corrupting and oppressing them. He not only disgusted them with his hypocricy, and injured them personally by his oppressions and example, but he made them quarrel sometimes with their king, and with one another. I was extremely sorry to hear that the king resented his death among his subjects, and punished the inhabitants of the island where it happened.

It will be remembered, that the Pelew Islanders had never seen any white men, until the, time when Captain Wilson was cast away among them, August 10th, 1783. As a warning to others, it may be mentioned, that this happened in north latitude 7° 20', and in east longitude 134° 40'. They treated him remarkably well and helped him to build a small vessel, after the loss of the Antelope, that he might return to his own country. Before we left them, we made the king many presents. Some had been sent him by the English Company, among which were muskets, and a quantity of gun powder. These, we learned on our return to the islands after an absence of two years, had done them incalculable mischief. The change in their condition was melancholy indeed, when we visited them again, The good king Abba Thulle had died, and with him passed away that valuable influence which was exerted over the whole character of the people, and by which their practice was in so great a degree preserved from treachery and depravity. Although the government was an hereditary monarchy, yet there were ambitious men, according to the fact everywhere else, ready to seize upon any favourable occasion to raise themselves to power. Of this character was the man whom Wilson calls Arra Kooker, and who usurped the throne after the death of Abba Thulle. This excellent savage had only one son living at the time he died, a man of a small mind, and not able, like his father, to maintain his authority, and much less to acquire power, and make improvements. The party of Arra Kooker fought against the supporters of the young king, till by intrigue and treachery nearly all the brave warriors of Abba Thulle were slain, and the usurper was finally settled on the throne at Pelew. His promises that the administration of the government should be just and paternal, and by which he had acquired popularity, proved to be, what such promises usually are, deceptive and worthless. He was selfish and oppressive, and experienced the fate of almost all such men in a natural course of retribution. He was assassinated.

It was in January 1793, when we returned to these islands. I was astonished to perceive how great a change could be effected by bad rulers in so short a period. The people, whom we had left just, humane, and happy, were now in a state of oppression, mutual distrust and opposition, and were gloomy and wretched. The personal influence of a single great and good man at the head

of a nation, diffuses itself in such a variety of ways, and acts upon so many subordinate agents, that its results might almost be thought miraculous. The value is never estimated, till an opposite influence is contrasted with it. The contrast was sad indeed, for the poor inhabitants of Pelew.

In this place, perhaps I ought to observe that the account, which I have given of our expedition to Artingall, may not be found in the journal of the Panther; for Commodore Mc Clure forbid it to be inserted. The reason of this I never perfectly understood; but in general it was said, that we were in no case to act with the natives in an offensive war, and that this co-opperation with Abba Thulle might be considered as contrary to our instructions.

Although it will be a partial anticipation of the course of my narrative, it will be proper here to insert the remaining remarks which I have to make upon the Pelew Islands. It had been, as I believe, the design of our Commodore, for a long time, to devote his attention particularly to their improvement. When he was at Amboyna he procured a number of plants of the nutmeg and clove, some growing in pots, and some taken up from the earth with a quantity of soil about the roots. At other places, he collected various plants and seeds, both for ornament and use. He also fur

nished himself with cows, bulls, sheep, goats, hogs, several kinds of deer, and the varieties of domestic fowls. With these he landed at Pelew. He likewise took a marquee; the Panther's launch; three or four female slaves of Malay, from nine to twelve years old, which he purchased at Timor; some males of Malay; a Bombay female, born of European parents; and five or six male slaves, from different eastern coasts. With these he resided in the islands for a number of months. Afterwards he came in the launch with his male slaves to Macao, purchased a ship, returned to Pelew, took his female slaves on board, and left the islands forever. Our curiosity may be interested to know why he commenced an enterprise, which he so soon abandoned. He evidently cherished the idea, at one time, of making such improvements upon the Pelew islands as would render them a delightful residence for a civilized and agricultural people. It has been said that he designed to spend his life among them; but of this there is not sufficient evidence. He probably meant to stay a much longer time than he actually did. It was a great object with him to transfer thither, and to cultivate the spices of the Dutch isl