1

¦ /fie u",i /":'x:> "'</ '•l','-V "hr t'M't'/"J

•jj&yrrji Jiw^rsr^^rvj

A N
ACCOUNT Q F THE
PELEW. ISLANDS,
SITUATED IN THE
WESTERN PART OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.'
COMPOSED FROM
THE JOURNALS AND COMMUNICATIONS ,
O F
CAPTAIN HENRY WILSON,
AND SOME OF HIS. OFFICERS,
WHO, IN AT/GUST 1783, WERE THERE SHIPWRECKED,
I N
the! antelope,
A PACKET BELONGING TO THE HONOURABLE
EAST INDIA COMPANY,
B Y
GEORGE KEA TE, Efq. F. R. S, and S. A,.

THE FOURTH EDITION.

L O N D O N:
PRINTED FOU CAPTAIN WILSON)
AS. D SOLD BY G.MJCOL, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY, r ALL-MALL.
M.DCC.LXXXIX. }"i ,;• '\ '

TO £
THE CHAIRMAN,
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN,
AND
DIRECTORS O F
THE HONOURABLE
EAST INDIA COMPANY,"
THIS ACCOUNT OF
THE PELEW ISLANDS,
I s,
BY THEIR PERMISSION,
AND AT THE PARTICULAR DESIRE OF
CAPTAIN WILSON,
RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY THEIR MOST OBEDIENT
HUMBLE SERVANT,
LONDON,
JUKE 1 2 th, 1788.
GEORGE KEA<r%%
a 2

:'fj,;;r*:!t

INTRODUCTION.

NOTHING hath more diftinguifhed the
reign of his prefent Majefty, than the li-*'
berality with which he hath encouraged- the
ardour of nautical difcovery. — 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 of avarice, the improve -
men of fcience, and of geography, was but a fe-
condary confideration ;• — it is not, therefore, to
be wondered that the fubjecl: ftill remained im
perfect, overclouded by doubt and uncertainty.
— To diflipate thefe clouds, to remove exifting
errors, and to render what was dubious demon-
drably clear, became highly interefling to almoft'
every nation; and Europe, with eyes of admi
ration, beheld this important object not only
undertaken, but to a furprizing degree executed,
by the ipirit and abilities of Great Britain.
a 3 The

vi Introduction.
The exploring untraverfed oceans, in fpite cf
every danger that could menace, or dtfmay —
the difcoverifl'g multitudes of iflands, £nd of
people, whofe exiftence was not known before
—and the fame of fixing the geography of the
Southern world, were the noble fruits of this
bold and hazardous enterprize ; which will re
main to fucceeding ages a monument of the
Zeal and patronage of George the Third.
Under fuch aufpices, and under fuch naviga
tors as this bufinefs was confided to, with each
fuperadded afftftance in the various fciences,
what was there not to be hoped ? — And it cer
tainly, in no fmall degree, added to the fpirit of
the undertakins;, that fuch an unexampled cha-
rafter as Mr. (now Sir Joseph) Banks volun
tarily accompanied Captain Cook. — As long as
the hiftory of that time fhall exift, it will ftamp
, the higheft honour on his name, to have, in the
prime of youth, facrificed the blandifhments of
a noble fortune, to his ardour for information
and fcience, without fhrinking at the perils he
might encounter from untried feas, and coafts
that had never been explored. — And it equally
reflects the higheft credit on his difcerning
country j who, emulous to acknowledge the
debt ihe owed his merit, feized the earlieffe
opportunity, after his return, to make him
President ofthe Royal Society j a fnuation
§ the

INTRODUCTION. vii
the moft honourable and diftinguilhed fhe could
offer a perfon of his genius and purfuits j where
ftill, with the fame ardour, he promotes her
Fame, the zealous and liberal Patron of learning
and of fcience.
The relations of thefe feveral voyages having
excited a great fpirit of inquiry, and awakened
an eager curiofity to every thing that can eluci
date the hiftory of mankind, I flatter myfelf,
that no apology is neceflary for my bringing
forward the following Work, whofe Novelty and
Authenticity will, I truft, infure it a favourable
reception. The iflands which I am about to defcribe
were not difcovered in confequence of any pre
meditated defign; the India packet, which
Captain Wilson commanded, being in a tem-
peft wrecked on their coaft ; and it is folely to
the benevolent character of their inhabitants, we
owe the fafe return of our countrymen, that
compofed the crew of the Antelope ; — by the
means of whom I am enabled to lay before the
Public an account of this lingular people.
Nothing can be more interefting to Man than
the hiftory of Man. The navigators of the dif
ferent ages have pictured to us our own fpecies
in a variety of lights. — The manners of civilized
nations bear a ftrong refemblance to each other j
it is the vices or virtues of individuals, that
a 4 create

viii INTRODUCTION.
create any general diftinction ; — - whereas in
countries, which fcience, or the gentler arts,
have never reached, we obferve a wonderful
difparityj fome are found under that darknefs
and abfolute barbarifm, from the fight of which
humanity gladly turns afide ¦, — :whilft others, un
aided, unaffifted, but by mere natural good
fenfe, have not only emerged from this gloomy
ihade, but nearly attained that order, propriety,
and good conduct, which conftitute the eflence of
real civilization. — It is by very flow degrees,
and through long periods of intervening ages,
that nations, now the moft polifhed, have ar
rived at their prefent ftate. — The mind of inqui-
fitive man, too eager after knowledge which
his limited faculties can never reach, often idly
afks — Wherefore all thefe varied gradations in
human exijience ? But his queftion will remain
for ever unanfwered* and he muft content him-
felf with being fatisfied that the ways of Provi
dence are conducted with unerring wifdom, to
anfwer purpofes beyond mortal comprehenfion.
—He will be far more wifely employed in feel
ing, with becoming gratitude, that he was not
deftined himfelf to be an inhabitant of Terra
del Fuegq, or to add one to the number ofthe
forlorn lavages ofthe Northern Pole.
There is one queftion, indeed, and a very
important one, which poffibly may, at fome
future

INTRODUCTION. is
future period, be fuccefsfully inveftigated j — how
all the numerous iflands, lately difcovered, as
well as the multitude of others, that are fcattered
through various parts of the vaft ocean, were
originally peopled ? — This fubject, which opens
a wide field for conjecture to range over, hath
already exercifed the abilities of the ingenious —
and, if ever fatisfa&orily afcertained, cannot fail
to throw many interefting lights on the hiftory
of mankind.
The prefent account of the Pelew Iflands, I
have already obferved, was offered to the Public
under the double claim of Novelty and Authenti
city. It is therefore incumbent on me to men
tion on what ground thefe claims are fupported. , ,
¦The iflands in queftion were probably firft no
ticed by fome of the Spaniards of the Phillip-,
ines, and by them named the Palos Islands ;
the tall palm-trees, which grow there in great
abundance, having at a diftance the appearance
of mafts of fhips *. — That this was the origin of
their name is rendered ftill 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 ofthe New Carolines.
* Pahs, in the Spanijh language, nautically applied, de-
- noting a raaft. In

INTRODUCTION.
In the Lettres Edifientes et Gurieufes, written
by the Jefuit Miffionaries, may be found feveral
letters, which, from their titles, feem to have a
reference to, and which might be thought to' re
late to the clufter of iflands which are the fubject
ofthe prefent Work ; but whoever perufes them,
with attention, will inftantly fee that they relate
folely to the New Carolines^ which were dif
covered about the year 1696, as may be feen by
the letter of Father Paul Clain, dated from
Manilla, \oth of June 1697 *. — But even the ac
counts given by him ofthe 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, venturing too
far to fea, had been driven by a ftorm to one of
the Phillipines. In confequence of this know
ledge of, the New Carolines, a fhip, called
the Holy Trinity, was, in 1710 f, fitted out
at Manilla, by order of Philip V. to carry two
Miffionaries, les Peres Duberon and Cortil,
thither ; who arriving off Sonsorol, one of the
Carolines, the two Miffionaries would go on
ihore in the chaloupe, to fix the Crofs, againft
the opinion of Don Padilla, the Captain, who,
as he could find no anchorage, difluaded them
* Lettres Edifientes et Curieufss, vol. i. page 1 1 2.
7 D°, vol. xi, page 75. ftrongly

INTRODUCTION. xi
ftrongly from the attempt. — As the Veffel then,
after cruizing about for feveral days, to wait
their return, could not, on account of the winds
and currents, remain any longer on the ftation,
the reverend Fathers were never heard of more.
Another veffel was fent from the fame place,
fome time after, to further the miflion, which it
was fuppofed the two former Jefuits had begun ;
but it foundered at fea, and all on board perifh-
ed *, except one Indian, who at laft got back
to Manilla with the melancholy news.
In 1 7 21, another boat, belonging to one of
the Carolines, with twenty-four people in it,
was driven by force of winds to Guahan, one
of the Mariannes -(-, as appears by the let
ter of Pere Jean Antoine Cantova, dated
Agadna, in March 1722. — Thefe ftrangers be
ing detained a confiderable time, Le Pere Can
tova tells us, that he endeavoured to acquire
fome knowledge of their language, that he might
the better inform himfelf of their country.
In this letter, which contains fuller informa
tion than any ofthe others, he tells us, he under-
ftood from the natives that this Archipelago was
divided into five provinces ; and that the Pelew
Iflands conftituted the fifth province, ordivifion;
but thefe ftrangers, who gave him this intelli-
* Lettres Edifientps et Curieufes, vol. xvi. page 368.
f D°, vol. xviii. page i38. pence,

Xn

INTRODUCTION.
gence, faid, they had no communication with
the people of this province, adding, that they
were inhuman andfavage ; that both men and wo
men were entirely naked, and fed upon human flefh -,
that the inhabitants of the Carolines looked on
them with horror, as the enemies of mankind, and
with whom they held it dangerous to have any in-
tercourfe. This is the only mention I find of the Pelew
people, and a dreadful picture it is of barbarous
life; but the natives ofthe Carolines evident
ly knew nothing of them, but that they exifted
at a confiderable diftance from themfelves ; and
probably the notion which they entertained of
their being cannibals, prevented their ever hav
ing any communication with them *.
To Four-fifths of thefe Iflands, which ac
cident had now brought the Spaniards acquainted
with, they foon gave the name of the New Ca
rol ines ; but as the Miffionaries, who had un-
* Le Pere Cantova fays, that this account is conform
able to the relation of Father Bernard Messia (probably
another Miffionary) ; but where this relation is to be found,
I know not, having in vain fearched for it. I therefore fup-
pofe it has not been pubiifhed, though poffibly may be pre-
ferved among the manufcript records of the Propaganda
at Rome. — Wherever it be, it could only be collected from
fuch vague evidence as Cantova's; who was himfelf, a
fliort time after, killed by the people ofthe Carolines. queftionably

INTRODUCTION. siii
queftionably been well informed of the poverty
and naked nefs of them, apprehended that they
were never likely to become an object worthy of
the attention of the Spanijh monarchy, they were
therefore, nearly from this period, neglected j
and even to this day little more is known of
them, than that they occupy a certain fpace on
the furface of the globe. — But the Fifth divi-
•fion of them, far diftant from the reft, and in
habited by people who were branded with the
imputation of being inhuman, Javage, and ene
mies of mankind, were, in confequence, never
fince inquired after ; and, though laid down in
fome late charts, under their original Spanijh ap
pellation of the* Palos iflands, have continued
till now in total obfcurity. — They have, it is
true,, been feen, at different times, by {hips
making the Eaflern paffage to and from China
againft the inonfoons j 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
aftonifhment which the natives of Pelew difcover
ed on feeing white people, it feems beyond a doubt
that the crew of the Antelope were the ^^.Euro
peans who had ever landed on thefe iflands •, and it

xiv INTRODUCTION.
it feems equally certain, that their neareft neigh
bours in the adjoining Archipelago knew nothing
of them. — I therefore feel fome fatisfaction 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
characters from the imputation of thofe favage
manners which ignorance alone had afcribed to
them ; for I am confident that every Reader,
when. he has gone through the prefent account of
them with attention, will be convinced that thefe
unknown natives of Pelew, fo far from difgracing,
live an ornament to human nature.
The part I have taken in this work originated
from my knowledge of Captain Wilson's vera
city, and from my being highly interefted with
the account he gave of the inhabitants of thefe
iflands, which was fo happily illuftrated by the
good fenfe and amiable manners pf the young
Prince Lee Boo, whom, at the King his fa
ther's requeft, he had brought with him tq Eng
land. I frequently mentioned to my valuable friend,
Mr. Brook Watson, (through whom I had firft
been acquainted with Captain Wilson) that I
thought the whole chain of events, following the
lofs of the Antelope, well merited the public
eye, wifhing him to fubmit the matter to his
friend's confideration ;— but, after three quarters

INTRODUCTION. xv
of a year, I perceived that the Captain's own af
fairs, 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 to
tally loft.
Struck as I was with the relation of the virtues
and character of the natives of thefe iflands —
fenfible how foon oral teftimony is beyond re
covery, and the records of memory effaced by
the events or cafualties of life— I felt anxious to
refcue thefe difcoveries from Aiding into oblivion,
and to preferve them to the curiofity and in
formation of the Public •, I therefore engaged a
volunteer in the bufinefs, propofing to Mr. Wat
son, that if his friendXaptain Wilson would
give me his journals and papers, and procure me
all the living teftimonies then in England, that
I would myfelf undertake the work j — on this
condition, that the labour Ihould be mine, the
advantage Captain Wilson's.
After I had, with great attention, gone over
all the journals and papers, and tranfcribed them,
the better to fix them in my memory, and to di
rect my future inquiries, 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 •

xvi INTRODUCTION.
Captain's departure, I had alfo, in the beginning
of 1786, whilft the facts were recent, the affiftance
and information of fuch of his officers as remain
ed in this country; who, for many weeks, were-
fo good as to devote themfelves, as it individual
ly fuked them, to this bufinefs.' The tranfactions
of every day, as recorded in the journals, were
minutely gone through j and it was a great. p'lea^
fure to me, in taking their feparate relations, to
find no material difference in their accounts of
the facts or occurrences, but, on the contrary,
the moft perfect agreement. Thus, enlarged by
the additions of the Gentlemen (who were them^
felves in fome fceries the fole actors) the Work,
for a year and a half, lay dormant, waiting Cap,-
tain Wilson's return from Bengal, who arrived
the latter end of laft fummer : fince that time
every part of it hath been revifed, and gene ovetj
with the moft fcrupulous exactrrefs and attention ;
and I. am myfelf firmly perfuaded, no work of
this nature was ever prefented to the Public, in
every refpect better authenticated.
I fhould hot have thought it neceflary to have
mentioned the manner in which I have conducted
this publication, had I not been aware of there
being fcenes and fituations in- it which might
ftartlc many of my readers ; but, as the truth of
them can be fully eftablifhed, they will ferve to
prove that good fenfe, and moral rectitude, may
exift

INTRODUCTION. xvii
exift in many uncivilized regions, where the pre
judices and arrogance of polifhed life are not al
ways 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 immenfe ocean ; at the fame time it
cannot have efcaped their notice, that there arc
cuftoms and characters peculiar to almoft every
particular group. — The fame obfervation is ap
plicable to the inhabitants ofthe Pelew Islands;
who, though in many refpects refembling their
Southern neighbours, muft be allowed to have
many characteriftical features of their own — ¦
which an intelligent reader will eafily difcover.
As there was a draughtfman on board the An
telope, befides two or three young men ac
quainted with drawing, a faithful portrait of the
King of Pelew, and one of his wives, together
with fome picturefque views ofthe country, were
by their means obtained. — Captain Wilson was
prefented, before he left the iflands, with many
of their weapons and utenfils, from which the
plates contained in this Work have been accu
rately engraved. — And I am happy to have it in
my power to add to thefe the portrait of Prince
Lee Boo *, drawn by my Daughter, and which,
b. though
•The Editorbeingdefiroustomakethis Account of the.
Pel ew Islands attainable by thofe who might not choofe

xviii INTRODUCTION.
though done from memory, fifteen months after
his death, is acknowledged to be a very (hiking
likenefs by every one who knew him.
To the late difcoveries, which have fo gready
increafed our knowledge ofthe globd, and of the
human race, if the little clufter of iflands I am
now unveiling to the world (which may truly be
j-egarded as a rich jewel, fparkling on the bofom
of the ocean) fhall be deemed by the Public an
interefting acquifition, Captain Wilson will not
have been fhipwrecked in vain ; and I fhall ever
think that the time I have beftowed on this Work
hath been ufefully employed.
the Expence of the Quarto Edition, the Plates alluded to
" could not be re^engraved for the prefent Ottawa fize, with
out defeating his intention.— This Edition, however, is --ver
batim the fame as the Sfuarto, the fame Chart is prefixed to
it, and the Portrait of Captain Wilson, and alfo a Head
of Prince Lee Boo new engraved for this purpofe.

TV. B. I cannot let a Fourth Edition of this Work
follow the three former ones fo clofely, without ex-
preffing the fingular fatisfatlicn I feel at the un
common fuccefs with which it has been honoured ;
a Juccefs the more interefting to me, as it unequivo
cally proves, that a piiJure of Human Nature, dif-
tinguifhed only by virtuous Jimplicity, hath been
able, in an age of the moft polifhed refinement, to at
tract Jo much the attention of the Public.
CONTENTS.

xrx

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
r\EPARTURE of the Antelope from
*^ Macao. — Lift of the Ship's Company.-*—
Route and tfranfatlions prior to the Lofs of tht
fr/el.: - - - Page ?

CHAPTER II.
Lofs of the Antelope, and the immediate Dif-
tre/fes arifing from the Accident. - ii
CHAPTER III.
Firft Appearance of the Natives. — \the curious
and friendly Interview between them and ihe
Englifh. — Captain Wilson's Brother /ent ta
the King o/Pelew, the King's Brother remain
ing with our People. - - 23
hi CHAPTER

xx CONTENT S.
CHAPTER IV-
The Pinnace goes to the Ship, and finds it had been
vifit ed by fome of the Natives.— ¦'the Behaviour
o/Raa Kook, the King's Brother, on being in
formed of it. — The friendly Conduct of this Chief
whilft he remained alone with the Englifh. — A
Council held, and all the Cafks of Liquor remain
ing in the Antelope ordered to beftaved. 35
CHAPTER V.
Arra Kooker, the King's Brother, returns front
Pelew, and is Joon after followed by Mr.
Matthias Wilson, who gives a very favour
able Account of the Manner in which he had been
received. — Regulations made by the Englifh for
eftabhfhing a Nightly Guard. — The General and
Arra Kooker informed of it. — They approve
the Scheme, which is immediately put in Execu
tion. — Some CharaSler of Arra Kooker. 43
CHAPTER VI,
The King of Pelew pays his firft Vifit to the>
Englifh, — His Arrival defcribed, and the Cere
mony with which he is received; after which he
is conduced by his two. Brothers and Captain*
Wilson,

CdNTENTS.
Wilson round the Spot whereon they haderefled
their temporary Habitation, andfhewn whatever
might engage his Curiofity. — After feveral Hours
Stay he departs, pleafed with his Reception, and
takes his Retinue with him to the back Part of
the Ifland. - - 56
CHAPTER VII.
A Coolnefs arifes on tbe Part ofthe Natives, which
much alarms tbe English. — This cleared up,
and Friendfhip reftored. — The King requefts Five
¦of Captain Wilson's Men to attend him to a
War he was going to make againft a neighbour
ing Ifland. — This is •affented to, and he departs
with the Men. — The Englifh plan their intended
Veffel, form d Dock Yard, unanimoufly choofe
CaptainWiLsoii to be their Commander, and each
engages in the Department he is nominated to, in
order to affift the Conftrutlivn of their future
Veffel. — The Firft Sunday after the Shipwreck
•duly commemorated. - -- - 73
CHAPTER VIII.
Our People continue almoft every Day to fend to the
Wreck, and recover a great Variety of Stores. —
S"hey form a Barricade round the Tents, — com*
flete it, — and continue their Work with the utmoft
b 3 Affiduity

xxi

xxii CONTENTS*
Affiduity in the Dock Yard, and in advancing the

CHAPTER IX.
The Five Men, with the Interpreter, who went
with the King on his Expedition, return fafe,
accompanied by Raa K.oaK..-*-Tbe Account of
the Succefs of that Expedition. — Raa Kook, in
the King's Name, gives the Ifland of Oroo-
long to the Englifh. — Captain Wilson in
vited by the King to Pelew -—excufes himfelf
for the prefent, b}it fends Mr. Benger, and
Mr. M. Wilson, his Brother, with the Lin-
guifti to compliment Abba Thulle on his late
Viclory. — Captain Wilson goes in his Boat
round the Ifland. — The Veffel continues to get
advanced. — Meffrs. Benger and Wilson re
turn from Pelew. 91

C H A P T E R X.
A Paffage is difcovered through the Coral Reef,
fufficient to carry out the Veffel when completed.
— Captain Wilson, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Devis,
and Mr. Henry Wilson, go to Pelew to
vifit the King.— An Account of the Hofpitality
with which they were received.— Some Defcrip-
1 tion

CONTENTS. xxiii
tion ofthe Manners ofthe Natives, and of their
Mode of Living. — Mr. Sharp is requefted to
go into the Country to fee a fick Child of one
of the Rupacks, which he does, and returns to
Pelew. - - 105
CHAPTER XI.
Further Account of the Natives of Pelew. — A
Council of State is held, at the Breaking up of
which the King requefts of Captain Wilson ten
Men to go with him on a fecond Expedition
againft the fame Enemy — which is agreed to. —
DeJ crip tion ofthe Dance of the Warriors. — Our
People return to Or 00 long,, find their Coun
trymen well, and in great Unanimity advancing
the Veffel. — The ten Men feletled who were to
attend the King to Battle. - 122
CHAPTER XII.
The King comes io Oroolong. — Is much ftruck
with the -Appearance of the Veffel, which he had
notfeen before. — Is Jhewn the Barricade and the
Six-pounder ; which is afterwards, at his De-
fire, fired off — Views the different Artificers
employed in the Dock Yavd. — The Impreffion all
thefe new Sights make on him. — After paffing
b 4 feveral

xxiv CO N T E N T S.
feveral Hours with our People, he goes to the
Back of tbe Ifland. — The King returns next Day
— wifhes to take, a Swivel Gun on the Expedi
tion. — This objecled to. — He departs for Pelew,
carrying with him the ten Men allotted for the
War. - - 131
CHAPTER XIII.
Tranfatlions at Oroolong. — The ten Men return
from the War. — A particular Account of the Se
cond Battle of Arting all. — Progrefs of the
new Veffel, &c. - - 142
CHAPTER XIV-
Progrefs of the Veffel, and other Occurrences. —
Raa Kook comes from Pelew to folicit more
Men, and a Swivel Gun, to attend the King on
a grand Expedition. — After fome Explanation
between Captain Wilson and the General, the
• Re,queft is granted, and the allotted Men return
with Raa Kook. — Mr. Sh arp goes fome Days
after to Pelew, to fee the General's Son, who
had been wounded in thefecond Battle. — Arrives
juft after his Countrymen had returned from the
grand Expedition, in which this young Man,
whom he went to vifit, had been killed. — At-
3 ' tends

CONTENTS. xxv
tends Raa Kook to his Son's Funeral, of which
an Account is, given. - 156

CHAPTER XV.
The Men who had been on the third Expedition te
Artingall return — an Account of it given. —
Captain Wilson invited by the King to vifit
the Rupacks, who had attended as Allies in tbe
laft Battle. — Accompanies the King and his Bro
ther to fome Iflands to the Northward, where
there was much Feftivity on the Occafion.—
Is received with great Hofpitality, and after
Five Days Abfence returns to Oroo l 0 n g . 178
CHAPTER XVI.
Proceedings at Oroolong. — The General remains
with the Englifh. — 'Intelligence is brought to him
that the People of Artingall were come to
fue for Peace. — The King arrives the next Day,
and for tbe firft Time brings one of his Wives,
his favourite Daughter, and feveral of their
Female Attendants. — He continues at the Back
of the Ifland three or four Days, during which
Time the General, who went with him, was
much indifpofed. — Mr. Sharp vifit s him, and
relieves his Complaint, — The King, with Raa
, Kook,

XXVI

CON T E N T S;
Kook, and his Retinue, return to Ps.Lsvf.~-He
fends the Englifh fome Colours to paint their
Veffel. — Mr. Sharp goes to Pelew to enquire
after Raa Kook'j Health, whom he finds get
ting well. - - 1 95
CHAPTER XVII.
The King comes for the ten Men who were to go
with him againft Pelelew. — A great Sterm at
Oroolong. — Intelligence arrives that the Ex
pedition to Pelelew had ended peaceably . — The
Englifh return, and give an Account of the
Manner of its Progrefs and Termination. — Re
joicings on the Occafioh at Pelew. The King
-notifies an intended Vifit to tbe Englifh before
' their Departure. 213
CHAPTER XVIII.
Preparations made for the Completion of the Veffel,
and fecuring her being fafely launched. — Great
Sufpicions entertained on the King's Meffage,
which Captain Wilson endeavours to quiet. —
Steps taken by our People to make Refiftance, in
cafe their Departure Jhould be impeded. — The
Captain fends Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. Wil
son to Pelew, with all the Tools and Iron they
i could

C O N T E' N T S. xxvii
could fpare, with Affurances of the reft, asfoon
as the Veffel was launched ; and ta notify to tht
King that he purpofed to fail in fix or feven
Days. — <They meet the King and his Retinue on
their Way to Oroolong. — Go back with him
to the Ifland of Pethoull, where they pafs the
Night. — Abba Thulle receives the Prefents
gracioufly. — A great Supper of the King's de*
fcribed. — They all come next D&y to Oroo
long. — Madan Blanchard informs Captain
Wilson of a Refolution he had taken to remain
behind with the Natives ¦ — after Arguments ufed
in vain to diffuade him, he is propofed to the
King to be left at Pelew, who, pleafed with the
Circumftance, takes him under his Protection. 227

CHAPTER. XIX.
The Veffel fuccefsfully launched. — The great Satif -
facJion expreffed by the Natives on the' Qccafum.
— Our People give the King the Remainder of
the Tools.— Captain Wilson fent for by the
King to the Watering-place, who propofes to
make him a Rupack of the firft Rank. — Invefts
him wilh the higheft order of the Bone. — A de-
fcfiption of the Ceremony. - 248

CHAPTER

xsvitf CONTENTS, CHAPTER XX.
The good Condutl of the Natives, not io difturb of
impede the Operations of our People.-r—The King
informs CaptainWihSON of his Intention to fend
his fecond Son, Lee Boo, under his Care, to
England. — Raa Kook having alfo foliated
Abba ThulleV Permiffion to accompany tht
Englifh, is refufed by his Brother, on very pru
dential Motives. — A fingular Occurrence re-*
Jpetling one of tbe King's Nephews. — The Time
of the Veffel 's Departure noticed— and, prepa
ratory to it, an Infcription, cut on a Plate of
Copper, is fixed to a large Tree, to record the
Lofs of the An telopz. - 255

CHAPTER XXI.
Lee Boo arrives, and is introduced lo Captain
Wilson ; who, at the King's Defire, remains
all Night on Shore. — The interefting Manner in
which he delivers his Son to his Care. — The Cap
tain gives Blanchard Advice how to condutl
himfelf. — In the Morning Signals for failing
reared. — A Boat fent to bring the Captain on
, board. — The King and his Brothers accompany
them to the Reef — Multitudes ofthe Natives, in
their Canoes, furround the Veffel to teftify their
Regard

CONTENTS. xxix
Regard. — The King takes an affeclionate Leave
of the Englifh.-p-C&ara^r of Abba Thullz.
— Raa Kook croffes the Reef, and goes a good
Way to Sea before he quits them. — His Charac
ter. — The Englifh proceed on their Voyage to
China. - - 27a
CHAPTER XXII.
The Englifh, in the Oroolong, quit the Pelew
Iflands. — An Account of their Paffage from thence;
to Macao. — Their Arrival there. — They dif-
pofe of their Veffel, and proceed to Canton,
where they embark for England^ - 287
CHAPTER XXIII.
General Idea of the Iflands. — Of the King. — Of
the General. — Of the Chief Minifter. — Of
the Rupacks. — Of the Nature of Property at
Pelew. ¦? - 310
CHAPTER XXIV,
Of the Produce of Pelew, and ofthe Way of Life
of the Natives. - - 32 x

CHAPTER

xxx CONTENTS. 4 '
CHAPTER XXV.'
Of their Houfcs. — Their domeftic Implements.-—
Their Weapons of War. — Their Canoes. 23 2
CHAPTER XXVI.
Of tbe People and their Cuf.-ims. — Of their Mar
riages. — Of their Funerals. — Of their Religion.
—General Charailer of the Natives. 342
CHAP T E R XXVII.
Anecdotes of Lee Boo, fecond Son of Abba
Thulle, from the Time of leaving Canton
to his Death. - - 365
A Vocabulary of the Pelew Language. - 395

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A N
ACCOUNT OF THE
PELEW ISLANDS.

CHAPTER I.
Departure of the Antelope from Macao.— Lift,
of the Ship's Company. — Route and TranfatJions
prior to the Lofs of the Veffel.
THE Antelope, a packet of near 300 tons i7g3#
burthen, in the fervice of the Honour- J " N K*
able English East India Company, under
thecommand of Captain Henry Wilson, having
arrived at Macao in the month of June 1783,
the Captain received orders from the Company's
fupra-cargoes to refit his fhip with all poffible
fpeedi which being completed, on Sunday the
20th of July, about eleven o'clock in the fore- Sunday 20.
noon, he received his difpatches, and the fhip
being ready for fea, he took leave of the Coun-
B cil;
il.

AN ACCOUNT OF
17S3. ,cilj and about half palt three "o'clock went on

Jul

board, accompanied by MefTrs. Brown, Lane,
Bruce, and Peach, as alfo Mr. Morgan, fur-N
geonj and after the Captain had paid the fixteen
Chinefe men (with which they had been allowed
to augment their fhip's company) the advance-
money ufual on thefe occ'afions, they weighed ¦'
anchor, and their friends went on fhore, 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 fathonj
water. — As in the coUrfe of this narrative we fhall
find the fhip's company at times collectively and
feparately engaged, it will not be improper at
the outfet to mention the'names ofthe Europeans
who were in the Antelope, with their particular
diftincuon and fituation on board. ;
NAMES. STATIONS.
Henry Wilson - - - Commander.
Philip Benger* - ' -Chief Mate.
Peter Barker - - -.Second Mate.
John Cummin - - - Third Mate.
John Sharp - - - - Surgeon.
Arthur Willi amDe vis' Paflenge'r.
John Blanch - *- - - Gunner.
William Harvey - Bbatfwain.
John Polkinghorn >1s Carpenter.
John Me ale - - -"Cooper and Steward.
* The- names thus marked, are the only men at'this time '
known with certainty to be dead.
Richard

THE PELEW ISLANDS.

, NA MIS.
Richard Jenkins -
James Swift - -
Richard Sharp - -

stations.
- Carpenter's Mate.
- Cook.Midfhipman.

1783-

Henry WiLSON,"junior Ditto, fon to the Captain.
Two youths from Chpift's
Hofpital, apprentices, and
afting as midfhipmen.

John Wedgebrough
Robert White - -

I

.Albert Pierson
Godfry Minks.*
Thomas Dulton
John Cooper - -
•William Roberts -
James Duncan - -
jMatthias Wilson
;|*j>cholas tyacke -
James Bluitt - -
Thomas- Willson *
William Stewart
Madan Blanchard
Thomas Whitfield

- Quarter Mafter.
- Ditto.
- Captain's Steward.
- Seaman.
- Ditto.
- Ditto.
- Ditto,brothertotheCap;tain.
- Ditto.
- Pitto.
- Ditto.
- Ditto.
- Ditto.
- Ditto.

William Cobbledick - Ditto.

Zachariah Allen
Thomas Castles -
-Dedrick Windler
Thomas Rose* - -

- Ditto.
- Ditto.
- Ditto.
{Linguift, a native of
Bengal, calling him-
felf a Pertuguefe.

At five o'clock in the morning they again
weighed anchor, and fet fail, having a fine breeze
from the E. N. E. and between fix and feven
B 2 o'clock

Monday m«

4 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- o'clock their pilot left them. About nine o'clock,
being got to fome diftance from the land, they met
with a very high fea, which obliged them to lay
to, in order to fecure their cattle, and other live
ftock, as alfo their anchors, cables, and har
bour-rigging. About eleven o'clock they made
fail again, and by a very good obfervation, at
noon, were in latitude 210 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 the afternoon the lafhings of the booms broke,
and they fell to leeward, which obliged them to
keep the fhip before the wind until they were
replaced and fecured, which having done, they
refumed their courfe. In the evening, obferving
it ^o lighten very ftrongly from the fouthward,
they clofe reefed their topfails, expecting it to
blow from that quarter.
TueWayM. Next day the weather continued moderate but
cloudy; and they had a great feavfrom the eaft-
ward, which made the fhip labour, fo as to oblige
them to pump every two hours. The boatfwain
and carpenter were both taken 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 Portuguese veffel bound to Macao. The
wind veered round to the fouthward this day ; no
obfervation of latitude.
6 The

THE PELEW ISLANDS. .
The wind foutherly, vvith cloudy weather and
fome 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 fhip made lefs water. No obfervation
of latitude this day, the fun being in their
zenith. 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 pre
paring the fhip for bad weather. By an indifr
ferent obfervation at noon, they found themfelves
in latitude 190 29' north.
The weather continued very dark and cloudy,
with thunder, lightning, and hard rain, fo that
the fhip was in a manner deluged, and every
one wet and uncomfortable. About three
o'clock in the afternoon they faw the appearance
of land from the deck, being the Bashee
Iflands, bearing from S.E. to E.N. E. At
fix o'clock the northermoft ifland bore N. E.
by E. At night the weather being but in
different and hazy, fo that they could not keep
fight of the land, they fhortened fail and lay
to till the morning.
At day.-break they again faw the land to lee
ward of them, being the fame they had f^en
the. night before; from this circumftance they
B 3 concluded

1783.
JULY.
Wednefday a3.

Thurfday *4-

Friday 45.

Saturday

6 AN ACCOUNT d"tf
1783. concluded, there was no current ; arid as' fbon
J U as the light opened a little more upon" them,
they made fail and' bore away before the wind,
to go round" the northermoft ifland, which they
did at about four or five miles diftance. The
weather being hazy when they firft faw the
land, they had but a very imperfect view of the
iflands. The firft appeared to be long and toler
rably even, The fecond was likewife longj-'df a
pretty equal height, except in two or three places,
where it feemed to rife into hills ; near the mid
dle of it was one very remarkable, from its being
in fhape like a China or Tartar woman's hat.
The third ifland fhewed like two rugged-topped
mountains, joined together by low land. The
fourth was a high, large, double-peaked rock,
appearing to have little foil or wood upon it. The
fifth was very high and uneven, devoid of wood,
except a few green bufhes towards its furhmit.
There were no figns of inhabitants upori any of
thefe iflands, and the weather being fqually, Our
people foori loft fight of them ;¦ at noon they were
in latitude 21° 14' north, by obfervation,- when,
having run about fifteen leagues to 'the eaftward
pf the iflands, they hauled up more to the fouth
ward, in hopes to get into fmoother water, and
better weather than they had hitherto met with
fince leaving Macao. Soon after nbbri, the
man at the maft-head difcovered the foretop-maft to

THE P.ELEW ISLANDS. 7
to be fprung; they immediately took in the fails, 1783.
and got down the, topgallant-maft, and prepared
to get down the top-maft, but were obliged to
defift on account of the weather, until the morn- Sunday 27.
ing, when it proving fair, with tolerably fmooth
water, all hands Vent bufily to work to get up a
new foretop-maft, and to dry and air the fhip, as
alfo to fecure what cattle and ftock remained/
much, having periftied in the rains and bad wea-
ther. The next morning alfo being . fine and Monday'^.
fair, this opportunity was embraced to open the
ports, and wafh and cleanfe the fhip below, as
well as to overhaul and clean their fmall arms,
.1"'., tv,' v !-•-.- or. "¦¦¦ ; ¦ ' 1. J. ' '-¦•¦- ¦ .
and give the officers inJr.ru6t.iohs for the voyage.
In the evening there was very hard rain, with
variable winds.
But the fucceeding day, the wind being fa- Tuefdaytj.
vourable, gave them ' an opportunity of exarnin-
ing and drying fome of their provifion, particu
larly fome Chinefe hams and dry fifti, which
c'onftituted part of their victualling, and had got
damp in the exceffiye rains. They faw a great
quantity of fifh fwimming about the fhip, but
could not catch any, as they would not take the
b^ajts. No rains during the laft twenty-four
hours, '.but the next morning the weather became wednettay
overcaft, and they" were again vifited with rain
in the evening, which continued very hard all
B 4 night

8 AN ACCOUNT OF

Thurfday night and the fucceeding day, with variable
winds, fo that they made very little progrefs on
FridaVJ' &&* 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 i6° 25' 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 Wilson exercifed fome
of the Chinefe men with rowing in the jolly-boat
for an hour or two, to teach them to ufe an oar
Saturdays when needful. The following day being fair,
and the wind moderate, all were again employed
in clearing and cleaning the fhip and Letting up
the rigging. In the afternoon they had an ob
fervation for the longitude, by the diftance of
the fun and moon, by which they found them-
felves in 126 degrees and a half eaft of Green-
suuday3. wich. The following. morning being alfo fair,
divine fervice was performed upon deck; a cere
mony never omitted on Sundays when the wea^
ther would allow of it. In the afternoon they
got another obfervation for the longitude, which
confirmed that taken the preceding day. At
Mpnday4. night they met with frefh gales of wind, fqually
weather, and much rain, which continued moft
Tuefday 5'. part of the next day ; towards the evening of
which.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 9
which they faw numbers of birds and fifh, like- 1781.
wife fome drifts of pieces of wood or bamboo,
they therefore altered their courfe more to the
fouthward, and went under an eafy fail, keeping
a good look out, until morning, when it being wednefday
very tempeftuous they brought to, -and handed 6*
their topfails, which before had been clofe reeft.
The weather continued to blow a ftorm till about
mid-day of the 7 th, during which time they Thuriaayr.
could fhow but very little fail, being obliged to
lay to under the ftorm ftay-fails ; the ftorm then
abating, and the weather clearing up, they got
an obfervation for the latitude, by which they
found themfelves in io° 16' north. Iu the after
noon the wind was foutherly, with frefh gales,
but dry, fo that they were able the following
morning to clean between decks, and alfo to fu- Fridays.
migate the fhip with gunpowder. The cattle had
all perifhed in the laft ftorm, except one bul
lock; the fhe-goat alfo, having kidded in this
bad weather, died together with her young. In
the afternoon the weather became more mode
rate, fo that they were able to make fail and to
proceed on their voyage; and the next day the Saturday *.
weather was fo fine they were enabled to open
their ports to air and dry the fhip below, as alfo
again to examine their provifion and ftores, and
get every thing into order. They were now pro
ceeding

ABOD5T.

io AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. ceeding, cheerfully, on their voyage, fondly. flat
tering themfelves that the adverfe weather, and.
the anxieties it had awa.kened, were all at an end,
when they were fuddenly overwhelmed with
thofe misfortunes which are related in the follow^,

ing narrative.

CHAPTER

I7'3-
AUGUST,

THE PELEW ISLANDS, tt
, 1-jtq < ' :• -.r --
riV. C HAP TER IL " .°;
Z,g/j 0/ /£<? Antelope, and the immediate Diftreffes
arifingfrom the Accident'.
THE wind having frefhehed'aften midnight,, Sunday
the fky became overcaft, with much
Kghtning, thunder, and rain. Mr. Benger, the
chief mate, having the watch, upon deck, had
lowered the top-fails, and was going to reef them
with the people upon duty; judging from the
thunder that the weatheii would break and clear
up, and only prove a flight fquall, he did not
ihink it neceffary to call the hands out, or ac-.
quaint the Captain, who had only quitted the;
deck at twelve o'clock. The people being upori
the yards reefing the fails, the man who was on
the look-out called Breakers I but fo fhort was
$he notice, that the call of Breakers had fearee
reached the officer upon deck before the fhip
ftruck. The horror and difmay this unhappy
event threw every body into was dreadful ; the
Captain, and all thofe who were below jn *heif
beds, fprang upon deck in an inftant, anxious tq
know the caufe of this fudden fhock.to the fhip,
and the confufion above ; a moment convinced
them of their diftreffed fituation; the breakers
^long-fide, through which the rocks made their
appearance.

*»OVJI.

is AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. appearance, prefented the moft dreadful fcenet
and left no room for doubt- The fhip taking a
heel, in lefs than an hour filled with water as
high as the lower deck hatchways ; during this
tremendous interval, the people thronged round
the Captain, and earneftly requefted to be di
rected what to do, befeeching him to give orders
and they would immediately execute them. Or
ders were in confequence inftantly given to fecure
the gunpowder, ammunition, and fmall arms,
and that the bread, and fuch other provifion as
would fpoil by wet, fhould be brought upon
deck and fecured by fome covering from the
rain ; while others were directed to cut away the
mizen-maft, the main and fpretop-maft, and
lower yards, to eafe the fhip and prevent her
overfetting, of which they thought there was
fome hazard, -^nd that every thing fhould be
done to preferve her as long as poffible (the fails
having all been clewed up as foon as the fhip
ftruck). The boats were hoifted out, and filled
with provifion and water, together with a com-
pafs in each, fome fmall arms, and ammunition;
and two men were placed in each boat, with di
rections to keep them under the lee of the fhip,
and be' careful they were not ftaved, and to be
ready to receive their fhip-mates in cafe the vef
fel fhould break to pieces by the dafhing of the
waves and the violence of the wind, it then blow-, in3

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 13
ing a ftorm. Every thing that could be thought i7g3.
expedient in fo diftrefsful and trying an occa-
was executed with a readinefs and obedience
hardly ever exceeded. The people all now af-
fembled aft, the quarter-deck laying higheft out
of the water, the quarter-boards afforded fome little
fhelter from the fea and rain ; here, after contem
plating a few moments their wretched fituation,
the Captain endeavoured to revive their drooping
Ipirits, which began to fink through anxiety and
fatigue, by reminding them that fhipwreck was
a misfortune to which thofe who navigate the
ocean were always liable ; that their fituation in
deed was more difficult, from happening in an
unknown and unfrequented fea, but that this
confideration fhould roufe their moft active at
tention, 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 fpirituous li
quor. A ready confent was given to this advice;
but they being all wet, and fatigued with excef-
five labour, it was thought advifable to take
fome refrefhment, and therefore a glafs of wine
and fome bifcuit was given to each perfon; after
¦eating, a fecond glafs of wine was given them, .
and

tOOO! T.

14 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. ^and they now waited with the utmoft anxiety the
return of day, in hope of feeing land, for as yet
they had not difcovered any; the third mate and
one of the quarter-mafters only, in the momen
tary interval of a dreadful fiafh of lightning,
imagined they had feen the appearance, of land
ahead ofthe fhip. During thefe anxious, mo
ments, they endeavoured to confole and. cheer
one another, and each was advifed to clothe, and
prepare himfelf to quit the fhip when neceffity
ihould make that ftep inevitable; and herein the
utmoft good order and regularity was obferved,
¦not a man offering to take any thing but what
truly "belonged to himfelf, nor did anyone of
them either .Ik for, or attempt to take a dram,
or complain of the negligence or mifconduct, of
the watch or any particular perfon. The dawn
of day difcovered to their view a fmall ifland to
the fouthward, about three or four leagues dif-
tant, and foon after fome other iflands were feen
to the eaftward. They now felt apprehenfive
¦ on account of the inhabitants, to whofe difpofi-
tions they were ftrangers; however, after man
ning the boats, and loading them in the. beft
manner they could ror the general good, fuch of
the crew as departed from the fhip under the care
of Mr. Benger, were earneftly req efted to endea
vour to obtain a friendly intercom fe with the in
habitants if they found any, and carefully to
3 avoid

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 15
avoid any difagreement unlefs reduced to the laft ,7g3.
neceffity, as the fate' of all might1 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 Ante
lope was hourly expected to1 goto pieces, and
the utmoft difquietude was entertained for the
fafety of the b6ats, not only on account of the
natives, but alfo of the weather, it continuing to>
blow very hard. — In the afternoon they per*
ceived'with inexpreffible joy the boats coming
off; a fight the more welcome, as they were fear
ful from their long ftay, they had met with fome
difafter, either from the inhabitants, or the
itorrn ; they Were however happily relieved from
this anxiety by their getting' fafe to the fhip about
four o'clock, 'having left theffores and five men
'dh fhore. They brought the Welcome news that
there was no appearance of inhabitants on the
ifland where they had landed; that- they had
found a fecure harbour well fheltered from the
weather, and" alfo fome frefh' water. Every one
now purfued his labour with renovated Spirits to
complete the raft,' which' was in great forward-
riefs when the' boats returned; this being com
pleted, theyto'ok a fecond refrefhment of bread
and wine, each individual having- ftriftly cori-
Tormedto thepromife made to Captain Wilson, not

nv c v s T.

16 AN ACCOUNT OF
r783« not to drink any ftrong liquor. We muft not
omit here mentioning a melancholy accident
which happened among the events of this difaf-
trous morning; foon after day-break the mizen-
maft being found near the fhip's ftern, and fome
of the rigging entangled in the mizen-chains,
Godfry Mtnks went to cut it adrift, in doing
this he unfortunately flipped and fell overboard,
and although the boats, which were not then,
gone, went inftantly to his affiftance, he was un
fortunately drowned, owing, as was fuppofod, to
having encumbered himfelf with too many
clothes, when he prepared himfelf, as before re
lated, to be ready to quit the fhip.
The raft being now completed, was loaded
with as much provifion and ftores as it could
carry, confiftently with the fafety of the people
who were to go on it. The pinnace and jolly-
boat were likewife filled with provifion, ammu
nition, and fmall arms, in which was placed their
greateft fecurity. The people being ftill anxioufly
employed in faving whatever they could, and the
fhip beginning to have a little motion from the
rifing of the tide, there was great apprehenfion
that the main-maft would fall over the fide, in '
which cafe it muft have dropt on the raft, and,
by deftroying it, have rendered all their labours
fruitlefs. The raft and pinnace being ready to
depart, and the evening advancing, the boat-
fwain ,,

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. n
fwain was defired to go into the fhip, and wind ,78jf
his call, in order to alarm thofe who were bufily
employed below (and whom Captain Wilson
had repeatedly entreated to defift) to go into the
boats and raft, that they might endeavour to get
on fhore before night, and fecure what they had
already got out of the fhip. And here it may be
worth while to notice the great care and attention
of the carpenter, who was fo intent on faving
what tools and ftores he could, that he remained
below after the pinnace and raft had departed,
and Captain Wilson 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 melancho
ly, they quitted the Antelope, totally ignorant
of their future deftiny. The pinnace, with fome
of the ftouteft of the fhip's crew, took the rafc
in tow ; the jolly-boat alfo affifted, 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 call loofe their
rope, and the jolly-boat proceeded alone to the
fhore, where they arrived about eight o'clock at
night, and found their companions who had
been left in the morning. Thefe few men had
not been idle, or unmindful of their fellow-fuf-
ferers ; having employed themfelves in clearing
C away

AUG US T.

i8 ANACCOUNTGF
1783. away a fpot of ground, and erecting a fmall tent
with a fail, in readinefs for their reception. The
'fituation both of thofe on the raft, as well as
thofe on the pinnace, was truly dreadful till they
had cleared the reef (which was more than half ,
an hour) ; by the great furf 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
ftrength, to prevent being wafhed off; and the
fhrieks of the Chinefe, lefs inured to the perils of
an element 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 pin
nace, 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 ftores and people in the morning, they drop
ped their fails and rowed. They found the cur
rent ftill much ftronger as they got nearer the
fhore, and though every man exerted his utmoft
ftrength, they ftill continued to drop to leeward.
Feeling now their inability to refift the current,
and the ftrength of the rowers being almoft ex-
haufted, it was judged for the fafety of all, that
the pinnace fhould take the people from off the
raft,

AVCOST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 19
raft, and bring the raft to a grapnel during the I7g3,
night. Thefe additional men from the raft dou
ble banked the oars of the pinnace, and relieved
the rowers, but at the fame time they fo crowded
her, that fhe could barely keep above water, be
ing tfien clofe under a rocky coaft, in about fix
teen fathom water (as they afterwards better
knew). They were only able to advance flowly ;
but as they drew nearer to the ifland whither the
others were gone before,, the jolly-boat having
unladen her cargo, Captain Wilson with four
people, was returning in her, to lighten the raft
and pinnace, and give them full affiftance, and
it being dark, hailed the pinnace at a diftance.
Whether it was from trie great fatigue the people
had fuftained while on the raft, or from their
voice and fpirits being exhaufted, or from the
fudden joy of perceiving they were fo near again
to their comrades, but the halloo was anfwered
in fo fhrill and unaccuftomed a manner, that thofe
who were in the jolly-boat, who had previoufly
heard the paddling of oars, fuppofed they were
natives ; as the people who had remained on fhore
in the morning with the ftores, had difcovered,
after the boats had left them, traces of fome
people having been lately upon the ifland, by
feeing places where, there had been fires, with
fome fifh bones and pieces of cocoa-nut fhells
fcattered about, which had not the appearance of
C 2 having

AV C US T .

20 AN ACCOUNT OF
i783. having lain long there ; thefe circumftances . in
ducing 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 diffipated, and an univerfal joy
fpread itfelf over every countenance on feeing one
another again on dry land. They fhook hands
together with the utmoft cordiality, every one
feeling thofe emotions that could ill be expreffed
by the moft forcible language. They got part of
a cheefe, fome bifcuit, and a little water, for
their fupper ; and by difcharging a piftol, loaded
with powder, into fome match which they picked
loofe to ferve as tinder, they kindled a fire in
the cove, where they dried their clothes, which
were thoroughly wet, and flept on the ground
alternately, under the Covering of the tent which
had been raifed. The night proved very uncom
fortable on many accounts ; the rain and wind
were heavy, and the diftrefs of their fituation not
a little increafed by the fear of the fhip going to
pieces, from the tempeftuous weather, before
they fhould be able to fave from her fuch neceffa-
ries as might be ufeful to them. They hauled
their boats on fhore, and fet a watch, left they
. 'might happen to be furprized by any ofthe na
tives.
Ibaby 11. 'rhe conftant perforation the people had been
in, added to their being perpetually wet with the
fait

A V 0 V S T.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 21
fait water, had produced an irritation on their ,,g3.
lkins, which, with the added friction of their
clothes from fevere 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
the wind blowing very hard, they were afraid to
attempt moving it ; they were, however, fortu
nate enough to get the remainder of the provifion
and fails from it, and returned about noon.
The weather proving more moderate in the
afternoon, the boats were fent to the wreck to
bring away fome rice, and other provifion, as
alfo to procure what neceffaries they could for the
people, who, as we have already faid, flood in
great need of them.
Thofe who remained on fhore were employed
in drying 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 even
ing, it fpread amongft their companions much
alarm for their fafety, as the night came on with
very heavy weather ; nor indeed were their fpirits
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 badnefs ofthe weather,
that the fhip could hold together till morning, as
fhe was beginning to part, the bends or wales be-
jng ftarted out of their places. The ideas which
' C 3 had

AU CUS T.

aa ANACCOUNTOF
1783. had been fondly nurfed, that when a calm fuc-
ceeded there was a poffibility fhe might be floated
and repaired, fo as to return to Macao, 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 confolation might fhoot. They
knew nothing of the inhabitants of that country
where fate, had thrown them ; ignorant of their
manners and difpofitions, as well as ofthe hoftile
fcenes they might have to encounter for their
fafety; they found themfelves, by this fudden
accident, cut off at once from the reft of the
world, with little probability of their ever again
getting away. Each individual threw back his
remembrance to fome dear object that affection
had rivetted to his heart, who might be in vain
looking out anxioufly for the return of the fa
ther, the hufband, or the friend, whom there
was fcarcely the moft diftant chance of their
ever feeing any more. Thefe reflections did not
contribute to make the night comfortable ; the
weather was far more tempeftuous than in the
preceding one ; but the clothes which the people
had procured from the wreck proved a great
comfort to them all, who were thereby enabled
to have a change.

CHAPTER

12.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 23

CHAPTER III. t7g3.
au o u s -r.
Firft Appearance of the Natives. — The curious and
friendly Interview between them and the Englifh.
— Captain Wilson's Brother fent to the King
of Pelew, the King's Brother remaining with
' our People.
AT day-break, as it blew exceedingly hard, Tuefday
fo that the boats could not venture to fea,
every one went to work, to dry the ftores and
provifions between the fhowers ; and many were
bufied to form better tents with fuch materials
as they had faved. About eight o'clock in the
morning Captain Wilson and Tom Rose being
on the beach collecting water which dropped
from the rocks, the people who were employed
in clearing away the ground, in the wood be
hind them, gave notice that fome ofthe natives
were approaching, as they perceived a canoe
coming round the point into the bay ; this gave
fo much alarm that the people all flew to the
arms; however, as there were only two canoes,
and thofe having but few men in them, the peo
ple were defired to remain ftill, and out of fight*.
until they fhould perceive what reception the
Captain and Tom Rose met with, whom they
C 4 were

A U G- U 5 T .

24 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. were convinced the natives had difcovered, as
they converted together, and kept ftedfaftly look
ing towards that part of the. fhore where they
were ; our people were defired to be prepared for
the worft, but by no means to appear for the pre
fent, or fhew any figns of diftruft when they did,
unlefs the behaviour of the natives to them
fhould render it abfolutely neceflary. In this
fhort interval of time the canoes had advanced
cautioufly towards the fhore, where they flood, '
when Captain Wilson defired Tom Rose to
fpeak to them in the Malay language, which
they did not feem to underftand, but flopped
their canoes; yet foon after one of them fpoke in
the Malay tongue, and afked who they were ? and
whether they were friends or enemies ? To thefe
queftions Tom Rose was directed to reply,
" That they were unfortunate Englifhmen, who
" had loft their fhip upon the reef, and had faved
fC their lives, and were their friends." Upon this
they fpoke a few words together (which was fince
ftippofed to have been the Malay man explaining
to them what had been faid) ; and prefently thev
ftcpped out of the canoes into the water, and
came towards the fhore, on which Captain Wil
son waded into the water to meet them, and em
bracing them in a friendly manner, conducted
them to the fhore, and introduced them to his
officers and unfortunate companions; they were
eight

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 25
eight in number, two of whom, it was afterwards ,7s?.
known, were brothers to the King. They left
one man in each canoe ; and, as they were com
ing into the cove, feemed to look round with
great watchfulnefs, as if fearful of being betrayed ;
nor would they feat themfelves near the tents,
but kept clofe to the beach, that in cafe of dan
ger they might eafily regain their canoes. Our
V people now going to breakfaft, they were pre
fented with fome tea, and fome fweet bifcuits,
made at China, of which two or three jars had
been faved. Only Captain Wilson, and one or
two more, with Tom Rose the interpreter,
breakfafted with them ; for, as they would pro
bably have entertained doubts of our people, had
the Englifh furrounded them to gratify curiofity,
they might, from their apprehenfions, have haf-
tily departed. In the little converfation which
during breakfaft could be obtained, a wifh was
exprefled to the Malay they brought with them,
of knowing by what event he chanced to be there.
This fellow, befide his own and the Pelew lan
guage, fpoke a little Dutch, and fome words of
Englifh: he gave the following account of him
felf, * viz. — That he commanded a trading vef-
* The. future conduft and behaviour of this Ma lay gave
reafon to fufpett thefe was little truth in the account he gave
pf himfelf. fel

AUGUST.

ftfi AN ACCOUNT OF
I783. fel belonging to a CHiNA-man at Ternate, had
been on a trading voyage to Amboyna and Ban
tam, and had been caft away, about ten months
before, upon an ifland to the fouthward, which
was wichin fight of where he then was ; that he
efcaped from thence to Pelew, 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 hav
ing been out fifhing, had feen the fhip's maft lying
down ; and that the King being informed of it,
fent off thefe two canoes, at four o'clock that
morning, to enquire what was become of the
people; that they knowing well this harbour,
had come to it firft, being a place where the ca
noes, when fifhing, often fhelter themfelves in
hard weather. —They fat about an hour with
Captain Wilson, tafted the tea, but feemed to
like better the bifcuits, and appeared now to feel
themfelves relieved from every apprehenfion.
They wifhed that one of our people might be
fent in their canoes to the Rupack, or King,
that he might fee what fort of people they were ;
which was agreed to by Captain Wilson, who,
after breakfaft was ended, introduced to them
feveral of his officers; thefe, as they came up,
ihook hands with the natives, who being informed
by the Malay that this was the mode of falutation amongft

27

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
amongft the Englifh, they went to every man pre- 1 783.
fent, and took him by the hand, nor ever after AU0USTV
omitted this token of regard, as often as they met
our countrymen.
It often pleafes Providence, in the moft trying
hours of difficulty and diftrefs, to throw open
fome unlooked-for fource of confolation to the
fpirits of the unfortunate ! — -It was a fingular ac
cident, that Captain Rees of the Northum
berland fhould, at Macao, have recommended
to Captain Wilson, Tom Rose as a fervant,
who fpoke the Malay language perfectly well.
It was ftill a more fingular circumftance, that
a tempeft fhould have thrown, a Malay on this
fpot, who had as a ftranger been noticed and fa
voured by the King, and having been near a year
on the ifland previous to the lofs of the Ante
lope, was become acquainted with the language
of the country ; by this extraordinary event both
the English and the inhabitants of Pelew had
each an interpreter who could converfe freely to
gether in the Malay tongue, and Tom Rose
fpeaking Englifh, an eafy intercourfe was im
mediately opened on both fides, and all thofe
impediments removed at once, which would have
arifen among people who had no means of con
veying their thoughts to one another by language,
but muft have trufted to figns and geftures,
which, to thofe bom in climates fo remotely fe-
paratedj

S8 AN ACCOUNT OF
I7g3. parated, 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 that 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' with them, to prevent any
canoes from molefting them.
The natives were of a deep copper colour,
perfectly naked, having no kind of covering
whatfoever; their fkins very foft and gloffy,
owing, as was known afterwards, to the external
ufe of cocoa-nut oil. Each Chief had in his
hand a bafket of Beetle-nut, and a bamboo
finely polifhed and inlaid at each end, in which
they carried their Chinam-, this is coral burnt to
a lime, which they fhake 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 Bee
tle-nut and Chinam, of which they had always a
quid in their mouths, rendered the faliva red,
which, together with their black teeth, gave
their mouths a very difgufting appearance.- —
They were of a middling ftature, very ftraight,
and mufcular, their limbs well formed, and had
a particular majeftic manner in walking; bur
their legs, from a little above their ancles to the
middle

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. a?
middle of their thighs, were tatooed fo very thick, i783.
as to appear dyed of a far deeper colour than
their fkin: 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, except the younger
of the King's two brothers, had a beard; and it
was afterwards obferved, in the courfe of a lon
ger acquaintance with them, that they in general
plucked out their beards by the root; a very few
only, who had ftrong thick beards, cherifhed
them and let them grow. — As they now feemed
to feel no longer any reftraint, they were con
ducted round the cove; the ground was as yet
but flightly and partially cleared, much broken
fhells and rock, together with thorny plants and
ftirubs remaining over it, nor could our people
help being lurprized at feeing them, barefooted
as they were, walk over all this rough way as
perfectly at eafe as if it had been the fmootheft
ground. But if the uncommon appearance of
the natives of Pelew excited furprize in the
Englifh, their appearance, in return, awakened
in their vifitors a far greater degree of aftonifh-
ment. — Our countrymen, during all the time
they remained in thefe iflands, were perfectly con
vinced/ that the inhabitants had never before
feen a white man, it was therefore little to be
wondered that they viewed them as a new and a,
very

AU GUST.

30 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. very extraordinary race of beings: all they ob-
ferved, and all they touched, made them exclaim
weel! weel! and fometimes weel a trecoy ! which
the Malay informed them was a declaration of
being well pleafed. — They began with ftroaking
the bodies and arms of the Englifh, or rather their
waiftcoats and coat fleeves, as if they doubted,
whether the garment and the man were not of the
fame fubftance; but were told by the Malay,
that the Englifh in. their own climate being ex -
pofed to far greater cold, were accuftomed al
ways to be covered, and had coverings of diffe
rent kinds to put on as occafion required, fo that
they could be always dry and warm. Our peo
ple plainly perceived, by the geftures of the
Malay and the natives, that this was what they
were converting about ; nor could they avoid
obferving, by the countenances of the latter, the
quicknefs with which they foemed to comprehend
whatever information the Malay gave them. The
next thing they noticed was our people's hands,
and the blue veins of their wrifts ; and they pro
bably confidered the white fkin of the hands and
face as artificial, and the veins as the Englifh man
ner of tatooing, for they immediately requefted,
that the jacket- fleeves of the men might be drawn
up, to fee if their arms were of the fame colour
as their hands and faces : fatisfied in this particu
lar, they expreffed a further wifh to fee their bo-
5 dies;

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 31
dies; upon which fome ofthe men opened their 1783.
bofoms, and gave them to understand that all the
reft of their body was of the fame colour. — They
feemed much aftonifhed at finding hair on their
breafts, it being confidered by them as a great
mark of indelicacy, infomuch that they eradicate
it from every part ofthe body in both fexes.
They afterwards walked about, teftifying great
curiofity, but at the fame time expreffing a fear
that they intruded too much. As they had come
on fhore unarmed, this confideration induced
Captain Wilson, before he fhewed them the
tents, to order that all the fire-arms fhould 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 overfhadowed by the flighteft miftruft; but this
well-conceived intention was fruftrated by an ac
cident. — As our people were conducting them to
the tents, clofe by the entrance, one of the na
tives picked up a bullet, which had been cafually
dropped on the ground, and immediately ex-
preffed his furprize, that a fubftance fo fmall to
the eye fhould be fo very ponderous to the touch ;
he fhewed it directly to the Malay, who defcribed
to him the ufe of it, and feemed to.be expatiating
on the nature of fire-arms, for when he had done
he wifhed that one of our mufkets might be fhewn
them, that they might better comprehend their
power and ufe. Our

32

AN ACCOUNT OF

AU OUST.

i7g5. Our people had in the tents two dogs, who
were c©nfined clofe to the place where their arms
were depofited ; one of them was a large New
foundlander, who had been brought up at fea from
a puppy, the other a fpaniel ; the Newfoundland
dog had been the favourite of every one on
board, being a moft excellent guard, and had
been taught during the voyage an infinite num
ber of tricks, by which he afforded fo much
amufement to the whble crew, that there was not
a failor belonging to the Antelope who would
not have fifked his life for the dog. On enter
ing the tent with their new friends, one of our
people went before to the dogs, to fee they were
tied up, and to prevent any furprize to their vifi-
tors ; no fooner had they entered the tent, than
the two dogs fet up a moft violent barking, and
the natives a noife but little lefs loud ; our people
fcarcely at firft knew whether it arofe from fear,
or was expreffive of aftonifhment; they ran in
and out of the tent, and appeared to wifh they
might be made to bark again; but the Malay
foon explained this to be the effects of joy and
furprize, thefe animals being the firft of the kind
they had ever feen, they having no quadrupeds of
any fpecies on thefe iflands, except a very few
grey rats in the woods. — It was agreed on by
Captain Wilson and his people, that the wifh
which the natives had expreffed reflecting the
i fending

A Day s T.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 33
tending one of them to Pelew, that the King i783.
might fee what kind of Beings white men
were, fhould be complied with, and fome diffi
culty arifing who fhould be the perfon, the Cap
tain requefted his brother, Mr. Matthias Wil
son, to go, which requeft he readily complied
with, and agreed to depart with them in their
canoes. The jolly-boat went out ofthe cove this fore
noon, but the badnefs ofthe weather obliged her
to put back, as did alfo the canoe that was re
turning to the King, in which was Mr. M.
Wilson, but about noon the canoe fet out again,
and proceeded on her voyage. Captain Wilson
was much affected at his brother's departure, but
hoped the embaffy might prove the means of al
leviating their forlorn fituation. He inftructed
his brother to inform the King who they were,
to acquaint him with their misfortunes^ and to
folicit his friendfhip, as alfo his permiffion to
build a veffel to carry them back to their own
country. He fent by Mr. M. Wilson a prefent
to the King of a fmall remnant of blue broad
cloth, a canifter of tea, a canifter of fugar-candy,
and a jar of rufk. The laft article was added at
the particular requeft of the King's two "brothers,
the younger of whom returned with Mr. M.
Wilson. D The

AUGUST.

34 AN ACCOUNT OF
1 783. The weather being rough, our people employed
themfelves in drying, their clothes, and making
their tents more commodious. The natives con^
ducted our people to a well of frefh water ; the
path leading to this well lying acrofs fteep and*
rugged rocks, rendered the track hazardous and
difficult. Richard Sharp, a midfhipman, 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 returned with two jars filled.
> One canoe and three men remained with' our
people, as did one of the King's brothers,, called
Raa Kook, commander in chief of the King's
forces, and the Malay interpreter; they eat of fome
fowl ftewed with bread, which was prepared for
dinner, but would not eat fome fliees of ham
which Captain Wilson had dreffed for them, dif-
liking the tafte of fait, of which tliey had no know
ledge. It continuing to rain and blow exceffively
hard all the afternoon, they could not go away*
but pafied the night with our people, and ap^
peared to be perfectly eafy and contented with
their reception.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW iSLANDS. 35

' CHAPTER IV. yf A**t.
The Pinnace goes to the Ship, and finds ii had been
vifited by fome of the Natives. — The Behaviour
of Raa Kook, the King's Brother, on being in
formed of it.— The friendly ConduSl of ihis Chief
whilft he remained alone with the Englifh. — A
Council held, and all the Cafks of Liquor remain- .
ing in the Antelope ordered to be ftaved.
THE wind and rain this night- proved far wedWday
heavier than any finee the wreck; but at l3r
day-break it became more moderate, and the
boatfwain called all hands out to work by wind
ing hi* pipe, the found of which much pleafed
and lurprized the natives. Raa Kook informed
Captain Wilson, that his brother would -not bid-
able to return, on account of the weather. — -About
ten o'clock the pinnace was fent' off to the fhip;
the people who remained on fhore einployed'
themfelves in clearing the ground and drying
their provifion. The pinnace did not get back-
till after dark; their long ftay awakened unea-
finefs: they brought word that fome1 canoes had >
been at the fhip, and had carried off iron arid
other things, and it was ftifpected that among;
thefe was the canoe and the three men that were^
D 2 left

'AUG IIST.

36 ANACCOUNTOF
i783. left to attend the King's brother, they having put of?
foon after the pinnace, and, as our people thought,
were only gone out to fifh. They alfo reported,
that it being low-water, the pinnace could not
reach the fhip, but the men were compelled to
wade over part of the reef to get to her, and were
now able to fee her fituation, having difcovered
that a large part of the rock had made its way
through her bottom, and in two or three places
appeared dry infide her hold, fo that fhe remained
fixed on the reef. They difcovered that the na
tives had found their way to the cockpit, had
rummaged the medicine cheft, tafted feveral of
the medicines, which being probably not very pa
latable, they had thrown out the contents, and
had carried off the bottles, fo that nothing remain
ed 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
fhip, conceiving he never .fhould get- back to her
any more, had providently brought away fome of
the moft ufeful medicines.
When thofe who returned with the pinnace
brought this intelligence, and had informed our
people that thefe canoes were gone up to Pelew
Captain Wilson made this tranfaction known to
Raa Kook, not fo much as a matter of com
plaint, as to exprefs to him his ttneafinefs for the
confequences which might arife to the natives from

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 37
fi-om their tafting or drinking fuch a variety of i7g3.
medicines. Raa Kook begged Captain Wil- au<?u6T*
son would entertain no uneafinefs whatever on
their account; that if they fuffered, it would be
owing entirely to their own mifconduct, for which
he faid he felt himfelf truly concerned. This con-
verfation paffing at fupper, where the General .
and linguift were eating with our people, feemed
greatly to difturb Raa Kook ; his countenance
fully defcribed the indignation he felt at the trea
cherous behaviour of his own men, and afked,
why our people did not fhoot them ? begging,
that if they, or any others, fhould dare again to
attempt plundering the veffel, they would, and he
fhould take upon himfelf to juftify their conduct
to the King. — He this night flept in the fame
tent with our people, who all redoubled their at
tention to him, perfectly perfuaded from the ge-
nerofity of his behaviour, that the difpleafure he
had teftified at this injuftice done to the Englifh,
did not arife from any apprehenfion he felt in be
ing at that moment abfolutely in their power, but v
that his mind poffefied fo nice a fenfe of honour
as to make him feel unhappy at what appeared to
him to be a breach of hofpitality in his country
men ; which he declared fhould be fully ftated to
the King, who would prevent its happening in /
future. This amiable Chief (for amiable he
feemed from firft fight) fhewed a perfect fatisfac-
D 3 tion

AUC U S T.

3% AN ACCOUNT OF
i783. tion with whatour people could do for him ; he en*
deavoured to accommodate himfelf to their mari^
ners, would fit at table as they did, inftead of
fquatting on his hams; and this pleafing difpofi-
tion of his induced every one to refpect him as a
man of an upright character, and fuch, they in
truth found him to be in every tranfadtion they
afterwards had with him.
At their firft coming, the Malay, who was quite
naked, had requefted a pair of trowfers and a jac
ket, which were given him; and a pair of trow
fers, together with an uniform coat, were at the
'fame time prefented to Raa KboK, who directly
put them on, not a little pleafed in appearing like
his new friends, often looking at himfelf, and,
faying, " Raa Kook Englees-," but it was fup
pofod he found the heat and confinement of drefs
very inconvenient, for after this vifit he never
wore them ; and when Captain Wilson was at his
houfe at Pelew, he perceived he had put them
up carefully among what he deemed his valua
bles. • He poffeffed naturally fo unbounded a cu-
riofity, that not the fmalleft cjrcumftance which
occurred efcaped his notice ; he wifhed to have an
explanation of every thing he faw, to imitate
whatever our people did, and to inquire into the
principle and caufes of all he obferved brought
'about by them, lending his perfonal affiftance in
every

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
every thing that was doing, and even defired "to ,7g3
aid the cook in blowing the fire.
¦ Our people finding themfelves now on a per
fect good underftanding with this' friendly Chief,
did not heficate to afk with freedom, by their in
terpreter, whatever their own curipfity fuggefted,
Obferving that he wore round his wrift a polifhed
bone of fome creature, in the form of a bracelet,
and having noticed that his brother, who returned
to Pelew with Mr. M. Wilson, had a fimilar or
nament, they wifhed to know on what account it
was worn. The Malay explained this to the Ge
neral, who, through him, informed our people
that it was a mark of great diftinction, conferred
by the King on his own family, and on officers of
ftate, and commanders, and that he himfelf wore
it, both as brother to the King, and as Comman
der in chief of his army, both by fea and land.
This new intelligence which our people had ob
tained, excited them ftill more to cultivate the
friendlhip of a Chief, who though fo high both in
rank and office, had with fo much condefcenfion
and attentive politenefs fhewed hinjfelf attached
to them.
The preceding evening, at fupper, a propofi-
tion had been made by Captain Wilson to his
officers, which, as it did not take place till this
day, will more properly be introduced here; a
propofition founded in the higheft prudence and
D 4 wifdom,

39

AUGUST.

40. AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. wifdom, and executed with fiich refolution and
firmnefs of mind, that it reflects the greateft cre
dit on the Commander, as well as on the officers
and men who ferved under him, and hath a juft
claim to be faithfully recorded. The day after
the Antelope was wrecked, when the pinnace
had been fent aboard her, to fecure whatever
ftores could be faved, the men having for many
hours endured the fevereft toil, the chief officer
thought proper to ferve them out fome ftrong
liquor ; but, as they were unable to find any thing
to eat, their emptinefs and hard fatigue had made
the liquor operate on their heads, fo that on their
return back they were very noify and elated;
Captain Wilson therefore now fubmitted to his
officers, whether it would not be advifable to ftave
all the liquor that remained aboard the veffel, left
our people, becoming inadvertently intoxicated,
might be difpofed to quarrel among themfelves,
or engage in difputes with the natives ; or from
another motive, equally important to the com
mon fafety, left the natives themfelves, having
already found their way to the fhip, might dif-
cover the ftrong liquors, which they would be
tempted to drink of too freely, and, from never
having before tafted of fpirits, might grow infu
riated) and induced to commit fome outrage with
our people, and thereby draw on a genera] con-
teft and difunion. The officers univerfally ap
proved

AUGUST.,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 41
proved the propofition, and defired Captain i7e3.
Wilson would the next morning make their
wifhes on this matter known to all the fhip's
company; which was done very early, at the
time the boatfwain called all hands to work.
The Captain told them he had fomething to lay
before them, in which their future welfare, nay
perhaps their future prefervation, was moft ma
terially involved; he then fubmitted to their
judgment the meafure 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 authorize the
hope of getting away from their prefent fitua
tion, and feeing once more their own country,
and thofe who were dear to them; and endea
voured to convince them, that however reluc
tantly they might yield to the propofition, yet he
was fatisfied that the underftanding of every in
dividual among them muft, on reflection, per
ceive it was a meafure abfolutely neceflary to be
adopted. Upon which all the failors, with the
utmoft unanimity, and with one voice, declared,
that however they might fuffer from the de
privation of the accuftomed recruit of ftrong
liquor, yet, being fenfible that, having accefs to
it, they might not at all times ufe it with difcre-
tion, they, to their lafting honour as men, gave
their full affent to the Captain's propofaj, and
iaid, they were ready to go immediately to the
fhip,

4a AN ACCOUNT OF

AUGUST.

T783- fhip, and ftave every veffel of liquor on board;'
which, on this day, . they confcientioufly per
formed; every cafk was ftaved, and fo fcru-
puloufly did they execute their truft, that there
was not a fingle man amongft them who would
take, or tafte a farewell glafs of any liquor. —
Circumftanced as thefe poor fellows were, no
thing but a long and well-trained difcipline,
and the real affection they bore their 'Com
mander, could have produced the fortitude and
fteady firmnefs which they teftified on this oc-
cafion ; and certainly nothing could more exhi
larate the fpirits of their officers, or more endear
the men to them, than this conqueft they fhewed
Over themfelves — What indeed was there not
to be hoped from fuch a band of brave fellows,
whom unanimity, affection, and mutual confix
dence, had united in one unremitting plan of
exertion, for the prefervation of the whole! — ¦
The intelligence of this bufinefs being fo faith
fully performed, was brought this evening by
the officer who attended the men, and who came
back with the pinnace after dark, as before
mentioned, and was confirmed by all the others
who affifted; and if any thing could add to the
fatisfactory manner in which it had been exe
cuted, it was to perceive that, when they all fat
down to fupper, the event did not produce a
fingle difcontented countenance.
CHAPTER

THE PEtEW ISLANDS. 43

CHAPTER V. „Sj.
AUG US T.
Arra Kooker, the King's Brother, returns from "
Pelew, and is foon after followed by Mr,
Matthias Wilson, who gives a very favour
able Account of the Manner in which he had
been received.— Regulations made by the Englifh
for eftablifhing a Nightly Guard. — The General
and Arra Kooker informed of it. — They ap
prove the Scheme, which is immediately put in
Execution. — Some Character of Arra Kooker.
THE next morning two canoes arrived with Thwfday
yams, ready boiled, and fome cocoa-nuts, J*-
which were prefented to Captain Wilson. In
one of thefe veffels Arra Kooker, the King's
brother, returned back, who brought with him
one of the King's fons ; Raa Kook went imme
diately to receive his nephew, and much con-
verfation feemed to pais between them. Arra
Kooker informed his brother, that three men
had died ofthe things they had taken and drank
out of the medicine-cheft ; the General replied,
that the Englifh had told him this might be the
confequence, and he was glad they had fuffered
for their bad conduct. The meffage which the
"King's fon had brought from his father was deli
vered,
3

AU CJUS T'.

44 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. vered to the General, and from him interpreted
to our people, through the Malay, the purport
of it was, to bid the Englifh welcome into his
country, and to inform them that they had his
full leave and permiffion to build a veffel on fhe
ifland on which they then were, or that they
might remove to, and build it on the ifland
where he lived himfelf, and be under his own more
immediate protection. This being communi
cated, he introduced the young Prince to all
our people, and then walked about with him,
and fhowed and explained to him every thing
which he had made himfelf acquainted with
relative to our manners. His nephew, who
appeared to be about twenty-one, was as full of
aftonifhment at what he faw, as the uncle him
felf had been before; and Raa Kook difcovered
no fmall degree of pleafure in perceiving the
eager delight with which his young relation no
ticed every thing which his attention was di
rected to.
Whilft this engaged the General . and the
Prince, our people were queftioning Arra
Kooker, with anxious concern, about Mr. M.
Wilson, whom he had conveyed to Pelew,
and whom, they did not fee return with him;
Arra Kooker afTured them they would fee him
very foon; that he had only been detained by
the wind, and was actually on his way. He
then

AU G V S ¦

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 45
then defcribed by figns and geftures (for he had i7s3.
a very particular turn for mimickry and humour)
the apprehenfions Mr. M. Wilson had been
under when he was at Pelew, which he en
deavoured to convince them he had very un-
neceffarily entertained. It was not long before
our people were made happy by his fafe return ;
who had, as he told them, undergone no fmall
degree of alarm, though it turned out to be more
founded in imaginary fear than in any real danger.
He made a very favourable report of the people
of Pelew, that they feemed to be friendly in
their difpofition, and had treated him with much
civility and kindnefs : — The account of his ex
pedition, 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 ofthe natives ran out of their houfes
" to fee me come on fhore; the King's brother,
" who accompanied me, took me by the hand,
" and conducted me from the landing-place up N
" to the town, where there was a mat fpread
*' upon a fquare pavement, on which he by figns
«c directed 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 obeifance after the manner of eaftern
<f nations, lifting up my hands to my head, and"
" inclining

AUGUST.

46 AN ACCOUNT OF
i7s3. " inclining my body forward ; to which he diet
" not feem to pay. any attention. After this
" ceremony, I offered the King the prefents my
" brother had fent by me, which he received in a
"very gracious manner. — His., brother, Arra,
ic Kooker, now talked a good deal with him,
" which I conceived was to acquaint him with.
" our difafter; and. our numbers; after which
" the King eat fome of the fugar-candy, feemed>
*c to relifh it, and diftributed a little of it to
" feveral of his Chiefs, and then directed all the
" things to be taken away and carried to his
" own houfe; which being done, he ordered
** refrefhments to be brought, which.confifted of
" a cocoa-nut filled, with warm water, and fweet-
" ened with moloffes ; after tafting it, he com-
" manded a little boy who was near him to climb
" a cocoa-tree and gather, frefh nuts, he -cleared
" one fi-om the hufks, and. tafting the milk there-
" of, bade the little boy prefent it to me, making
" figns to me to fend it back when Lhad drank ;
" he afterwards broke the. nut in two, eat a little,
" and returned it to me to eat df it.
ct I now found myfelf furrounded by a vaft'
*c concourfe of both fexes: much converfation '
" took place between the King, his brother, and1
" the Chiefs who were with him. As their eyes'
" were repeatedly directed to me, I concluded I'
<? was the fubject of it. Takingoff'my hat by ac- '
<f cident,

AUGUST;

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 47
^'cident, all who were prefent feemed ftruck i783.
" with aftonifhment, which I perceiving, unbut-
" toned my waiftcoat, and took my fhoes 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 conftituted a part of
" my perfon ; for, when undeceived in this, they
(t came nearer to me; ftroked me,- and put their
" hands into my bofom to feel my fkin.
" It being now grown rather dark, the King,
" his brother, feveral others, and myfelf, retired
xt into a houfe, where there was a fupper brought
" in of yams boiled whole, on a ftand or ftool
*' with a rim or edge round it of three or four
" inches high: in a difh or wooden bowl was a
" kind of pudding made alfo of yams boiled and
" beat- together, juft as we mafh potatoes; of
" which they put three or four in' a bowl or difh.
u They had likewifefome fhell-fifh, but of what
" kind I could net make out. They conducted
" me after fupper to another houfe at fome dif-'
" tance from the firft, where I found at leaft forty
" or fifty men and women ; I was led thither by
" a female, who, when I had entered the houfe,
«* made figns to me to fit or lie down on a mat
" that was fpread, as I underftood, on the floor
« for me to fleep on. After the reft ofthe com-
« pany had fatisfied their curiofity by viewing
- "rae

&V GUST.

4g ANACCOUNTOF
T783. tc me very accurately, they all went to fleep,
and I laid myfelf down on the mat, drawing ,
" another mat over me, which I fuppofod was
" placed there for that purpofe, refting my head
" on a block of wood, which ferves the peo-
" pie here as a pillow. Unable to flumber, I
" lay perfectly ftill ; and fome confiderable time
" after, when all feemed quiet, about eight men
" arofe, and beganto make two great fires at
" each end ofthe houfe (which was not divided
" by partitions, but formed one large habitation).
" This operation of theirs, I confefs, alarmed me
" very much; indeed, I thought of nothing lefs
" than that the natives were going to roaft me,
tc 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
«c poffibility of efcaping, I collected all my for-
ec titude, and, recommending myfelf to the Su-
" preme Difpofer of all events, I expected every •
" moment to meet my fate; when, to my great
" furprize, after fitting a little while and warm-
" ing themfelves, 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, women,
" and children. It was not long before the
" King's brother joined me, and went with" me
6 cc'jo

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 49
tc to feveral houfes, where I was entertained with 1783.
ct yams, cocoa-nUts> and fweetmeats. — Being af-
" ter this conducted to the King, I fignified to
" him by geftures that I much wifhed to go back
" to my brother; he perfectly uriderftood me,
" and explained to me by figns that the canoes
" could not go out, there being too much wind
tf and fea. To defcribe the firft he pointed up
" to the trees, and blew ftrongly with his mouth ;
*c and, to mark the too great force of the fea on
" the Cannes, he joined his two hands together
<f with the palms upwards, then lifted them up^
" and turned them the reverfe way, to exprefs to
" me that the canoes would overfet. — The re- ,
" mainder of the day I fpent in walking about
" the ifland, and obferving its produce. I found
Kc it confifted chiefly 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-ritit trees
" grow very near to their houfes, -as does alfo the
" beetle-nut, which they chew as tobacco."
The favourable account brought by Mr. M.
Wilson', and the meffage which the King had
fo gracioufly fent to Captain Wilson, by his
fon, could not fail of giving fpirits to all ouf
people. Captain WilsOn dreffed the King's fon in a
filk coat and a pair of blue trowfers; he was a
E young

,5o AN AC COUNT OF
1783. young man extremely well made, but had loft
his nofe. This might accidentally have been
torn off by a fpear in battle, pr it might have
been the effect 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 weather compelled Mr.
Barker to come back with the jolly-boat.
The pinnace returned before evening, with force
iron, one bag of rice, and fundry other ftores.
Our people brought intelligence that they found
upwards of twenty canoes bufied about the vef
fel, and that fome of the natives had been very
angry at having fome iron and a cutlafs, which
they had got out of her, taken from thern.
Raa Kook immediately font his brother and
nephew off in a canoe, who returned at night
with the information that they had been totally'
driveri- away. So allured were our people noyv
of Raa Kook's friendfhip and protection, though
but three days acquainted with him, that even
when feparated from the reft, and on the reef at
the wreck, they ventured to difpute with the na
tives, and obliged them to give up what they had
taken. Finding the numbers of natives who vifited
them at their ifland increafe, and having dried
their powder and repaired their fire-arms, our
people

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 51
people thought their fafety required that they i783.
fhould appoint a regular guard every night, to
be relieved every two hours. The fhip's com
pany was divided into five guards, each guard
having an officer to give the watch-word, which
was called and anfwered from the different pofts
every five minutes, there being nine men always
upqn guard. — This arrangement being to take
place for the firft time on the evening of this day,
Captain Wilson judged it adyifable that his
guefts fhould 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 com
municated to them the refolution they had
formed, explaining at the fame time that it was
cuftomary for the Englifh to have a night-watch
whenever they were from home; and that here it
might be particularly ufeful, as it would prevent
the inhabitants of the other iflands from coming
by night to attack them. This being explained,
Captain Wilson invited them, before fupper, to
fee the guard turn out; they feemed highly de
lighted to obferve our men go through their
exercife before they parted for their refpective
pofts, each man having a mufquet and cartouch-
box, &c. ; and indeed all tbe men on board the
Antelope, from the time that the veffel quit-
E 1 ted

\

AUGUST.

52 - AN'. ACCOUNT OF
,ij«3. ted England, were fo conftantly kept -in the
exercife of fmall arms, that they were fufficiently
expert to-have, made a-refpectable appearance;
and on the people before whom they now fhewed
themfelves, their fkiil and.readinefs muft have
made a formidable impreffion. The novelty-of
the fight had forcibly worked on the imaginations
of their new friends. — Arra Kooker having
lent a moft fleady attention to the explanation
that had been given of the ufe of thefe military.
weapons i[about which lie had probably been
talking with his brother the General) feemed as
if fome hidden thought had at the moment
ftarfed in his mind, calling out eagerly to Raa
Kqok, in thefe words, Englees mora (or go) Ar
tingall, Pel'le, lew, pointing to the north
ward, and fouthward ; then cried Poo, imitating
the found' which our guns had been repreferited
to him to make when fired. They returned to
the tents where they were to fleep, and appeared
to be quite at eafe and contented. — They kept
converfing together a great part of the night;
and the bufinefs of this evening proved a very
favourable circumftance,. as from that time they
feemed to confider the Englifh as poffeffing fuch
power and abilities as they could have no con
ception of before.
Sentiments nearly fimilar have impreffed the
minds of all people who live fecluded from an
acquaintance

AU O U s r<

THE PELEWTSLAN'DS. 53
acquaintance with mankind, whenever accident 1783.
or curiofity has carried the inhabitants of remote
parts of the globe to v'nrt their unfrequented' re
gions.- But the natives of Pelew, who, as-far
as one is authorized to judge, not conceiving the
globe as extending beyond the horizon that
bounded them, had none but' the- ideas of nature
to guide them ; they had feen- no other people to
difturb their fimplicity, whatever they were fhewn
they confidered and examined as ufeful; they
looked up with admiration to the people who
could with fo little trouble produce effects which
they had never difcovered ; and to their ad
miration they added a reverential efteem, as
poffeffing talents they never could attain them
felves; of which we fhall, in "the courfe of this
narrative, give fome extraordinary proofs.
Arra Kooker could by no means relifh the
wearing of trowfers, but he had conceived a paf-
fion to have a white fhirt, and one was imme
diately given him ; which he had no fooner put
on, than he began to dance and jump about
with fo much joy, that all were diverted by his
ridiculous geftures, and the contraft which the
linen formed with his fkin. This Prince ap
peared to be verging towards forty ; he was in
ftature fhort, but fo plump. and fat that lie was
almoft as broad as he was long; he'pofferTed
^n abundant fhare of good- humour, and a won-
E 3 derfuj

AUGUST.

5+ AN ACCOUNT. OF
1783. derful turn for mimickry; and had befides a
countenance fo lively and fo expreffive, that
though our people were ftrangers at this time to
almoft all he faid, yet his face and geftures made
them pretty accurately comprehend whatever he
was defcribing. In order to amufe them, he
would frequently try to take off every one of
our people in any particularity he had noticed,
and this with fuch great good-liumour, that
every one who faw him was pleafed with his
pleafantry. Sometimes he would take. up a hat,
put it on his head, and imitate the manner of
our people walking in their military exercife;
would recollect every occurrence that happened,
and nothing that he obferved done by the Ertglijh
efcaped him ; in fhort, on every occafion his man
ner was lively and engaging to a degree. From
the firft time of his having feen the great New
foundland dog, as before mentioned, he felt de
light in going to him frequently, and in carry
ing him victuals ; and by noticing him fo much,
the dog naturally expreffed great joy whenever
he went to him. When he was brought on
board the Antelope, in England, the dog was
named Sailor, and now, familiarized to Arra
Kooker, would, whenever he appeared, bark,
jump, leap, and play his tricks; and his new ac
quaintance, when he wifhed to be amufing, would
imitate wonderfully well the barking, howling,
jumping)

THE PELEW ISLANDS.

ft

au o v s r.

jumping, and all the various demonftrations of 1783
joy of this poor animal.
The Englifh, as far as they collected from Mr.
M. Wilson's account, and from the urbanity
and attention fhewn them by the two dignified
Chiefs, who had riOw been their guefts for fome
days, would, in happier moments, have enjoyed
the fociety of their hew friends ; but thedcubt of
what they might further get from the fhip to aid
the building of another, and the" uncertainty whe
ther they might ever fee again their country and
families, conftaritly prefled on their minds fiich a
weight of anxiety, that the reflections of fenfi-
bility were often wringing their hearts, when the
fortitude their prudence affumed, and the atten
tion due to their hofpitable protectors, compelled
them to fubdue their natural feelings, arid mafk
their countenances with acquiefceht fmiles.

E4 CHAPTER

S& AN ACCOUNT OF

1783.*. CHAPTER VI.
AUGUST.
The King of Pelew pays his firft Vifit to the Eng
lifh.- — His Arrival defcribed, and. the Ceremony
with which he is received; after which he is
conduced by his two Brothers and Captain
Wilson round tbe Spot whereon they had
(reeled their temporary Habitation, and fhewff
whatever might engage his Curiofity. — After
feveral Hours Stay he departs, pleafed with his
Reception, and takes his Retinue with him to the
back Part of the Ifland.
S'ri^y t-I- A T day-break the King's fon, accompanied ,
XjL by one of his uncles, launched their ca
noe, and went off to the fhip; 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, bringing with them fome rice and other
ftores, and were going to make a fecond trip, but
put back on feeing a number of canoes approach
ing 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 whilft he was giving orders to,
another.

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 57
another fquadron of canoes (that were armed, 1783.
and formed his rear) to detach themfelves to the
back ofthe 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 paddles, and flourifhed them over their
heads in a very dexterous manner ; and, as the
King paffed, the firft 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 Wilson that he fhould go
out and meet the King ; on which two of his own
men took him up in their arms and carried him
through the fhallow water to the canoe, where
the King was fitting on a ftage built in the mid
dle of it. He defired Captain Wilson to come
into the canoe, which he did, and embraced him,
informing him, through the interpreters, that he
and his friends were Englifamen, who had unfor
tunately loft their fhip ; but having faved their
jives by landing on his territory, fupplicated his
permiffion to build a yefiel to convey themfelves
back to their own country.
After a little paufe. and fpeaking with a Chief
in a canoe next to him (who they after learnt
was the Chief Minifter) the King replied, in
the moft courteous manner, that he was welcome
$0 build, either at the place where he then was, or

AUGUST*

58 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- or at his own ifland ; told Captain Wilson, that
the ifland he was then on was thought to be un
healthy ; that he feared his people might be fickly
if they flayed On it before another wind fet in,1
which he faid would be in two moons ; and that
he might poffibly be molefted by the inhabitants
of fome ofthe neighbouring iflands, who were at
that time at war with him.
Captain Wilson expreffed his acknowledg
ments for the condefcenfion, the care, and good-
nefs, which the King had teftified toward him
and his people; informing him at the fame time,
that as the ifland he was then on was far nearer to
the wreck, from whence he had already got fome
ftores on fhore, and hoped ftill to get more, it
'would be attended with much inconvenience
fhould he remove farther; therefore he would,
with his permiffion, prefer remaining where he
was, as his people could fear no enemies whilft
they enjoyed his protection and friendfhip: —
that he had a perfon with him very fkilful in
curing ficknefs, which made him very eafy on
that account; but in cafe any of his people, dur
ing their ftay there, fhould happen to fall ill, he
would then avail himfelf of his goodnefs, and
convey them for recovery to the better air of his
own ifland. With this anfwer the King feemed
to be pleafed and fatisfied. Captain Wil
son then made him a prefent of a fcarlet coat; and^

AUGUST.

the pelew Islands. 59
and, after fome difcourfe, he made figns to go on 1783.
fhore: the men again took the Captain up, as
before ; whilft the King ftepped into the water,
and waded to land.
The King was perfectly naked, nor had he any
bone on his wrift, or any ornament of diftinc-
tion. He bore a hatchet on his fhoulder, the
head of which was made of iron, a circumftance
which much furprized our people, as all the
other hatchets they had feen were of fhell; the
handle being formed in a fharp angle, ftuck clofe
to the fhoulder, lying before and behind, and
wanted 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
firft vifit. Raa Rook 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 refpect; the CHrEF Minifter placing himfelf
oppofite to him, at the extremity of the canvafs,
whilft his two brothers, Raa Kook and Arra
Kookei, fat on each fide, at the extent alfo of
the fail, forming, when thus arranged, a fquare.
The principal Chiefs and officers of ftate who ac
companied him, feated themfelves near; and be
hind thefe Chiefs the large retinue of his own
people, which filled his train, being about. three
hundred,
5

60 AN ACCOUNT OF:

AU CUST.

1783- hundred, formed a circle, not ftanding but fquat-
ting, 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 relifh it. After
fitting a little while, he was prefented with a
remnant of fcarlet cloth, and half a piece of long-
cloth ; and alfo had fome ribbands of different
colours given to him, to diflribute among his at
tendants; 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
ribbands, our people obferved, by the geftures
and looks ofthe natives, that each Chief fixed his
attention upon fome particular perfon; this at
the time alarmed them, apprehending that the
individual each Chief had particularly noticed,
was fingled out as his devoted prifoner; but they
foon afterwards found the meaning to be quite
contrary, and that the individual fo felected was
to be. that Chief's particular friend or gueft. —
! Captain Wilson then introduced his Chief Mate
to the King, as the firft officer under him, whom
Abba Tholle fliled the * Kickaray Rupack,
conceiving at that time that Captain Wilson
was himfelf a Prince of fome country ; but be
ing afterwards informed by the Malay, that he
*¦ KicLvny means little— See the annexed Vocabulary.
/ ferved

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 61
ferved under a far greater power at home, and 178?.
was no fovereign, but a Captain, he feized the
diftinction inftantly, and ever after addreffed
him by the appellation of Captain, and his Chief
Mate, by that of Kickaray Captain, as fecond in
command. The reft of the officers were next
introduced, and Mr. Sharp, the furgeon, was
pointed out as the gentleman of whom he had
fpoken when in the King's canoe, who cured the
difeafes which any of his people were afflicted
with, at which the King feerried wonderfully
furprized, and kept his eyes fixed on him. Laft-
ly, all the private men were introduced in their
turns, alfo. After prefenting the officers, &c.
the King enquired for the mark of Captain
Wilson's rank or dignity as Chief, who was at
a lofs how to anfwer ; but recollecting that a
ring was an ornamental mark of diftinction, told
him fo, and Mr. Benger, the Firft Mate, ha
ving faved his, gave it to Captain Wilson,
who put it on ; they appeared pleafed with the
idea that it was a kind of ornament which had a
fimilarity of meaning to their own.
During the time that this bufinefs was tranf-
acting, Raa Kook was converfing with the
King upon every thing he had feen and obfervcd
during his ftay with our people; this his coun
tenance and geftures fully demonflratedj and
they plainly noticed his defcription of their fire-
9 arms;

AUGUST.

62 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783, arms, and exercife, which the King feemed ea
gerly to attend to, and then expreffed a wifh to
fee them himfelf; which Captain Wilson faid
fhould be done immediately.
He ordered every 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 reti
nue juft above the flow ofthe water, and that they
fhould be exercifed by the Chief Mate, that he
might not abfent himfelf from the King; they,
without lofs of time, prepared themfelves,. march
ed on the fhore in the King's prefence, and fired
three vollies in different pofitions. — The furprize
ofthe natives, their hooting, hallooing, jumping,
and chattering, produced a noife almoft equal
to the report of the mufquets. Though this
exhibition was made at fome expence of their
powder, yet our people having fortunately faved
all they had on board, it was judged prudent on
this occafion to let the natives witnefs fome
difplay of the effect of their arms, that they
might be impreffed at the firft fight of them
with an enlarged idea of the power and ftrength
ofthe Englifh ; and the more fo as. they had per
ceived, the preceding night, how much higher
they had rifen in the eftimation of the King's
brothers, by the mere exhibition of their mufque-
try, and giving an explanation of their ufe.
After this, one of the fowls that had been
faved among the little live flock from the An
telope

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 63
telope, was purpofely driven acrofs the cove, 1783.
where Mr. Benger was prepared with a fowling-
piece, loaded with fhot, which he fired at the
bird, to let the King fee the effect of their
mufquets; the bird inftantly dropped, having
its wing and leg broken ; fome of the natives
fan to it, took it up, and carried it to the King,
who examined it with great attention, unable to
comprehend how it could be wounded, not having
feen any thing pafs out of the gun. This created
a vaft murmur and furprize amongft them.
Raa Kook expreffed much impatience to
fhew the King whatever had impreffed his own
mind, and taking his brother by the hand, led
him to a grindftone, which was placed behind
one of the tents, and fixed on a block. He put
it in motion, which (having been fhewn the me
thod), he had frequently done before; the King
remained fixed in aftonifhment at the rapidity of
its motion, and at the explanation ofthe General,
that it would immediately fhar pen and polifh iron.
Captain Wilson ordered a hatchet to be brought,
and ground, that they might more readily perceive
its operation. Raa Kook eagerly laid hold ofthe
handle of the flone, and began turning it, appear
ing highly delighted himfelf to let his brother fee
how well he underftood it ; he having the prece
ding day amufed himfelf for. fome hours with this
novelty, and had lharpened feveral pieces of iron,
which

AUGUST.

64 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. which he had picked up about the tents. The
circumftances which moft in this fight bewilder
ed all their ideas, were, how the fparks of fire
could come, and how a ftone, fo well wetted,
became fo foon dry.
The King then vifited the different tents, and
enquired about every thing he faw ; all was- no
velty, and of courfe interefted his attention.
When he got to the tent where the Chinefe men
were, Raa Kook, whofe retentive mind never
loft a fingle trace of any thing he had been in
formed of during his ftay among them, ac
quainted the King, that thefe were a people
quite different from the Englifh, and that they
were China-men, a word he had readily caught;
— He begged one.of them would allow the King
to examine his head, noticing the long fingle-
braided lock of hair hanging almoft down to the
calves of their legs.
The King gave great attention to all that the
General faid, and feemed to be making many
enquiries of him; by Raa Kook's geftures it
was evident that he was conveying to his brother
an idea that there were many different nations in
different parts of the world, fome of which were
called French, with whom the Englifh themfelves.
were then at war (this our people, in their many
hours of converfation> had told the General of.)
He alfo informed him that the China-men were a
different

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 65
different kind of men to the Englifh, an idea 1785.
which he had himfelf conceived, from obferving
that the night before, when the Englifh turned
out their night-watch for the firft time, the
Chinefe had no mufquets, but only boarding-
pikes, and having enquired the caufe, was told
that they were not ufed to fight with guns as the
Englifh were, which induced him to hold them
cheap. When'the King heard his brother difcourfing
about a variety of nations difperfed through the
world, who all fpoke differently, and had before
him an example in the Chinefe, who did not
fpeak in the fame tongue as the Englifh, he ap
peared inftantly thoughtful and ferious, as if
ftruck with conceptions that had never crofied
his mind before. He remained awhile p?nfive
and bewildered; and this circumftance impreffed
on every one, at the time, an idea, which will
poffibly now as forcibly imprefs the reader, that
there was every caufe to fuppofe there had never
been a communication between thefe people and
any other nation; that they and their anceftry,
through a line of ages too remote for human
conjecture to fix a date, might have lived as fo-
vereigns of the world, unconfcious that it ex
tended beyond the horizon that bounded them ;
unconfcious alfo that there were any more inha
bitants in it than themfelves ; and in this cafe,
F whs*t

AU GUST.

66 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783.- what might not be the fentiments that burft on a
mind thus, fuddenly awakened to a new and morp
enlarged notion of nature and mankind*!'
As the King was going toward our tents, of
¦which there were three, with a eentry ftationed
at each, the day being fine, and the fun in full
power, he noticed the bright glitter ofthe bayo
net; it of courfe aftonifhed him, who had never
feen any polifhed body, or the. action of light
on it. He ftepped haftily to the centinel and wifh-
ed to feel it, offering to take it out of the man's
hand, who thereupon drew back; Captain Wil
son then explained to him,, that no Englifh cen
tinel woulcL. or dared fuffer any one to touch his
arms. — Upon this the King feemed fatisfied, and
went on to view other things in and about the cove.
Raa Kook would now fhow his brother the kit
chen, which was in the hollow of a rock, a little a-
bove 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 attracted any one's at-'
tention ; but here an iron pot, a tea-kettle, a tin
faucepan, with a poker, a pair of tongs, and fry-
* It is not improbable but that, from, feeing the Malays
fome notion of this kind might have been awakened be
fore; but now, having before him a people of a different
colour, and hearing of a variety of nations who were of
the fame complexion, the impreffion would naturally ope
rate on his mind with redoubled iirength. ing-pan*
6

AU C U 3 T.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 67
ing-pan, became, from their peculiar fituation, of t7gj.
fufficient confequence 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, feemed 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 be-
fide a little meagre fellow, was alfo pointed out
by. him for the King's notice; for the General's
vein of humour, as well as his wifh of informa
tion, made him attentive even to the moft trivial
circumftances. 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 Kooker had been
before. But thefe animals, whofe novelty equally
impreffed all the natives, excited them to take fo
much pleafure in making them bark, that our
people were after fome time compelled to con
fine them out of fight.
Near to the kitchen was another hollow rock,
where were fufpended the hams which had been
faved from the fhip, under which fires had been
made, in order to fmoke-dry them for future fea-
ftore. Raa Kook was now fo familiarized to
our people's methods, that he informed the King
this was fome of their provifion ; he Wifhed that
F 2 one

AUGUST.

68 ANACCOUNTOF
1783. one of them fhould be offered his brother, which
was immediately prefented, and accepted, as was
alfo a live goofe ; four or five (the remains of the
live flock) juft at that moment waddling in
fight. The King being now returned to his former
feat, informed Captain Wilson that he intended
to go and fleep at the back of the ifland; and
preferitly a loud fhriek was given by one of the
King's officers, who wore a thin narrow bone on
his wrift, which was afterwards 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
attendants, whom it was conceived amounted at
leaft to three hundred, though all differently dif-
perfed, and engaged in looking about at every
thing that attracted them, as if inftantaneoufly
moved by the fhriek, might be faid to have ra
ther darted than to have ran to their canoes. It
was a fignal obeyed more fuddenly than could
have been conceived, and ho word of command
was ever executed with greater promptitude.
The King departed, in appearance 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

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 69
King were ftopped a little before entering the i783.
cove, by his giving orders to the fquadron of
thofe which were armed to detach, themfelves,
and go to the back ofthe ifland; part of this ma
noeuvre' was vifible from the fhore, and the reft
was obtained by intelligence from fome of our
people who had been fent over land to the wa
tering-place, which lay 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 with all poffible fpeed to give in
formation of it, But the King being then with
the Englifh, they were perfectly eafy, knowing
that thefe canoes muft be part of his retinue.
The King being then at war, did not choofe, in
vifiting our people, to expofe himfelf to any in-
fult from his enemies, the paffage from Pelew
to this ifland being about feven leagues ; and
coming with all the fentiments of friendfhip, he
judged it indelicate to alarm thofe who had
fought his protection, by the formidable appear
ance of fuch numbers as accompanied him.
The King's fon and Raa Kook flayed with
the Englifh, having five canoes and about twenty
people remaining with them. They flept in two
tents by themfelves, our people, lying in the tent
where their arms and ftores were, two tents hav
ing been erected for the accommodation of the
King and his retinue. One was prepared for the
F 3 King

70 ANACCOUNTGF
1783. King before he came, and the other raifed clofe
to it for his attendants, after his arrival, when
they faw the number of them. In the tent in
tended for the King, was Raa Kook, the King's
fon, and feveral Chiefs ; Captain Wilson re
mained with them after the guard was fet, and
centinels placed, to fhew them refpect, 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 centinels
placed, our people were going to reft, when, on
a hidden, the natives began a fong, the fhrillnefs
and manner of which made them think it was
their war-hoop, or -the fignal for the King and his
party from the back of the ifland to come up6n
them ; the Englifh inftantly took to their arms,
and Meffrs. Barker and Sharp ran to the tent
where Captain Wilson was, to fee if he was fafej
judging, that if any harm was intended, the na
tives would fecure him, who was alone with them,
—Seeing him fafe and quiet, they informed him
of the apprehenfions of our people, who were all
under arms; he requefted Mr. Barker to return
immediately to them, and defire them to make
no fhew of being alarmed, but to keep upon
their guard until they fhould find what the mean
ing of this might be, adding, that he would come
to them as foon as he could do it without being
noticed,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. ft
noticed. He requefted Mr. Sharp to fit down 1.783.
• • /•¦ „ A UOUJ T«
by the King's fon, and enter into fome converfa\
tion with him, by figns, whilft he went himfelf tp
their tent, where he found the people under arms.
After a little deliberation on what this noife
might mean, it was thought' beft to difcover no
appearance of uneafinefs, but to remain quiet in
the tent, with arms ready by them, and that he ,
would return to the natives, and wait the event.
He was foon relieved from every anxiety, by find
ing that they were only tuning their voices, in or
der to begin a fong; which as foon as they had
in their manner properly pitched, Raa Kook
gave out a line or ftave, which was taken up by
another Rupack, feated at a little diftance, who
fang a verfe, accompanied by the reft ofthe na
tives prefent, except himfelf and the Prince. The
laft line they fung twice over, which was taken
up by the natives in the next tent, in chorus;
Raa Kook then gave out another line, which
was fung in the fame manner; and this conti
nued for ten or twelve verfes. They talked at
times between the verfes, as if fetting fome ofthe
fingers right who had not been properly in tune.
Their fong ended, they requefted to hear fome
Englifh fongs, which was readily complied with *,
* Our fongs were fea fongs, and of battles ; and the
King was fo pleafed at the account he afterwards heard of
them, that whenever he met the young lad Cobbleuick,
whofang them, he would Hop him, and make him fing one ojr
two fongs.
F 4 and

72 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- and feveral fongs were fung by one of our peo-
pie, with which they were exceedingly pleafedi
This put an agreeable end to every appreheh-
fion, as the Englifh -were, now convinced their fole
intent was to amufe them. The natives, foon
after this, went quietly to fleep, but there were
few of the Englifh able to do fo ; the alarm had
awakened too many fufpicious ideas, to allow
their minds to be fpeedily compofed.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 73
r-

1783.
AUGUST.

CHAPTER VII.
A Coolnefs arifes on the Part of the Natives, which
much alarms the English.— This cleared up,
and Friendfhip reftored. — The King requefts five
of Captain Wilson's Men to attend him to a
War he was going to make againft a neighbour
ing Ifland.— This is affented to, and he departs
with the Men.— The Englifh plan their intended
Veffel, form a Dock Yard, unanimoufly choofe
Captain Wilson to be their Commander, and
each engages in the Department he is nominated
tOi in order to affift the ConftrucJion of their fu
ture Veffel. — The firft Sunday after the Ship
wreck duly commemorated.

AS all our countrymen's future hopes de- Saturda
pended on their being able to build a fhip *6*
with the few tools that had been faved from the
Antelope, fo, being in expectation ofthe King's
arrival, and well aware how much thefe imple
ments might be coveted by the natives, and the
difficulties they might be reduced to, either by
depriving themfelves of the 'ufe of them, or rifk-
ing the difpleafure'of their new friends, by re
futing their folicitations, it was thought expedi
ent to fecrete them from the public view; a
4 ' convenient

AU CUST.

74 ANACCOUNTOF
1783- convenient place was found in a rock, and the
tools .concealed ; and it was happily effected be
fore the King arrived, by which our people were
relieved from thofe difficulties they would other-
wife have been under.
The morning being fine and calm, our people
launched their boats, in order to go off to the
fhip, but miffed the jolly-boat's rudder, which
had been flolen for the fake ofthe iron. Thofe
on fhore were employed in getting ready the
blocks and ways, in order to lay down the in
tended veffel. They had already got a piece of
wood for a ftern, and another for a ftern-poft.
About ten o'clock "the Chief Minifter came over
land, from the back of the ifland, which did not
exceed the diftance of half a mile from the cove,
and after looking for fome time at the operations
then beginning, he took Captain Wilson by
the hand, and led him to the tent where the arms -
were kept; after viewing wifhfully a cutlafs, he
afked him for it. In the particular fituation in
which our people flood, Captain Wilson 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 fhore
from a canoe, faid there was bad news; that he
had

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 75
had heard " that a cutlajs' had been given to one J783.
J AUGUST.
" who was almoft a ftranger, whilft the King's
" brothers, who had been with the Englifh all the
" time on the ifland, hftd never had any thing of
" fuch confequence given them, and that they
" muft make them fome prefents." On this hint
Captain Wilson offered each of the King's bro
thers a remnant of cloth, which they both re
ceived very coolly ; he prefented them afterwards-
with white long cloth and fome ribbands, but
ftill not a fmile appeared on their faces ; by which
the Captain perceived that this was not what
they wanted. — The event diftrefled our people
much; they had doubtS whether this apparent
coolnefs might arife from their having given the
cutlafs to the Chief Minifter, or whether they
had been put out of humour at the indelicacy of
this perfon, in having imprudently laid theEnglifb
. under the neceffity of gratifying him in a requeft,
which, fituated as they were, they muft have
been under difficulties to refufe.
In the afternoon the. Malay informed Captain
Wilson, that the King was come round into the
bay, being on his return to Pelew, and if he
wanted to take leave of him he muft go off to
his canoe. The Captain accordingly went in
the jolly-boat, having with him Tom Rose his
Jinguift, and four other men. The meeting was,
to his great furprize, very cool on the King's part,

AU GUST.

76 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. part, of courfe referved on that of his own ; far
unlike, indeed, that undifguifed opennefs which
marked the interview of the preceding day. —
And I doubt not but by this time the reader will
have fhared a portion of that concern, for his un
fortunate countrymen, which was awakened in
their bofoms by this unexpected alteration in
the behaviour of the natives. What will he
think of the hearts of thefe yet unknown inha
bitants of Pelew ? — He will have already loaded
them with reproach, and judged, too hardly
judged them to be an inconfiftent, faithlefs peo
ple, on whom no reliance could be placed, whom
no profeffion could bind. — His imagination may
have ftarted a multitude of conjectures, yet at laft
will probably fuppofe any thing fooner than the
real caufe which fpread this vifible dejection
over their true character. — Never perhaps was;
exhibited a nobler ftruggle of native delicacy;
their hearts burnt within them to afk a favour,
which the generality of their feelings would not
allow them to mention. — The Englifh had been
and ftill were in their power; they had fought
their protection as unfortunate ftrangers. — The
natives had already fliewn them, and ftill meant
to fhew them, every mark of hofpitality which
, their naked, unproductive country could af
ford. — They conceived that what they wifhed
to afk, as it might prove a temporary incon
venience,

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 77
venience, would look ungenerous; and that which 1783.
moft checked their fpeaking was, that, circum-
ftanced as the Englifh were with refpect to them,
a requeft would have the appearance of a com
mand; an idea this, which fhocked their fenfi-
bility. — The matter they laboured with was, in
their opinions, of the higheft imaginable confe
quence to them. The King had probably talked
it over with his brothers the preceding day, had
deliberated on it in the evening at the back of
the ifland, and came to the cove this day deter
mined to propofe it, but when there, wanted refo-
lution to make it known ; yet the object being fo
important, he felt unwilling to leave it in'filence,
and perhaps conceived that he could better dif-
clofe it from his canoe, than when furrounded by
fo many Englifh. — After much apparent ftruggle
¦in the King's mind, the requeft with great diffi
culty was at laft made, and proved to be this : —
that the King being in a few days going to bat
tle againft an ifland that had done him an injury,
he wifhed Captain Wilson would permit four or
five of his men to accompany him to war with
their mufquets. Captain Wilson inftantly re
plied, that the Englifh were as his own people,
and that the enemies ofthe King were their ene
mies. — The interpreter certainly very well tranf-
lated this declaration, for in an inftant every
countenance,

A U G U S T •

78 AN-ACCOUNT OF
1783. countenance, which was before overfbadowed,
became brightened and gay. The King faid he
fhould want the men in five days, by which time
his own people would be prepared for battle, and
that he would take them down to Pelew with
him the next day. — Thus was harmony reftored
between our people and the natives ; interrupted
only for a few hours, from no other caufe than
that extreme delicacy of fentiment which no one
would have expected to have found in regions fo
disjoined from the reft ofthe world.
The converfation being at an end, Captain
Wilson taking leave, returned to acquaint th'e
officers and people' on fhore with what hadpaffed
at this conference, which he hoped would meet
with their approbation. All united in faying
that he had acted with great propriety, and
feemed happy to find that they were again on the
fame good footing with the natives; therefore,
that the King 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 promptw
tude pleafed him much, and he in a very diftinct.
pointed manner told Captain Wilson, that he
was his brother Rupack, and that he fhould re
gard theEngli/h officers and people as his own peo
ple; and that the Captain muft fend his brother,
Mr. M. Wilson, again to Pelew, to fee what
things

AUGUST.

THE PELEW ISLANDS*. 79
things were there for the Englifh to eat, that they ,7«3.
might be fent them; adding, that he would order
fome of his carpenters to come and affift them in
building their veffel ; but this offer the Captain de
clined: and having finifhed what he had to fay,
he then departed with his attendants to the back
of the ifland, notifying that he fhould return for
the men the next morning. Captain Wilson,
as before, informed his officers and men of all
that had paffed with the King. — In the afternoon
the ways were laid; the keel, ftern, and fternv
poft fquared, as alfo fome ofthe floor- timbers.
The King came in the forenoon of the follow
ing day for the men he had been promifed;
Captain Wilson, on offering to make one of
the number, was refufed by his own people, who
declared that he muft not expofe himfelf, as all
their fafeties depended on him. Every one ofthe
Englifh expreffed a readinefs to go, but the five
following being young men, and requefting their
comrades with particular earneftnefs to be the
firft upon the lift, were thofe who were ap
pointed, viz. Mr. .Cummin, the third mate,
Nicholas Tyacke, James Bluett, Madan
Blanchard, and Thomas Dulton; they alfo
took with them Tom Rose as their interpreter^
the King and the Chiefs taking each, one of them
in their canoes; our men being dreffed in blue
jackets, cocked hats, with light -blue cockades/ and

80 AN ACCOUNT OF
i7|j. and properly prepared with arms and ammuni^
tion. The King made but a fhort flay; he faid
he fhould leave four of his own men with our
people, that they were fuch as might be trufted,
that the expedition would be over in. four days,
and that all imaginable care fhould be taken of .
i the men who were to attend him. He went
away in great friendfhip, .fluking all the Englifh
by the hand. Our people accompanied their
companions, when they departed, to the water
edge, and as they moved from the fhore in the
cove, gave them three cheers, the firft of which
was only returned by the Englifh ; but the, lin-
guift giving AbbaThulle tounderftand that this
acclamation was ufed by the Englifh as a fare-
wel, and wifh of fuccefs, the King made all his
men ftand up in their canoes and return the fe
cond and third.
As foon as the natives were gone, the boats
were fent to the wreck, but our people did not
think it fafe to go on board, as they perceived
two canoes there of a larger conftruction, and
feveral fmaller ones in fight, which they fuppofed
to- come from the ifland which was then at war
with the King ; our boats were therefore obliged,
very reluctantly, to return empty. During this
clay our people felled feveral trees for a ftern, the
one they before had proving rotten in the mid7;
die; and their prefent leifure, added to the little.
profpecV

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 81

AUGUST.

profpect of being interrupted by the natives for 1783.,
fome days, induced thereto embrace this oppor
tunity to form the plan of their intended veffel.
Mr. Barker, the fecond officer, who had, in the
earlier part or*life, been converfant in the bufinefs
of a dock-yard, affifted Captain Wilson and the
carpenters in defigning the veffel, which was now
determined fhould be a Schooner, as eafier worked.
The plan was fhewn to everybody, and approved
by all. The petty officers and common men
confidering, that to purfue this interefting bufi
nefs, every individual muft do his part, and all
concur in becoming obedient to the command of
onefuperior, who fhould conduct and regulate the
whole operation, the affection each had born to
their Captain, and frill bore him, though mis
fortune had fevered the tie between them, made
them unanimoufly requeft Captain Wilson to
be that one fuperior, and that he would take the
command upon him, faithfully promifing that
they would, in all things, implicitly obey his or
ders, equally as when the Antelope was on
float*; that fhe now being a wreck, they would
form themfelves as a people of a dock-yard, and
* As every reader may not be acquainted with maritime
proceedings, to fuch it will not be improper to remark, that
when a merchant (hip is wrecked, all authority immediately
ceafes, and every individual is at full liberty to fhift for him
felf.
G would

*v g us r.

82 AN ACCOUNT OF
i7?3. would confider Captain Wilson (whofe former
conduct they faid they fhould ever remember
with the warmeft affection) as the mafter,or ma,
nager of the yard, and fobmit to fuch laws and
regulations as ufually govern places of that kind.
Nothing could more affect the fenfibility of fuch
a character as Captain Wilson's, than to fee all
thofe who had ferved under him voluntarily again
feek him as their Commander, to fhare ftill far
feverer toils. With a degree of joy, only exceeded
by his gratitude, he accepted the flattering dif
tinction their generofity offered him, expreffing
at the fame time an earneft wifh, that in cafe any
cenfurc or punifbment fhould hereafter be found
neceffsry to be paffed on any individual, that
this unpleafant office might not reft with him,
but be decided by the majority of voices. This
alfo was affented to, and all joined in acknow
ledgments to Mr. Barker, whofe affiftance bad
been fo effential in forming the plan ofthe veffel,
-which their own carpenters, however affiduous
and ready, would not have been equal to. The
circumftance of the Antelope being fixed, and
ftuck to the coral reef, by the rock having pierced
through her bottom, gave all our people the moft
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

The pelew islands. s$
all our people were renovated, nothing prefented 1783,
itfelf to them but the future veffel which was to
convey them home; defpondency was chafed
from every mindj and each of the Englifl* being
appointed to his diftinct ftation by their new
mafter, having dug up the tools which had been
buried previoufly to the King's vifit, as before
mentioned, they ail went to work with the utmoft
alacrity ; each determined (unfkilled however he
might be) to exert his abilities and perfonal
ftrength to promote and aid the general plan.-—
Thofe who were appointed of the carpenter's
crew were defired by Captain Wilson to regard
Mr. Barker as their director, and to receive
ttavto him fuch appointments and directions in
that department as he fhould judge moft conve
nient, after he had experienced their fepafate
abilities. Mr. Sharp, the furgeon, and Mr.
M. Wilson, were appointed to faw down trees,
in which employment the Captain often worked
himfelf. The boatfwain, who had formerly ferved
part of an apprenticefhip to a blackfmith, now >
-tefumed his old avocation, aflifted by a mate.
The gunner was to fee all the arms kept in good
order, and occafionally to affift the carpenter's
crew. The Chinefe were employed as labourers,
to bring the trees, when felled, out of the
.nvoodj to provide Water for prefent ufe, and fea
G 2 ftorej

,AH C U 3 T.

84. AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. ftore; and two of them appointed to wafh the li
nen, which 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 experienced.
Notwithftanding the above diftribution> they
occafionally' changed their employments as cir-
cumftances arofe. The getting things out ofthe
fhip at the time fhe ftruck, as well as the inat
tention every one had to himfelf in that cala
mitous moment, as alfo the frequent vifiting 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 employment of fawing
trees, to his more natural one of adminiftering re
lief to thofe who flood in 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 Wilson read prayers;
it being the requeft of every one to join in pay
ing unitedly their thankfgivings to that Su
preme Being who had not only fo provider
tially preferved them, but whofe goodnefs now
relieved their drooping fpirits, by fpreading
before them a hope of their being once more
reftored to their country and families. Each
bringing

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 8|
bringing with him a mind impreffed with thefe T783-
00 * AUGUST.
reflections, never were prayers more devoutly
or ardently offered up.. And after they were *
over, it wais ordered, that public prayers fhould
on no Sunday eyening be omitted.,

G3 CHAPTER

$£ AN ACCOUNT OF

1783- CHAPTER VIII.
AUGUST.
Our People continue almoft every Day to fend to $*
Wreck, and recover a great Variety of Stores.— •
They form a Barricade round the Tents, — com->
plete it, — and continue their Work with the.
utmoft Afftduity in the Dock. Yard, and in ad
vancing the Veffel.

ii

M<»n<Jajr A GREEABLE to the regulations made
Jf\ the preceding day, the hoatfwain called
all hands, to their feparate labours, except
fuch as were employed in the boats. — It was
judged expedient now to form a barricade in
front of the tents towards the fea ; this was done
by driving a double row of ftrong pofts, inter
laced with branches of trees, to form a thick fence,
the fpace between the two rows of flakes be-. •
ing filled with fogs of wood, ftones, a,nd fand, to
render it as folid as, poffible. On the infide was
raifed a foot-bank, on which they could Hand
and fire, in cafe of being attacked, with an open
ing left for one of the fixrpounders, which it was
intended fhould be got from the fhip the firft
opportunity, and placed there. They alfo
mounted their two fwivels (which were large
©nes) on the ftnmps of two trees that had been
fawed

r c u 3 T.

I9.

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
tawed down, in fuch a manner that they might 1783.
be pointed in every neceflary direction.
The boats again vifited the wreck very early, Tuefday
and returned at three o'clock in the afternoon,
bringing two haw'fers and fome boards. Some
of our people were employed in procuring water^,
which was found to be rather a fcaroe article.*-^
The barricade was alfo continued.— There was
this day little wind, the weather being overcafi,
with fome loud claps of thunder.— One of the
natives having ftolen a fmall hatchet, that was
carried in the boat to the wreck, was getting off
with k in his canoe ; but a mufquet being fired,
charged only with powder, in order to frighten
him, one of the people, whom the King left, went
in the jolly-boat, and made him reftore it.
Though the morningwas.fhowery, the boatsre- Wednefdaf
turned again to the wreck. Thofe on land env-
ployed themfelves in carrying on the barricade on
the fide ofthe land, where they were ff ill affailable.
The carpenters fitted the fcarfe of the ftem and
ftern-poft. About one o'clock the jolly-boat
returned with the lower ihroud hawfer, fome
plank, copper, and other ftores. By her our
people were informed, that Jthe King's fon had
been on board the wreck, and had fixed a green
branch at each maft-head. The Englifh were
impatient for the return of the pinnace, and
about three o'clock tt arrived. Our people in
G 4 th*

10.

AU G US T.

88 AN ACCOUNT OF ¦¦
1783. the jolly-boat had conceived, by the fignals
put on the maft-heads, that the King's expedi
tion again 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
neighbouring iflands from coming aboard,; or
probably as a fignal which might be undefftood
by the canoes, that oughtro 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 interpreter be
ing at that time gone with the expedition, they
had nothing but their own conjectures to truft
to. ' The afternoon was employed in laying the
blocks for the keel ; having fixed upon the
ground where the veffel fhould be built, which
was juft without the barricade, in front ofthe
cove. They had much rain and thunder this

evening.

n.

Thurfday The boats made one trip this day, and brought
a good quantity of plank, and fome junk'for
Oakum. They alfo difcovered a calk of Ar
rack belonging to Mr. Barker, it was half a
. Leaguer, and having been covered by the ftores,
had not been perceived when the reft of the li-
, quors were flaved. This was brought on fhore,
• and given to Captain Wilson, to ufe at his dif-
cretion ; the people were apprehenfive it would
be ordered to be flaved, which the Captain per-
• . « ceiving;

THE PELEW ISLANDS. So
ceiving by their whifpering amongft themfelves, 1783-
propofed that it fhould be kept, and each per-
fon have a pint of grog every evening after work
was over, until, it fhould be expended. This
diftribution was approved by all, and the cafk
immediately fecured in the tent.
"ft.ll hands (the morning being fine) were Friday **.
hard at work in the dock-yard; and at ten
o'clock they got the keel laid on the blocks,
and the ftern and ftern-poft bolted. In the after
noon the boats, which had departed early, re
turned from the wreck, bringing with them a
good deal more plank, two full cafks of beef,
and more than that quantity that had got loofe,
befides fome empty water-cafks, which our peo
ple were obliged to be attentive to, in order to
fecure enough for their future voyage, the natives
having deflroyed feveral of them for the fake of
the iron hoops. — Some little murmuring having
arofe among thofe who were ftationed to the car
penter's work, the heat of the weather and their
new employment having terribly bliftered their
Jiands, and their bodily fatigue added to this,
had given birth to thedifcontent; in the evening,
after fupper, Captain Wilson took occafion to
notice the uneafinefs he had difcovered, and how
blamable it was in thofe, who were beft able to
labour, to exprefs fuch diffatisfaction, when even
the weakeft partook of their fhare in the general toil :

5© AN ACCOUNT, OF
titj. toil : and thus by a proper and well-timed rea-
avcust. {0^^ every difquiet- was fubdued, and perfect
harmony and good-humour reftored — -It was
propofed, that all fhould drink to the fuccefs of
the Relief, which was the name intended to be
given the veffel now begun; and on this plea-
fant occafion the Captain allotted every man a
double allowance of grog.
Saturday Squally weather; yet the boats brought one
*3' of the fix-pounders on fhore. Our people were
bufied all day about the veffel. By fome canoes
feen to-day, it was underftood, that the King
was returned to Pelew from tiie expedition.
Sunday *4- Our boats, in their feveral trips, having got
as much plank and ftores as was judged to be
fufficient for their prefent wants, all hands were
employed about the veffel, and in felling timber.
The gunner, with other affiftants, got the fix-
pounder mounted on- a carriage, and fpunged
and foaled, fit for fervice, which was then fixed
in the opening of the barricade 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

THE PELEW ISLANDS. $*

CHAPTER DC. »t»i.
AU g vi T,
The Five Men, with the Interpreter, who went
with the King on his Expedition, return fafe,
accompanied by Raa Kook. — The Account of
the Succefs of that Expedition. — Raa Kook, in
the King's Name, gives the Ifland o/Qroolong
to the Englifh. — Captain Wilson invited by tbe
King *»jPelew; — excufes himfelf for the prefent,
but fends Mr. Benger, and Mr. M.Wilson,
his Brother, with the Linguift, to compliment
Abba Thulle on his late Vitlory. — Captain.
Wilson goes in bis Boat round the Ifland. — i
The Veffel continues to get advanced.— Meffrs.
Benger and Wilson return from Pelew. t
THE whole attention of our people was Monday ts,
beftowed on the variety of bufmefs necef-
fary to the advancement of the veffel, As the
boats were going off this day to the fhip, they
faw four canoes, full of men, coming towards
the harbour from the fouthward ; and as our
people underftood thofe iflands were at variance
with the King of Pelew, the boats returned,
and foon after thefe canoes came afhore ; thofe
who were in them landed, with great marks of
fimidity aqd caution $ they feemed (as far as we
could

AUGUST.

%% AN ACCOUNT OF
7S3. could interpret their figns) to intimate a defire
to look round the cove, and were probably in-
1
duced to take a view ofthe 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 impoffible to difcover who
they were. Captain Wilson conducted them
round the coye,and fhewed them the works which
were begun. They remained on fhare little
more than an hour, and appeared greatly fatis-
fied ; departing full of acknowledgments for the
civilities which had been fhewn 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 barri
cade, and each man had his poft afligned him.
The reafon of making thefe preparations was, the
long ftay the people made who were gone with
the King to battle; they underftoocj 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 mak
ing into the harbour; by the boatmen fplafhing
and flouriihing their paddles^ our people con
ceived

AU C U ST,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 93
ceived the King'was on "board one of them, but 1783.
to their . great fatisfaction they foon faw they
were their countrymen returned. — They were
welcomed with every teftimony 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 moft friendly
unreferved manner. The King's brother, Raa
Kook, came back with them. The canoes
brought great quantities of yams and cocoa-nuts,
and the King had given to each of the men who
went on this expedition a bafket of fweetmeats,
and alfo fent fome bafkets to the Captain; this
fweetmeat they diftrjbuted very liberally amongft
their countrymen, but it was not much relifhed,
being found dry and hard, infomuch that the
failors gave it the name of Choak-Dog. — But of
this I fhall have occafion to fpeak again, when I
come to defcribe the cuftoms and manners of
the natives.
The following was the account our people
gave of their expedition, which was confirmed
hy Mr. Cummin's journal, who went with
them. Having departed the 17th, they we^nt to one
of the King's iflands, about fix leagues to the
eaftward of the cove, where they were received with

AC C VST.

94 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. with great kindnefs,; and treated with much hof-
pitalityj after remaining there all night, they fet
off the next morning for Pelew, the place of the
King's refidence, which was in an ifland about
three or four miles diftant: here they remained till
the aift, the King not being till then able to get
together all his canoes j however, by day-lighe
on the 2 1 ft, they muftered before the King's
houfe with their arms, which confifted of bamboo
darts from five to eight feet long, pointed with
the wood of the beetle- nut tree and bearded j
thefe they ufe for clofe quarters^ but they have
Ihort ones for diftance, which they throw wifh a
fhort ftick of about two feet long, having a notch
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 perpendicular
On the object to which it is directed.
The Englifh embarked in five different canoes*
and went away to the eaftward about ten or
twelve leagues, calling as they went along at fe
veral of the King's villages to refrefh and rein
force; at half an hour paft two in the afternoon,
they got in fight of the enemy. The King had
with him now a fleet of one hundred and. fifty
canoes, on board of which were confiderably above

AUG U S I J

.THE FELE.W ISLANDS. 95
above one thoufand men. Ofthe enemy's force 1783'
our people could form no certainty. Before the
action Raa Kook went in his canoe clofe to the
town, and fpoke to the enemy for fome time,
having Thomas-Dulton in the boat with him,
who had directions not to fire till fuch time as the
fignal agreed on fhould 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
inftantly obeyed; a man was feen to fall directly,
and this threw the enemy into great confufion.
Such as were on fhore ran away, and the greater
part of thofe in the canoes jumped into the water
and made for land; a few more mufquets were
fired, which difperfed the enemy intirely : and
our friends feemed perfectly fatisfied with their
putting them to flight, and in this mark of vic
tory, but made no other ufe of it than to land,
ftrip fome cocoa-nut trees of their fruit, and
carry off fome yams and other provifion. After
this fight, or more properly this attack, the
fleet returned homeward, the King being highly
pleafed with his triumph. They ftopped at fe
veral places in their way, where the women
brought out fweet liquor for the people to drink j
and it being too far to get home that night, the
fleet difperfed up feveral fmall creeks, about
t eight

$6 AN ACCOUNT OF
JR.
1783- eight o'clock in the evening, where they fleptr.4
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 Pelew,
where they arrived fafe about feven the., fame
evening. — Here alfo they found the women ready
to receive them, with cocoa-nut fhells filled with
fweet liquor. On landing, the Englifh fired a
volley, and gave three cheers, with which the
King appeared greatly pleafed. Here our peo
ple flept, and were told that they muft ftay and
reft themfelves the next day, and fet off for their
ifland the day fucceeding. There was nothing
but rejoicing and feftivity in the town the next
morning, and the reft ofthe day was paffed with
hilarity, and celebrated with fongs and dances
made on the occafion.
Before our people embarked, the King took
them-to his houfe, treated them with fome ftewed
turtle, expreffed great fatisfaction in their be
haviour, and promifed to fend to their ifland
fupplies of yams; afking them if they thought
Captain Wilson would again fpare him ten men
to go againft the fame people, intimating alfo a
defign he had againft another ifland ; Mr. Cum
min declined giving an anfwer to this queftionj
faying he could undertake nothing without the
Captain's orders. — After breakfaft the King went
down to the water-fide with the Englifh, where
5 he

AU a vi 1^:

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 97
he parted with them in a veif kind manner, 1783.
fending two large canoes laden with yams for the
reft of their countrymen. They then paffed over
to the fmall ifland where they had firft landed, and
walked acrofs it with the General, who accom-
pahied them, and who ordered the canoes to go
round to the other fide j they were now con
ducted to their firft night's habitation, where
their old friends received them (if poffible) more
hofpitably than before; both fexes flocking
about them, and making figns to exprefs, their
knowledge of the defeat of the King's enemies*
Here they ftaid the night, and after a paffage
this morning of five hours, rejoined their fhip-
mates, to the mutual fatisfaction of all.
The Arrack having been found during the
time our countrymen 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 abfenee, which they invited their
comrades to, partake of in the evening, and thisi
with the yams and cocoa-nuts they brought,
made a feafh — Thofe who had been abfent were
exceedingly rejoiced to fee the harbour and tents
put in a ftate of defence; but, above all, at the
progrefs in the veffel, wherein all the future
hopes of every individual were already in imagi
nation embarked.
H At

*u« u s t:
Tuefday

9S AN ACCOUNT OF
i783. At day- break the boatfwain, as ufuak piped
all out to their fcparate departments ; and thofe
i(" who had been at the war, having depoflted with
the gunner their military weapons, moft willingly
joined in the convention which had been made
in their abfenee, and entered on their different
talks. Raa Kook having informed Captain Wilson
the preceding night, that his brother, Abba
Thulle, had given to him, for the Englifh,
the ifland he was then on, the name of which
they had not heard before, but now learnt it was
called Oroolong ; after breakfaft, Captain Wil
son, in teftimony ofthe King's donation, hoifted
the Britifh pendant, and fired three volleys ef
fmall arms, in token of their taking poffeflion of
it for the Englifh.— Our people faying, as they
returned in the canoes from Pelew, that the
natives were conftantly pointing to the ifland,
calling it Englifh, and Englifhman's land, the
King had fent his brother to make known to
Captain Wilson this grant ofthe ifland, as alfo
to give the Captain an invitation to Pelew: be
excufed himfelf for the prefent, having fo much
to attend to at Oroolong; but Mr. Benger,
who had been Firft Mate of the Antelope, and
his brother, Mr. M. Wilson, with the lingujft,
Tom Rose, and one ofthe China-men, who were
accompanied by the GeneraL Raa Rook, to
§ co mplime&t

The pelew islands. 99
Compliment the King upon his victory, and to 1783-
* DJr ' AUGUST*
prefent the refpects of himfelf and^all his coun
trymen on the occafion. The reafoh of Cap
tain Wilson's fending one of the Chtnd-meH 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 accurate in ob-
ferving if they had not plants at Pelew fimilar
to thofe in his own country. The Chinefe are all
tolerable Botanifts, and live principally on vege->
tables, fo 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 Wilson
had experienced from repeated voyages he had
made to China, as well as from the general cha
racter of thofe people. ~:'~
This afternoon, after feeing one of the frame
timbers up, the Captain 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 iriaeceffible from the water. — The weft fide
had a fair fandy beach, and fome level ground
between the fea and the hills. — It was here where
the Well was, whence our people brought their
J H 2 water;

ioo AN ACCOUNT OF

1783. water; and many traces of ancient plantations
were found, fufficient to demonftrate that the
ifland had formerly been inhabited. — The northern
part is a fteep rock covered with trees. As the*
boat rowed along its fide they had often breezes
from it, wafting a moft fweet and agreeable fmelh
On* the eaft fide is the bay and' harbour, which
lies eaft and weft; it was judged the whole cir
cumference of the ifland? did not exceed three
miles; the coming in from the coral- reef is to
keep right for a fmall opening which feparatesi
the ifland of Oroolong from an uninhabited
ifland to the eaftward of it, until the bay opens,
then haul up>weft into the harbour;, the courfe
before will have been about fouth.
Wednefday The morning being, fine, the jolly-boat was
dsfpatched to the watering-place to fetch fome
timbers for futtocks, and to haul the feine; buc
no fifb could be caught. Some hands were fent
to try to procure fome cabbages, in which they
fucceeded; they were dreffed fer fupper, and
found to be very good.— Some of our people^
who had been cutting timber at the watering-
place, inftead of coming back in the jolly-boac
with their companions, chofe to return home-
over land, and the evening being far advanced,
they narrowly efcaped with their lives. — The
jolly-boat returning to the tents when it was
dark, brought an account, that thefe men (who
intended.
9

27.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. toi
intended to come over land) had fet out fome 1783.
time before the boat ; and it being then late, and
no tidings of them, much uneafinefs was enter
tained on. their .account. People were imme
diately fent out with lanterns to go in queft of
fhern, who, as they went on, every now and then
•hallooed* — The voices being heard, and known,
the benighted travellers very prudently halted till
the lights they had -difcovered at a diftance came
¦up with them ; and moft fortunate it was that
they did jfo, for when their fhipmates arrived
they found. them on the edge of z dreadful pre
cipice, where, had they advanced a few fteps fur
ther, they muft inevitably have plunged to the
bottom. All were happy to fee them return af
ter fo great an efcape. — This evening Arra
Kooker arrived, .and paffed the night with our
ipeople; he brought ;With him all his fpirits and
. gaiety, and entertained them wonderfully with
•the pleafant defcription he gave of the late en
gagement, .acting, with his accuftomed humour
;and geftures, the panic which feized the enemy
ihe inftant they heard the report of the Englifh
£u.ns. The pinnace was fent off to the wreck €0 Thurfday
fearch if any further neceffaries could be ftill re
covered.— Captain Wilson went to the top of
jthe hill above, fhe tents, and had a fpot of ground
M 3 '?.ared,

a.

102 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- cleared; in order r.6 ufe it as a look-out or ob-
fervatory, to fee if a paffage could be difcovered
in the reef. On examination, it was thought
that there was apparently a good ohe, right- out
from the weft point of the ifland. — It had hi
therto been a great doubt among our people,
whether a veffel ofthe faze theirs muft be (though
intended to be no larger than was neceflary to
convey themfelves and provifions in fafety to
China) would be able to find a paffage through
the reef capable of allowing her to float over.
Arra Kooker left the ifland this day, and ano
ther frame timber was got up.— The Chinefe
were bufied in wafhing the few clothes that* were
faved.
Friday 29. The weather 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 had been faved. — The jolly-boat made three
trips for timber to-day, which being cut down at
the back of the ifland, and roughed off, they
could eafily manage to bring round. — It was
found that the tides rofe about nine feet upon the
fpring, and it was high-water about nine o'clock
upon the full and change ofthe moon. About
four P. M. Mr. Benger, Mr. Wilson, and the
Jphima-man, returned in a canoe, and foon after
Raa Kook with, the linguift in another. Mr*
J3ENGER,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. joj
Benger brought an account, that they were re- . 1783.
A U Q U S T
ceived and treated by the King and his people
with -the moft perfect friendfhip and hofpitality ;
that they were coaftantly praifing the power and
exploits ofthe Englifh, to whom they afcribed the
fuccefs of the late battle ; repeating the word
Englees inceffantly in their fongs, at their dances
and rejoicings, which he faid were not then over;
and that they were meditating another expedition,
more formidable than the laft, in which they
meant to rely on the affiftance of the Englifh.—'
Mr. Benger faid their houfes were tolerably
good, with plantations of yams and cocoa-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. — The China-man alfo
added, " that this have very poor place, and very
fC poor people ; no got cloaths, no got rice, no got hog,
tc no got nothing, only yam, little fifh, and cocoa-nut;
" no got nothing make trade, very little make eat"
This fellow's defcription, which I have given in
his own words, fufficiently fhewed that he viewed
mankind with the eye of a Dutchman, only cal
culating what was to be got from them. — The
mind of a fpeeulative reader is far otherwife en
gaged. He, in the difperfed families of the
yyprkh traces the hand of Providence guiding
H 4 all

104 AN ACCOUNT OF
acoust. all things with unerring wifdom. — He marks It
balancing with equal fcale its bleffings to the
children of men ; and confiders human nature,
however unadorned, when dignified by virtuous
fimplicity, as one of the nobleft objefts of cqnT
templation,.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 105

CHAPTER X. ,783.
A U o U S T.
A Paffage is difcovered through the. Coral Reef,
fwfficient to carry out the Veffel when completed,
Captain Wilson, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Devis,
and Mr. Henry Wilson, go to Pelew to
vifit the King. — An Account of the Hofpitality
with which they were received. — Some Deftrip-
tion ofthe Manners ofthe Natives, and of their,
Mode of Living. — Mr. Sharp is requefted to go
into tbe Country to fee a Jick Child of one of
tbe Rupacks, which he does> and returns to
Pelew.
THE morning proved fo wet that our peo- Saturday
pie could not ftand out to work, but were
employed in the tents, Raa Kook fent away
fome of the canoes which came with him, de
taining only fuch as were to carry Captain Wil
son down to Pelew. — The 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- laid, that five days fail
from Oroolong, on that point of the compafs,
was the place ,he came from, which he called Mo-
nado; that there were about forty Dutch people
there, abundance of pepper, and plenty of hogs
and poultry. He faid Monado was three days fail

toS AN ACCOUNT- OF
1783- fail from Bat a via; that when he left Bata-
A-U CUST. via 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 Ternate, was
driven by a hard gale of wind hither, where they
were wrecked.- Our people fuppofed there was
much falfhOod in this fellow's account, and, from
converfations their own linguift had with him,
they fufpedted thefe people had been Malay pi
rates, which they afterwards had confirmed, by
one of them who was brought to England;— In
the afternoon Mr. Cummin was font in the jolly-
boat, to try for the paffage through the reef which
was thought to have been difcovered the day be
fore from the Look- out above the tents. Cap
tain Wilson took up fome men, and cleared ftill
more the fpot intended for an obfervatory.— The
jolly-boat returned, after having been without
the reef through a narrow paffage, 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 dou
ble the draught of the Schooner when finifhed,—
This was an information which revived every
pne's hopes, and made all our people look for
ward with frefh fpirits. Intelligence was alfq
brought, that they had found feven fathom water
immediately without the reef^ and three fathom

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 107
Within in the fhoaleft part, which was a narrow i7g3.
bank offend that formed a bar.— Thefe ob- AUOUS*'
fervations were taken at low-water, or when very
lit0e flood was made.
The Captain having fixed this day for his go- Sunday Si.
ing 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 exactly
what they faw our people did, in rifing or kneel
ing, except that inftead of kneeling they would
fquat down on their hams. After prayers were
ended, Captain Wilson took leave of his peo<-
ple, taking with him Mr. Sharp, Mr. Devis,
and his fon Mr. Henry Wilson; they went in
the jolly-boat ; the General accompanying hira
in his canoe. They left the tents about eight
o'clock in the morning. At noon, as they ap,-
proached the little ifland which lies about three
or four miles off Pelew, they obferved Raa
Kook's canoe, paddling away at a great rate to
get a-head of them* he juft ftept on fhore at 3
little town fituated by the water edge, and foon
returned to meet them, directing their courfe to
the leeward pf the ifland, where they were met by
another canoe, laden with yams, cocoa-nuts, and
fweetmeats, to refrefh them on their paffagev
This explained immediately the reafon ofthe Ge
neral's

io8 AN ACCOUNT OF
.783. neral's quitting them fo fuddenly, which .they
^UGV6 ' .now perceived was merely to indulge his hofpi-
,table difpofition, and from his anxiety left our
people fhould be fatigued for want of refrefai
ment. Every one partook of this entertainment
and then proceeded; and reached the ifland ¦of
JPelew about one o'clock in the afternoon.
As Pei.ew came in fight, the jolly-boat hoifted
Englifh colours, and fired three mufquets ; which
were anfwered, as they approached nearer the
fhore, by a white flag ftuck on a pole; jhis was
conceived to have been fuggefted by the Malay,
and proyed to be fome of the white cloth that
had been given to the King. Raa Kook having
.quitted his ca«ioe, came into the jolly-boat; and
our people, on landing, fired three mufquets
snore, after having hoifted their .colours, and
.fixed them in the" ground oppofite a houfe clofe
to the water-fide, a£ the end of the, caufeway
where they came on flsor-e ; to which houfe our
people were conducted by Raa Kook, to wait
the King's coming, he having difpatched a mef-
fenger to notify the Captain's arrival.
Before the King appeared, fome ofthe natives
were fent down with refreihments ; they firft
brought a large tureen, made of wood, in the
£hape of a bird, and inlaid with fhell, this was
full of fweet drink ; they alfo brought a painted
ftand, about two feet in height, inlaid in the
fame

IICVIT.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 109
feme manner as the tureen, upon which were 1783.
fweetmeats garnifhed with Seville oranges;
next came a bafket of boiled yams, followed by
another of young cocoa-nuts; thefe were all placed
in a kind of order, preparatory to the King's*
coming *. On his arrival Captain Wilson rofej,
and embraced him, as he had done at their firft
interview. Aeba Thulle fat down by him, and
they were then ferved with the before-mentioned
provifions, by a man who feemed to act as a but
ler, and gave to each a portion, by the King's
directions. After this entertainment was over,
Captain Wilson offered him the prefent he had
brought, which confifted of fome iron-hoops,
fome necklaces made of gold and filver lace,
tied with ribband at each end; to which he
meant to have added a few files, but one of the
natives purloined them from the perfon who had
them in charge.
The King came down without any ftate, and
feemed only attended by thofe "whom curiofity to
ffee the Englifh had brought together ; the houfe,
and every part about it, was thronged with the
natives, to fee our Captain, who had drefled him
felf in the Company's uniform.
* It wa« very remarkable, that, thronged as the houfe
Was, and every avenue to it, yet as foon as it was known
that the King was approaching, the moft profound and re
verential filcnce was preferved. After

Atutll.

|ia AN ACCOUNT O^F
n*3- After the repaft was ended, Mri'DEyis, wh#
was a draughtfman, being ftruck with the ap
pearance of a woman 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 repeatedly looked her ear-
neftly in the face, and marked fomething down,
was diftrefled at it, and rofe up to go away, in
appearance very much agitated ; nor COuld fhe
be perfuaded to ftay, although fome of the Ru-
packs prefent laughed heartily at her alarm; which
led our people to conceive that fhe was the wife
of one of them. A Rupack looking over Mr^
Devis's fhoulder, feemed pleafed at the repre-
fentation,or likenefs, and w*ifbed to hand it up to
the King ; who fo readily entered into a true idea
of the art, that he immediately fent a meffenger
to order two of his women to come down to the
houfe where he was: they arrived very foon, and
placed themfelves at the window fronting where
Mr. Devis was feated, at which thefe ladies could
ftand without being feen lower than the waift ; —
perceiving, as they looked into the houfe, a fmiy
on every countenance, they at firft" appeared
pleafed themfelves, and the King told them the
reafon why he had fent for them ; but foon no
ticing 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

THE #ELEW ISLANDS.

iii

A UO HIT.

The King then feemed to chide them, on which 1783
they flood quiet, and rather affumed" an eafier air.
Mr. Devis having finifhed his fketches, pre
fented them to the King, he fhewed them imme
diately to his women, who feemed pleafed in view
ing on paper a fancied likenefs of themfelves, and
appeared as if a little afhamed at haying been fo
foolifhly and unneceflarih/ diftreffed.
The King then defired Mr. Devis to lend him
a piece of paper, and his pencil, on which he at
tempted to delineate three or four figures, very
rudely, without the leaft proportion; their heads,
inftead of an oval, being in a pointed form, like
a fugar-loaf. Nor let any one conclude from
this circumftance,-that the King was oftematious
to exhibit the little knowledge he pofleffed of the
art; I rather mention it as a proof of his opennefs
of temper, to let ..Mr. Devis fee that he was not
totally ignorant of what was meant by it ; nor
was it lefs a mark of his condefcenfion, in Shew
ing he could very imperfectly trace what the artift
was able more happily to delineate. He ap
proved in the ftranger thofe talents he would
himfelf have been ambitious to poflefs, and in his
manner of teftifying his approbation, exhibited
in captivating colours that which no pencil could
difplay— the urbanity of a noble mind. ,
The King now fignified to his guefts, that he
Would conduct them up to the town; they ex
preffed

114

A U G U « T

AN ACCOUNT €TF
1783. preffed their readinefs to attepd hir%,*td ordered!
their colours to be raifed, and carried before them,
wifhing to imprefs on the natives what little idea
of ceremony their forlorn fituation could admit
of. Pelew 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 Kook, and fol
lowed by a great concourfe of people.- Having
paffedthe wood, they found themfelves on a fine
broad caufeway, 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 conveniency of walking; it was paved
on each fide with flones of a fmaller fize, and lefs
worked; this caufeway led to the town, and then
parted to the right and left ; the one conducting to
where fome of their boat-houfes were erected,
the other to their bathing-place.
Having now reached Pelew, they came into a
large fquare pavement, round which were feveral
houfes; our people were conducted to one that
flood in the centre of one of the fides. Out of
this houfe iffued a number of women, who were
waiting to fee thefe new Beings the Englifh, and
whom they foon underftood were the wives of
fome of the Rupacks, or great officers of ftate 5
thefe were rather fairer than the reft of the wo
men,

AUO US T.

TH%°PELEW ISLANDS. 113
men, hadfoVfff little ornaments about them, and
their faces and breafts were rubbed over with
turmeric. The King, and his brother Raa Kook, led his
guefts into this houfe, into which the women re
turned, and received them with much joy, pre-
fenting 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 employment
in which they pafs a great part of their time. The
King informed hjs guefts that this houfe was to
be their abode as long as they remained at Pe
lew, and that there they were to fleep. After
which he rofe up, and withdrew, previoufly apo
logizing to Captain Wilson for retiring, faying
he was going to bathe. Soon after a meffage
came to Raa Kook, from the Queen, to requeft
fhe might fee the Englifh 'at her dwelling; they
attended the General thither, through a pathway
from the back ofthe houfe where they were, which
led into a grove of cocoa-nut trees; having
croffed the grove, they came to a fmall retired
habitation, in the front of which was 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 efti-
msrtion in thefe iflands, thatnone but the Rupacks,
I and

AU 0 U 5 T.

114 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. and their families, are allowed to eat of them.!
As they approached, the Queen opened her win
dow, and fpoke to Raa Kook, to defire the Eng
lifh would fit down on the pavement before her;
which being complied with, a number of attend
ants brought out yams, cocoa-nuts, and fweefc
drink ; and whilft they were partaking of thefe,
fhe Queen afked Raa Kook many qtreftirins
about our people, and then fent them one broiled
pigeon (which' they drefs without drawing) that
every one might have a bit to tafte; giving them
to underftand, that this was the greateft rarity
that the country produced. She took very great
notice of the Englifh, and wifhed fome of them
would come clofe to the window, and draw up
their coat-fleeves, that fhe might fee the colour
Of their fkin. After fhe had viewed them at
tentively, and afked, through the General, as
many circurnftances reflecting them as fhe
thought fhe could with propriety obtrude, Are
fignified that fhe would not longer trefpafs on
their time by detaining them ; fo they rofe and
took leave of her*.
The General now told them he wifhed to con
duct them to his own houfe, which was a litde
* This lady feemed to have a greater degree, of refpett
and attention paid her than any other of the King's wives $
flie never went abroad, and her houfe was the King's general'
refidence. diftant

A U O V"i T.

THE PELEW ISLANDS, u$
diftant from the firft fquare, where the King had 1783.
allotted them their habitation. — At the houfe of
this Chief they were received quite in a family
way, without any form; they were obliged juft to
tafte of what was fet before them, though their
appetites had been fufficiendy taken away by par
taking 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 honour done them. — In this domeftk fcene
Raa Kook appeared in a new and amiable light;
it was a fituation which placed to their view that
benevolent heart of his they had themfelves be
fore frequently noticed. ^-Here he was furrounded
by feveral of his children, two of whom were
.very young, and feemed almoft ofthe fame age;
they were climbing up his knees and carefling
him, whilft he feemed to enjoy great pleafure in
rolling and toffing them about, and playing with
them, handing them to our people, that they
might alfo notice and play with them.
Whilft the attention of Captain Wilson and
his companions had been engaged by this inte
refting fcene, the "night had crept faft on them,
and it being now quite dark, they requefted leave
to retire; Raa Kook apologized for not waiting
on them home, but ordered one of his own peo
ple jMid the Malay to conduct them back.
I 2 Bejn^

n6 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. ' Being arrived at their allotted dwelling, they
august. jearnt tna(. tjie King natj ^een tjiere after h|s
bathing, but underftanding they were gone abroad
with his brother, he had retired to his own houfe,
but had fent them fome fifh for fupper. — After
fupper Raa Kook fent mats for them to fleep on,
and called himfelf before he went to reft, to fee if
they were fupplied with every thing they flood
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 fofne
of his own men to fleep at the other end, to pro
tect them from any inconveniency which might
arife from the curiofity of the natives, as well as
to watch the fires, made to keep them from the
dews and mofquitos. They all refted very well,
in the fulleft degree fatisfied with the great atten
tion and kindnefs of their new friends. — The
hight proved both windy and wet, but they found
their habitation perfectly dry; their houfes being
fo well thatched, that the weather rarely is able to
sjnt». penetrate them.
Monday 1. RAA Kook called on them very early in the
morning; in all his vifits he wore on his counte
nance fuch a look of good-humour and congra
tulation as more than told our people he rejoiced
to fee them. He never feated himfelf clofe, but
at^ fome fmall diftance from them, which is re
garded in thefe parts as a mark of refpect.— He
told

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 117

E P T p M«
ii e it.

told them he was going to bathe, and they went 1783
down to the fhore to fee if their boat and its iron
work was fafe.-r-On their return, the Captain and
his companions received a meffage to breakfaft
with the King. — They were ' conducted to the
houfe where, the preceding evening, they had been
to pay their refpects to the Queen. It confifted
of one great room, not boarded on the floor, as is
the ufual cuftom there, but covered with bamboos
laid and faftened down collaterally, with fcarce
any fpace between. At one end of this room was
the kitchen, where the fervants were bufied in
preparing breakfaft, but without any partition to
feparate the kitchen. — At the oppofite end ran a
high rail, vith a large mat loofely laid over it. —
Some attendants who were prefent, defired our
people to feat themfelves ; which, when they had
done, the King pulled down the mat, and difco
vered himfelf and the Queen feated behindit.—
As this trifling ceremony had fomewhat of an air
cf ftate that had never been fhewn before, nor was
on any future occafion exercifed, they fufpected
that this mdde of the King's receiving the Englifh
was fomething the Malay had fuggefted to him,
and which the King probably found fo clumfy
and foolifh that he never adopted it again. — They
had boiled fifh and yams placed before them;
and during breakfaft the King fhewed Captain
Wilson a large piece of chjnt,z, which the Malay
I 3 fod

n8 AN ACCOUNT OF
.. '783- had faved when he was wrecked, and had given
***• him. — He feemed to admire it much, and Wheri
it had been looked at, he folded it up again very
nicely in a mat; having only produced it as be
ing to him a great curiofity.
During the time of breakfaft, the King talked
much with xhbMaiay, who after it was over told
Mr. Sharp that Abba Thulle wifhed he would
go a little way into the country, without de
claring for what purpbfe. — Mr. Sharp hefitated,
till Mr. Devi's offered to accompany him • the
King faid a perfon Would prefently be there to
conduct them, who, when he came, appeared to
be one of the Rupacks who had been with them'at
Oroolong at the King's firft coming, when
"they individually fixed their notice on fome one
of our people; a circumftance which then ocea-
fioned fome alarm, as has before been men
tioned *. And this Chief proved to be the per- .
fon who had particularly noticed Mr, Sharp jaS
his friend or Sucalic (a term the natives gave it.)
Mt. Sharp and Mr. Devis, accompanied by
the interpreter! put themfelves cheerfully under
the guidance of this Rupack, whofe name was
Arra Zook ; they had not proceeded far, after
getting off the caufeway, before they met with
Captain Wilson's fervant, Who was ftraggling
f See page (5a, about

SEPTEM BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 119
tbout with his gun to. kill fome fowl for dinner. i7Sj,
The Rupack made figns to him to join company,
which he did, on being informed by Mr. Sharp
that he was going where the King had font him;
As they went over the hil|s, they paffed feveral
pleafant villages, and a valley beautifully culti
vated with plantations of cocoa-nuts and yams,
forming from the fummit a moft rich and deli
cious profpect.- When they had got nearly three
miles from Pelew, the heat was fo oppreffive,
that Mr. ShaR-p and his companions expreffed
an inclination to return back; but the difappoint-
ment which appeared in the countenance of the
Rtfpack who had conducted them, made both
gentlemen judge it advifabls not to crofs his
wifbes. — They therefore proceeded about a mile
and a half further, when they arrived at a planta
tion, at the end of which flood his. houfe. He
folicired them to enter, when various refrefh-
ments were placed before them. He then intro
duced his, wife and his children ; and fhewed Mr.
Sharp a child that was afflicted with fome bad
ulcers, from a kind of boils, a diforder which he
faid was common to the people there ; and in
formed Mr. Sharp what applications he had
.himfelf ufed to his child, which were chiefly fo
mentations, , made with certain leaves ; and that
occafionally, after the inflammatory fyrriptoms
were .abated, he had put a little of their chinam
1 4 into

120 AN ACCOUNT OF

l E P T E it

3- into the wound to eat away the proud flefh.—
.em'-. — * ¦
ber. Mr. Sharp, who, fituated ,as he was, could not
undertake to repeat his attendance, thought it
beft to advife the Rupack to the continuance of
the remedy the child had been accuftomed to;
and now perceiving the reafon why this vifit was
folicited, after remaining there a proper time, he
and Mr. Devis intimated their wifh to return back;
but the Rupack told them that his people were
at work for them, and that they muft not depart
till the bufinefs they were about was done. They
now perceived the hofpitality of Arra Zook was
not-confined to the tranfient entertainment he had
already fpread before them. His people pre-
fently appeared, loaded with yams and cocoa-
nuts, packed up in large bafkets; and alfobafkets
of fweetmeats, which they had made frefh for
them while they had been in his houfe. The
Rupack told them that his people fhould carry all
thefe bafkets 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 cha
racter of their liberal hoft, Mr. Sharp and his
companions took their leave, teftifying their
thankfulnefs for the kindnefs he had fhewn them;
whilft the good man flood affuring them of the
joy they had afforded him and his family in com
ing to his houfe, and how truly they had obliged
him by looking at his poor fick child. As the
/
1 Rupack

THE' PELEW ISLANDS. *"
Rupack accompanied them to the door, oppofite 5 //*!'*«-
to it, on a rail (as before defcribed at the Queen's
* ^^" u Eft.
houfe) was his rooft of tame pigeons; not think
ing he had 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 fervants of Arra Zook with the prefents
of their mafter. — Captain Wilson had in the
mean time paid a vifit to Raa Kook, where he
was ftiewn three iron travellers, which fome ofthe
natives had got from the wreck; the General faid
theEngliJh fhould have them again, and the Cap
tain in return promifed to give him a hatchet.
Such are the little pleafurable barters of life,
when life is governed by fimplicity alone, and the
eftimation objects are held in, is only propor
tioned to their real utility !

CHAPTER

Iii

1783.
S EP T EM-

Monday 1.

AN ACCOUNT OF

CHAPTER XI.
Further Account of the Natives of Pelew. — A
Council of State is held, at the Breaking up of
which the King requefts of Captain Wilson ten
Men to go with him on a fecond Expedition againft
the fame Enemy — which is agreed to. — Defcrip-
tion of the Dance of the Warriors. — Our People
return to Oroolong, find their Countrymm
well, and in great Unanimity advancing the Vef
fel. — The ten Men feleffed who were to attend
the King to Battle. . .
THIS day, in the forenoon, a great council
was held, in the open air, on the large
fquare pavement near the houfe allotted to. the
Englifh. It confifted of a number of Rupacks, or
Chiefs, feated each on a fingle ftone, placed near
the outer border of the pavement ; that for the
King was more elevated than the reft ; and clofe
to the fide of it was a ftone ftill higher, on which
he occafionally refted his arm: when in their
places, they are encircled by officers of inferior
rank. They debate from fide to fide, on what
ever fubject happens to be under difcuffion, and
it was underftood that the plurality of opinions
determined the matter before them,. In the pre fent

THE PELEW ISLANDS. iaj
fent cafe it did not require the knowledge of their 1783.
f F p T £ M,
language to difcover the bufinefs they were on; ass;
as the houfe in which the Captain and his com
panions were, looked full on their council; and
their geftures, as well as the frequent repetition
ofthe words Englees and Artingall, left our
people no room to doubt but that they had been
the fubject of their deliberation. After the coun
cil broke up, the King, attended by the linguift,
came to the houfe where the Englifh were, and re
quefted Captain Wilson would permit ten of
his men to go with him to battle, againft the fame
enemy as before. Captain Wilson replied to
the King nearly as he had done before, " that the
" Englifh were his friends, and would regard thofe
" who were his enemies, as being enemies of their
" own." This reply greatly pleafed the King.
The Captain defiring to know the caufe of the
war, Abba Thtjlle informed him, through the
linguift, that fome time back, at a fcftival at Ar
tingall, one of his brothers, and two of his
Chiefs, had been killed, and that the two iflands
had been at war ever fince; the people of Ar
tingall, fo far from making any fatisfactiOn,
had protected the murderers. Captain Wilson
intreated that his people might not be detained at
Pelew longer than was neceflary, as it would
greatly retard the building of his veffel. The
Kinganfweredji " that he could mt in decency fend
" them

SEPTEM BER*

124 AN ACCOUNT OF
17S3. " them back the moment be had had their ferviees,
" but that be would keep them only two or three
" days, that they might be made gay, and rejoice
" with his own people after fubduing his ene-
" mies." In the afternoon the King took Captain Wil
son and his companions to fee fome canoes that
were then building; and fhewed them alfo fome
of their boat-houfes, which were well conftrudted,
nicely thatched, and not unlike thofe that are
made in England. From hence they were car
ried to fee fome other canoes, which were juft
come in from an expedition they had been fent
on by themfelves, and from which, after four
days abfence, they had returned victorious, hav
ing brought in one? canoe of the enemy, though
not a fingle prifoner. The obtaining a canoe,
however trifling h may appear to a reader, is
equal to the capture of the largeft fhip of war in
Europe; as their battles are generally fought
near fhore, and, when there is no appearance of
fuccefs, they get to land and haftily haul up their
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 plan
tain leaves brought to them, which they fplit, and
fhiver into the form of ribbands; thefe they then
twine

5HPTIU SEK.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 12c
twine and fix round their heads, wrifts, waifts, an- 1783-
cles, and knees; and the leaves being of a yellowifh
hue, fo prepared, have not an inelegant effect
when applied to their dark copper fkin. They
make alfo bunches or taffels of .the fame, which
they hold in their hands. When drawn out, they
form themfelves into circles of two or three deep,
one Within another. In general an elderly man
amongft them begins, in a very folemri tone, fome-
thing like a fong, or long fentence, for our coun
trymen 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 ftruck up, and the
dancers all join in concert, ftill continuing their
figure. Their dancing does not fo much confift
in capering or agility, as in a particular method
they have of balancing themfelves, and this fre
quently 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 taffels they hold in their
hands, and giving them a clafhing or tremulous
motion ; after this there will be a fudden paufe,
and an exclamation from every, voice Weel!
Then a new fentence or ftanza is repeated, and
danced to as before, and the fame ceremony con
tinued, till every man who is engaged in the
dance has in his turn had his repetition and
chorus. During

xi6 AN ACCOUNT OF

nrnii.
B ER.

178?. During this feftivity two large tubs of fweet
drink were brought in, which were ferved out,
firft to the Englifh and the principal people pre
fent, who juft tafted it, and then the tubs were
carried to the warriors; and when the dance was
ended they all fat down upon the fquare, and the
drink was. ferved out to thenv by four perfons
who (earned to be people of note, having bones
upon their wrifts; the warriors then removed to a
houfe, at which a fupper was prepared for them,
where they continued dancing moft part of the
night., but when it grew dark the Englifh retired
to their own habkation.
Tlie night proved very wet and windy; our
Tuefday 2. people -the next morning breakfafted with the
King, and after breakfaft Captain Wilson ac
quainted him, that as foon as the weather would
permit he intended to return to Oroolong; to
which he was pleafed to agree. The wind be
ing unfavourable, Mr. Sharp took the Captain
to fee the Rupack, "whofe child he had vifited the
preceding day. They parted many fine planta
tions of cocoa-nuts, yams, and beetle-nuts ; and
alfo obferved a tree with a large fruit on it, which
the natives call Ri'a'mall, but the linguift who
was with them faid it was called by the Malays, ~
Pan'gly, our people thought it the bread-fruit.—
A'RRA Zook received them with great joy,
brought them water to wafh their feet beforfe they
went

THE PELEW ISLANDS. ivj
went into the houfe, gave them mats to fit down i7gj.
on, made them frefh fweetmeats, and fet before 'm'""
them a kind of fherbet. Our people's com
plexion as much excited the furprize and ad-'
miration of this Rupack's neighbours and houfe-
hold, as it had before done their firft vifitors at
Oroolong. After experiencing once more this good man's
hofpitality, they returned to Pelew, where the
warriors had renewed their dances. In the after
noon Captain Wilson and his friends took ano
ther ramble into the country, but in a contrary
direction 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 inhabitants. Where-
ever they paffed 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 bafkets, dreffing victuals, and
nurfing their children; the men were found bulled
in gathering cocoa-nuts, hewing trees, and mak
ing fpears and darts.
The weather ftill bad, Captain Wilson went Wednefjay
down to the wharf, before fun-rife, to look after
his boat, and returned to breakfaft with Raa
Kook. At noon he accompanied the King to
his boat- builders, where Abba Thulle wanted to

•

5 E P T E M
a er

128 ANACCOUNTOF
i •
1783. to give directions about fome work that was car
rying on for him there ; he had taken down with
him a defign of .his own for ornamenting fome
canoes then building, and this defign was marked
ori a board with great accuracy, in different co
lours, to work after. At this place our people
dined with the King upon pigeons. ,
The rain fell in torrents all 'the 'night, accom-
1 
panied with very loud thunder. The Englifh
. had removed to another of the King's houfes, in
order to be retired, having been difturbed by the
curiofity of the natives, whilft they remained
in the habitation which had been firft afligned
them. The King and his brother Raa Kook made
Thurfday our people a vifit at day-break ; the weather after
breakfaft clearing up, they informed the King they
wifhed to return to Oroolong, to which he af-
fented, though defiring rather to have detained
them another day. They found thejolly-boat ready
loaded for them with every kind of provifion the
ifland afforded; 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 gravity, and laughed very much, join
ing the men, women, and children, in their '•
cheers,
1

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 129
cheers, ftanding up, and apart in fuel) a manner 17*3*
as to make himfelf confpicuous. a E &.
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 all their
companions well.
The next morning being fine, they put out their Friday 5;
clothes, and the few neceffaries which had been
faved from the wreck, to dry, having been much
wetted by the late heavy rains. Captain Wilson,
on coming back, had the fatisfaction to fee that
all his people, in his abfence, had been going
on very affiduoufly with the veffel, and that the
mbftperfect harmony had fubfifted 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 directed. They un-
derftood that no canoe had been at Oroolong
during the time they had been at Pelew.
At day-light the boats were fent again to the Saturday s,
wreck, to fee if any other materialscould be pro
cured; they brought back in the evening more
planks, nails, and many other neceffaries, which
Were of effential fervice, particularly coals. Thofe
who remained on fhore were bulled about. the
veffel. — A lift was made out of the number of
men the King had wifhed to go on his fecond
expedition. On this, as well as on the former
K occafion,

» E P T E M-
B EX.

130 AN ACCOUNT OF
I783. pccafion, eyery individual expreffed a readinefs
to be of the number; and thofe who actually
went, amicably fettled the matter among them
felves, on which their names were wrote down,
and ftuck againft a tree in the dock-yard; and
directions given, that they fhould hold themfelves
in readinefs againft the time the King fhould,
either fetch, or fend for them,

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 131

lEPTIM.
B EI.

CHAPTER XII. iygj,
fhe King comes to Oroolong. — Is much ftruck
with the Appearance of the Veffel, which he had
not feen before. — Isfhewn the Barricade and the
Six-pounder-, which is afterwards, at his De
fire, fired off.— Views the different Artificers em
ployed in tbe Dock Yard.— Tbe Impreffion all thefe
new Sights make on him. — After pajfing feveral
Hours with our People, he goes to the Back of the
Ifland. — The King returns next Day — wifhes to
take a Swivel Gun on the Expedition.— r-This ob
jected to. — He departs for Pelew, carrying with
him the ten Men allotted for the War.
THE weather fettling fine, all hands were Sunday 7.
employed in felling timber, and getting
the frames of the veffel forward. In the after
noon four canoes came into the harbour, and'
gave our people fome fifh ; who, in return, made
them a prefent of fome iron. As they appeared
to haye a large provifion of fifh, by bartering a
little more old iron, there was plenty for every
man at fupper. — In the evening, when the toil of
the day was over, the Captain read prayers, as
ufuaL K % After

SEPTEM BER.

132 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. After breakfaft Captain Wilson went out in
the jolly-boat, to found and examine the reef
Monday 8. himfelf. He . found a paffage, in which .there
were three fathom at low- water, 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 difco
vered by the colour of the water.
In 'the afternoon the King paid our people a
vifit, attended by his two brothers, the Chief
¦/ Minifter, 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 peo
ple had hitherto feen, they were rather more than
three feet in length, and near a foot acrofs,_ hav
ing a very bony and thick head ; the bone was
fo uncommonly hard, as to ftrike fire when they
fplit it with an axe, in order to flew it. The meat
cut fofid and firm, like, a large cod; and the
fcales were round, near the fize of a Spanijh dol
lar; 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
Englifh, and by the fhip's fteward divided into
meffes. The Chinefe dreffed their portion dif
ferently, making a mixture with rice, and other
things, which they call Chow Chow, The

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 133.
The King, who now for the firft time had feen 1783. ,
S E P T E M—
the progrefs made in the new veffel, appeared BEr.
perfectly amazed at perceiving how much had
been done, nor lefs fo at the magnitude of the
object. ' He'minutely examined every thing with
the 'moft eager attention, and impatiently called
for his Tackalbys, or, artificers} to notice what had
fo much excited his own aftonifhment. The
Tackalbys, feized with a furprize equal to that of
their Prince, after deliberately poring over its
parts, pointed out to him the very fingular man
ner in which every thing was wedged and bolted
together. — They were quite loft in wonder at the
ufe and power ofthe iron-work; and the whole
together feemed to have engaged their minds as
fomewhat beyond their comprehenfion. — The
King croffed frequently between the ribs of the
veffel, and faid he was at a lofs to conceive 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 veffel on the
flocks had been made out of trees which our peo
ple 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 veffel, and which he
- expreffed a concern at feeing ; faying, he deemed
it an unlucky wood, and that it might prove the
caufe of their meeting with fome accident; ear-
K 3 neftly

134. AN ACCOUNT OF
'783- neftly preffing them to take it out, and not fuf-
EPTEM- ber. for any of it to remain. They acknowledged his
great care and goodnefs for them; at the fame
time informing him, they were aecuftomed to
employ different kinds of timber in conftructing
their fhips, and from experience had difcovered
that nothing was to be apprehended on that fcore.
This caution feemed to arife from fome fuperfti-
tious 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 noticed the barricade, as alfo the fix-
pounder; and after he had talked fome time with
the Malay, he enquired the ufe of the great gun.
The Captain fhewed him the balls, and grape-
fhot, and alfo explained to him their force and
efficacy : informing him, that if a number of ca
noes from Artingall, or any other iflaneT of his
enemies, fhould approach the cove, this machine
would blow them out of the water, and fhiver
them to atoms. The King was alfo fhewn the
fwivel guns, which were mounted on trees fawn
down, as before mentioned ; and it was explained
to him, that they could be pointed in any direc
tion which fhould be moft defirable, or con
venient, fo that fhould any of his enemies come
by furprize over land, thefe moveable guns would
give our people as great an advantage and power over

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 135
bver them by land, as the fix-pounder would by 1783.
f. ' SliPTEUi
•ea. bii.
The King; his brothers, and the Chiefs who
were with him, on receiving this intelligence*
feemed to look at oUr countryrrien with frefh
aftonifhment; they converfed much among ohe
another, teftifying by their actions every indica
tion of furprize. — They walked round the barri
cade and examined it with much attention, no
ticing how ftrongly and clofely every part was
intrenched and fortified..
This little ifland of Oroolong having been
rendered far more commodious to the Englifh by
the many neceffary eftablifhments they had made
fince the King had paid them his former vifit;
there was of courfe a good deal of additional no
velty for him to attend to. — After he had point*
ed out to his Tackalbys to notice with particular
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
interefting to them, that they all flood abforbed
in admiration. — They could not be perfuaded to
K 4 keep

1 E F T E M
IU

136 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. keep' at a diftance, but would get fo clofe to the
anvil as to receive occafionally a hot fpark'on
their naked bodies; nor did this deter them from
catching with their hands the luminous particles
that flew from under the ftroke of the hammer.
— Every thing, under fuch circumftances as the
prefent, naturally excited wonder. When the
iron was beaten on the anvil till the rednefs was
gone off, and it was become too cold to be mal
leable, they could not comprehend why it was
again put into the forge. — The throwing water on
the fire to make it burn brifker was alfo a new
fource of furprize ; ahd it was with much diffi
culty they could be drawn away from a fcene fo"
new and interefting to them; however, the'noife
of the neighbouring Cooper, who was repairing
the water-cafks for fea ftore, was attracting enough
to allure them to his hut. — The agility with which
they faw this man work, the Whirling ofthe cafks,
the knocking down of the hoops, the found from
within", and the quicknefs with which they per
ceived a defective cafk was brought round and
perfect, feemed altogether to impofe on their
minds a kind of magic influence* They flood
and flared at one another with looks equally ex-
preflive of aftonifhment and pleafure. Captain
Wilson perceiving that his vifitors were rivetted
to whatever they faw, and that the workmen were
very much impeded by their queftions, as well as
by

,T HE PELEW ISLANDS. 137
bv their defire of handling every thing, now or- 1783-
3 . ° ' ° a r. p t e M-
dered a large canvafs to be fpread on one fide of ber.
the cove, where the King and his Chiefs might
repofe and refrefh themfelves, and ftill have a
view of our artificers at a diftance ; he was con
ducting them to this place, acrofs the cove, when
their eyes caught the carpenters, who were bufied,
fome in fawing, others in dubbing, &c ; this
was again frefh matter to detain them ; the faw
and its operations were marvellous ; and it was
not without great difficulty that they were at laft
feduced to the canvafs, where fherbet was pre
pared for them. Captain Wilson 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 wifhed as a pattern for his
people to endeavour to imitate.
When redemption is the object, minutes appear
as hours, and our men, with fuch a point in view,
could ill afford the lofs of half a day ; they were
, extremely uneafy then to find, that no fooner
were their guefts retired, but all their common
attendants fwarmed in every part, fo that it was
-irnpoffible to continue work; Raa Kook was
therefore petitioned to difoerfe them, who, by or
dering them down to the beach, gave' the dif
ferent artificers elbow-room to proceed in their
bufinefs. — The King, after this, took his leave
with much good-humour; and, accompanied by
§ all

i38 AN ACCOUNT O?
i783. all his retinue, went to fleep at the back of the
SEPTEM- ._ ,
ber. llland.
Tuefday 9. In confequence of what had the preceding day
been explained relative to the fwivel-guns, the
King's imagination had amply worked on the
fubject; he came over land with his train, and
expreffed a wifh to have one of them to take with
him on the next expedition ; this the Captain en
deavoured to convince him would be impoflible,
as they had no boats conftructed in a manner
proper to receive it.— The King then requefted
to have the fix-pounder fired. — If they were fur-
prized (as we have already noticed) at the dif-*
charge of a mufquet, it may eafily be imagined
in how great a proportion the report of this piece
muft have affected them. — During the time the
gunner was loading 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 inftantaneous blaze, which was
fucceeded by a moft violent noife; this they were
puzzled in the extreme to comprehend, and the
more fo, as in the difcharge of a mufquet they
had feen no appearance of fire applied. — The re
port of the fix-pounder feemed to ftun them all,
as every one of the natives, for more than a
quarter of an hour, kept his fingers in his ears,,
calling out Magull! Magull! that is to fay, Very
bad. — Pleafed and furprized as they were at the
3 noife,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 139
noife, it was evidently too violent for their organs ; » 783.
S E P T E 1&
for whenever founds uncommonly loud ftrike un- m,
expectedly 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 accuftomed to it, or prepared to
receive it, will not vibrate on the fenfe with
any particular inconvenience. — The hooting and
fhouting of the natives, on hearing the explofion,
was hardly to be defcribed, and this was in-
creafed by the accident of fome of the wad fet-
ting fire to the dry leaves of a tree which projected
acrofs the cove. — -Having obferved the ball fall/
in the water at a great diftance, they were unable
to conceive how this effect could be produced;
what they had feen ftimulated ftill more their
wifh of having one of the fwivels on their expe
dition, as it would prove not only^deftructive to
the perfons, but to the property of their enemies.
— Raa Kook accompanied the Captain on the
hill to the Look-out, and was furprized to fee how
much the ground had been cleared. — He in
formed him of the names of the principal iflands,
pointing out their fituation with his hand, though
fome of them were not within view ; he told him
that to the fouthward was Pelelew, to the N. E.
Emillegue, and to the S.E. the ifland they
were going to war with, which he faid was called
Artingall.— After they had returned from the
hill,

140 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- hill, the King was treated with fherbet, and he
ber. foon after went over land to dinner, at the place
where 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 Englifh as
were to attend him to the war, who all got them
felves in readinefs accordingly.
1 In the afternoon fome people came from
Abba Thulle and renewed- their folicitations
on the fubject of the fwivel-gun ; every argument
was ufed to make them fenfible bf the impracti
cability 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 Chief Minifter, and
pur people thereby compelled to recur to all the
arguments before made ufe of; and as our men
were all drawn up with their arms, Mr. Benger,
willing to cut off all further entreaty on the fub-
jedt, ordered them into the canoes. — One very
material objection againft 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 attendance1,
who was too ufeful a man to be fpared.
Abba

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 141
Abba Thulle and his retinue now embarked, r783-
S EP T EM-
and there was reafon to fear that this refufal had B E *•
not made them depart in the goodrhumour that
could have been wifhed. — Before the canoes were
out of fight, the Gunner made a report of the
arms and ammunition taken on the expedition,
which appearing rather large, (as Mr. Benger
had taken piftols and cutlaffes unknown to the
Captain) occafioned fome uneafinefs, in the parti
cular fituation they at that time flood. — It was
therefore thought advifable to keep every thing
in a pofture of defence, left any further mifun-
derftanding fhould take place; the watch was
well attended to, and no caution omitted which,
prudence could fuggeft.

CHAPTER

i44 AN ACCOUNT OF

1783.
i F. P T E M*
ber.

CHAPTER XIII.
TranfaSlions at Oroolong. — The ten Men return
from the War. — A particular Account of the
Second Battle of Artingall.— 'Progrefs of tbe
new Veffel, &c.

Wednefday OOME. natives came from the watering-place^
O by whom intelligence was brought that the
canoes were gone down to Pelew, 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 feine was hauled to
day, without fuccefs, and the veffel was attended
to with perfeverance.
Thurfday 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.
Friday 12. The jolly-boat was fent round to the watering-
place, in queft of timber; but there was fo high
a furf on the beach that they could not take any
in. Some of our people got fix kegs of water,
and went with the boat to collect cabbages and
periwinkles, all the unpacked or loofe beef be-
Saturday ;ng eXpended. They alfo this day examined and

THE PELEW ISLANDS, 143
and took an account of the ftore of provifion; 1783.
and, after confidenng the time they might pro- «««.
bably remain on the ifland, and the length of
their paffage, they fet apart as much of the
foundeft and beft of the provifion for the voyage
as was deemed neceffary; which was on no ac
count to be expended. This evening there were
hard fqualls, heavy rain, and much lightning.
The weather this morning would not permit a Sunday 14.
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 for a week, to any perfon who
would make the offender 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 in
formation was ever obtained of the offender.
After a night of wind and rain, thunder and Monday^
lightning, about ten o'clock in the morning two
canoes came into the harbour, wherein were Mr.
Benger, William Harvey, William Stew
ard, and William Roberts : by them our people
learnt that the battle was over, their companions
$1 well, and that they would foon follow them.
n<< - Towards

144 , AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. Towards evening other canoes arrived; with Mn
ber. M.Wilson,John Duncan,NicholasTyacke,
Madan Blanchard, Thomas Wilson, and
Thomas Dulton. The canoe which brought
Mr. M. Wilson and John Duncan, had been
overfet. This accident arofe from a fquall 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. Wil
son and Mr. Duncan. As the canoe was going
over, two. of the men fecured the two mufquets,
and holding them in one hand, buoyed, up Mr.
Duncan and Mr. Wilson with the other;
whilft the remaining two made a fmall raft with
the bamboos, ropes, paddles, and pieces of wood
they could collect. During the time they were
floating the canoe righted itfelf. The other ca
noes 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. Wilson and Duncan, who could neither
of them fwim; by the time they were relieved
they were both almoft exhaufted, 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 Wilson inftantly rewarded the
men who had faved them, by giving them fomg

SEP Till.
BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 145
•
fome files, and fome pieces of iron to make 1783
hatchets.
They were all received with great joy by their
countrymen at Oroolong, and ftill more, fo,
from their bringing back with them the Welcome
news of the King's fuccefs. But as this forms
not only a new, but a very interefting fcene,
that 1/ may lay it in the moft circumftantial
manner before the reader, I fhall here paufe
awhile, as the narrator of thefe events, and de
liver the account of this expedition nearly in
the words in which I received it from Mr. M.
Wilson, who was himfelf an actor in the whole
bufinefs. " The night we quitted Oroolong we got to
" Pelew, and the King was defirous of proceed-
" ing immediately on his way to Artingall;
" but it proving very wet, we objected to it, on
" account of the rain damaging our arms, which
" he being made fenfible of, agreed to defer
" advancing till the enfuing evening. We were
" conducted to the fame houfe where my brother
*f and Mr. Sharp had been before entertained,
" and where we were fupplied with every accom-
" modation that we could expect, or defire.
" On the evening of the next day we all af-
" fembled on the caufeway, or wharf, where
" alfo were the King, Raa Kook, Arra
" Kooker, and the Other Rupacks and great
L " officers;

I46 ANACCOUNTOF
1783* « officers; and we all went on board the canoes
SEPTEM BER. « ftationed there to receive us.' We were follow-
" ed to the fhore by a number of old men, women,
" and children, who appeared to be drawn toge-
" ther both by curiofity and intereft. When
" the canoes were quitting the land, a conch-
" fhell was loudly founded, to notify our de-
" parture; and other canoes difpatched to dif-
" ferent parts of the ifland to collect various
" detachments which were lying off in creeks
" and remoter places, and only waited the
" King's fignal to join him; which, in confe-
" quence of receiving, they foon did. And
" thus reinforced, being upwards of two hun-
" dred canoes, we proceeded, during the night,
<c towards Artingall, but ftopped, fome
" hours before day-light, at an ifland fubject to
" Abba Thulle, where we went on fhore, upon
" a wharf, and flept on the ground for about
ft three hours ; then re-embarked, and palling
" through a labyrinth of narrow channels, arriv-
" ed off Artingall a little before day-break;
" here they all halted till the rifing of the fun,
" it being a maxim with the natives of Pelew,
*c never to attack an enemy in the dark, or take
" him by furprize. As the day came on, a
" fmall canoe, light-built, containing only four
" men, each man having in his hair a white
M feather, ftuck upright (and which were the
" long

S E P T E M«
HER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS, i 14?
w long feathers of the tail of the tropic-bird) '7*3
tc 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, difpatched 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 Ge-
" neral informed his brother that the enemy was
" difpofed for war. The King then ordered the
" conch to be founded, and ftanding up in his
" canoe, in the fcarlet coat my brother had given
" him, waved his chinam flick in the air, as a
" fignal for the different fquadrons to arrange
Cf themfelves for battle.
" Whilft this was doing, the enemy affembled
Cf their canoes clofe under - the land, and kept
" blowing their conch fhells, as in defiance of
" us, but did not feem difpofed to quit the fhore
L 2 " and

148 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- " and attack us. The ten Englifh were divided*
E P T E M- , " .
ber. "in ten different canoes ; the King taking one
" in his canoe, the General another, and the
"reft going fingly with one or other of the
" Rupacks; each Englifhman having a mufquet,
" cutlafs, ,bayonet, and piftol. There were fe-
" veral light canoes, containing four men each,
" every one having a white feather in his hair,
" the fame as in the truce canoe; thefe were
" conftantly bulled in conveying orders from the
' " King and the General to the other Chiefs.
" They flew from fquadron to fquadron, to
" convey command, cutting through the water-
"with aftonifliing velocity; and they were, for*
" diftinction fake, called by the Englifh the Fri-
*' gate canoes.
" The King, perceiving a total unwillingnefs'
" in the enemy to quit their ftation under the •
" fhore, and conceiving he could not attack, them ¦
" in that fituation with any advantage, difpatched>
" fome of the Frigate canoes to order a fquadron
" to conceal themfelves behind fome high land.
" This arrangement being made, they exchanged'
" a few diftant fpears ; — the conch then was •
" founded, and the King of Pelew made a feint
" to run away, fhewing the example in his own
" canoe, and being immediately followed by the*
" others, with much apparent precipitancy.
" This artful manceuvreof AbbaThulle gave •
« inftant

t E P T I M-
B I K.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 149
" inftant courage to the enemy, "who, induced m _ 1783
" to think their antagonift had been feized with
" a fudden panic, prepared in great hafte to quit
" the fhore, and began to give chace to the King,
ts whom they imagined was flying before them j
Cf upon feeing this, the detached fquadron of ca-
" noes, that had been pofted behind the high
" land, rufhed out between the enemy and the
" ifland, to cut off their retreat. When the
" King found his ftratagem had taken effect, he
" turned, and made a fignal for the reft of his
" fleet to form themfelves into divifions and en-
tc gage ; whereupon a general attack took place.
" The fpears were mutually directed with much
tc animofity, and the Englifh kept up a continual
" fire, which not only did great execution, but
" puzzled and bewildered the enemy in the ex-
" treme, to comprehend how or why their peo-
*{ pie dropped, without receiving any apparent
" blow : they perceived they had holes in their
" bodies, yet faw no fpear flicking in them, nor
" could they devife by what means they had thus
" in a moment become deprived of motion and
" life. 4
" There is not generally above one able
" fpearman in each canoe, the reft of thofe who
(i are put into it, being only to paddle, and
" guide its motions ; no fooner therefore did the
(l firing of the mufquets fpread difmay amongft
L 3 tc the

ISO ANACCOUNTOF
sep7t3em- " tne People of Artingall, than a different
ber. (c effect was produced in thofe of Pelew: the
" moment the report was made, they all rofe up
," in their canoes, and fet up fuch hallooing and
" fhouting, that the whole air was filled with;
*f their noife, which greatly added to the terror
(t 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 imDeded their
J A
" retreat, but not being in any degree equal to
" the force ofthe enemy, the greater part ofthe
" people of Artingall were able to regain
" their own fhore. Six canoes only were taken,
" and nine prifoners, which they accounted a
" large number, it being feldom that they cap-
" tured their enemies, as the vanquifhed always
" endeavour to carry away their killed and
" wounded, that the victors 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
" they appeared near enough to be reached by the
" mufquets. The engagement from beginning
*' to end did not exceed three hours; after parad4
" ing along their fhore, and in vain provoking a
" frefh combat, Abba Thulle ordered the ca-
" noes to make a difpofition to return,, which " was

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 151
K was foon done, and we fet forward towards ,783« •
ItFTEM"
"Pelew. „ EER-
" All the nine prifoners had received wounds
" in battle ; 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 juf-
" tification of a proceeding which fo ftrongly
" contradicted the general humanity of the na-
" tives of Pelew, 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
" Pelew people become well acquainted with
" the channels and creeks of the ifland, they had
" afterwards made ufe of that knowledge to land
" frequently by Health, and commit great de-
" predations ; and that, on this Confideration,
" that ftep which we fo much condemned had
" become neceffary to them.
" Among the prifoners was a Rupack, who
" had a bone on his wrift; the Pelew people,
" after he was captured, 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 his Order.
" When brought to Pelew, his head was cut
L4 "off,

S E P T E M.
BER.

15J AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. u orr ancj 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
<c parts by a fpear. Their cuftom is, when they
" go to battle, to trefs their hair in a particular
<e manner, and to collect it in a great bunch at
" the top. of their head; but as foon as they are
" captured they untie it, pull it over their faces,
" and wait with firmnefs and intrepidity the -
" exterminating blow, which they are fure to
" receive from the hands of their conquerors^
" When thefe two unfortunate men, on coming
" into the canoe where I vyas, by the above-
" mentioned difpofition had teftified they were
" prepared for their fate, the natives ordered
" them to fit down in the bottom of the canoe,
" to which the one whofe thigh was broken,
" fubmitted ; hut the other being refractory,
*5 refufed, and feemed by refiftance to provoke
" his deftiny, upon which one of the natives
" haftily foatched my bayonet from my fide,.and
<c plunged it into his body: though the poor
" fellow - was, a confiderable time .bleeding to
" death, yet he never uttered a fingle groan, or

" figh.

" Mr. Benger alfo reported, that he had by
<f his entreaties for two hours faved a. wounded
" prifonerA

S E P T E M-

THE PELEW ISLANDS. , .153
t( prifoner, when one of the King's people, who 17g3
" had been himfelf wounded by the enemy, hap-
" pening to fee him, fnatched Soogle's Malay
" Creefef, and ftabbed him inftantly, before
" Mr. Benger perceived the blow. This man,
" a native of Artingall, who had now for the
" firft time feen a white perfon, fubmitted un-
" dauntedlyto his fate; whilft expiring, he fixed
" his eyes on the Englifh, and feemed to die
" impreffed with nothing fo much as the colour
'( of his new enemy,
u Abba Thulle in his return to Pelew flop-
<e ped, and went on fhore in feveral fmall iflands,
" which I underftood were either fubject to him,
" or his allies; expofing publicly the dead bodies
" of his prifoners ; and the people at alj thefe
t' places feemed to rejoice much at his victory,
" bringing out fweet drink, and other refrefh-r
" ments. — We could not learn what number the
*' enemy loft, but were confident it muft have
" been confiderable. Not a fingle perfon of the
il King's party was killed, though" there were
" a few wounded.
" It was dark before we reached Pele,w; on
•*' coming near it, the conch was founded to no-r
" tify the King's approach, — When we landed
*' at the wharf from whence we had departed, a
* A kind of dagger ufed by the Malays. "vaft

SEPI1W. » ER.

154 ANACCOUNTOF
17&3. " vaft concourfe of people were ready to receive
" us, bringing with them a quantity of refrefh-
" ments. Here we ftopped till, all were landed
" and got together (having dropped great part
" of our fleet by the way, who had filed off to
" their refpective homes) and then went up
" to Pelew, where there was finging and
" dancing moft part of the night; the natives
" attributing the fuccefs of the day to us, and
ef often 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 fea."
Such were the particulars of the fecond battle
of Artingall, as brought by Mr. M. Wilson,
and confirmed by all who were with him on the
expedition. By our returned countrymen informa
tion was alfo brought, that Abba Thulle pur-
pofed to pay the Englifh a vifit in four or five
days. By what our countrymen could obferve,
Artingall appeared the largeft of any of the
iflands.
•Patfj2yi6. 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 ofthe utmoft fervice in the bufinefs
of conftructing the veffel. Encouraged

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 155
Encouraged by the fuccefs of the- preceding SEp7|VM-
day, the pinnace again vifited the wreck, and Wedn^jaT
brought back more of the fame kind of mate- *?•
rials. After a ftormy night the day proving bad, Thurfday
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 Friday 19.
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 fur
nace was conftructed to heat the plank, and the Saturday
day following all were employed id dubbing the
timbers, and getting the firft plank upon her bot
tom : more materials were alfo recovered from
the wreck, together with five bags of rice. ^
This day three more planks were got upon the Sunday si.
bottom, and the boats brought fifteen bags of
rice, which proved moft acceptable; our people
at this time, though undergoing very fevere daily
labour, being at fhort allowance. The rice was
greatly damaged by having been long under wa
ter, it would not boil to a grain, but to a jelly.
Yet hunger and diftrefs give a relifh to many a
difh, which in the lefs adverfe hours of life, the
faucy appetite would look on with difdain !

CHAPTER

?i6 AN ACCOUNT OT

i7»3. - . CHAPTER XIV.
B El. Progrefs 'of the Veffel, and other Occurrences. —
Raa Kook comes from Pelew to folicit more
Men, and a Swivel Gun, to attend the King on a<
grand. Expedition. — After fome Explanation be
tween Captain Wilson and the General, the
Requeft is granted, and the allotted Men return
v 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. — Ar
rives juft after his Countrymen had returnedfrom
tbe grand Expedition, in which this young Man,
whom he went to vifit, had been killed. — At
tends Raa Kook to his Son's Funeral, of which
m Account is given.
Monday yr; was a great confolation to our countrymen.
M> that the Antelope ftill- remained unfeparated,
as many ufeful things were occafionally procured.
from her.
In the afternoon Tom Rose, who had been
left after the engagement, by the King*s defire, to
give him more particular information concerning
the Englifh than he had hitherto obtained, came
up from Pelew, bringing with him a prefent from
Abba Thulle of a quantity of yams, and ajar of
molofies,

S E P T E ft.
ER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. itf
moloffes, and at the fame time was charged to 1783
exprefs to Captain Wilson, and his officers, his
hope that they would not take it amifs that he
had not as yet paid them his intended vifit, 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 victory, and that had he
come, they would all have attended him. Some
of them having expreffed a defire of accompany
ing him to fee the Englifh, he had diffuaded them
from it, repfefenting to them that the ifland be
ing very fmall, it would not afford fufficient water
for fo many, and that their vifit would neceffarily '
put the Englifh to great inconvenience.
There appears to be a fingular attention paid
by the King to our people, in this, as well as on
every occafion. His mind feemed to be as con-
fiderate as it was liberal. He had undoubtedly
obferved how much the curiofity of his own
attendants, whenever he went to Oroolong,
inevitably impeded our people's operations,
and fqrefaw, how in a ftill greater degree the
crowding in of fo many ftrangers would add ;
to their diftrefs; therefore, as the bufinefs of
thefe ftrangers at this time was merely to pay
their court to him, fo by remaining with them at
Pelew» he precluded them from teftifying any '
further wifh 'on this head. Yet whilft he ma
naged

158 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. naged this matter fo well for the fervice of the
jU. " Englifh, his delicacy was hurt, left, by not com
ing to exprefs his acknowledgments for their late
fervices fo foon as he had promifed, they might
be inclined to impute to him a forgetfulnefs of
thofe obligations he felt he had to them.
The pinnace having been fent this day to the
Wreck, at her return in the evening brought fix
teen more bags of rice, and alfo information that
the King had fent his canoes thither, and had car
ried away one of the fix-pounders.
Tuefday About noon to-day there was a heavy fquall
from the northward, accompanied with hard rain
and much lightning from the eaftward.
Wednefday The planking of the veffel was now forwarded
with great afliduity; they brought from the wreck
this day a quantity of nails, and fome fheets of
copper; it having been in contemplation to
fheath the bottom of their new veffel, which was
not above one fixth ofthe fize ofthe Antelope;
but this idea was very foon abandoned, for want
of a fufficiency of copper nails to effect the pur-
pofe. — No canoes were feen on board to-day, but
a prodigious furf broke upon the reef.
Thurfday Nothing occurred but the continued progrefs
Friday »s. of the veffel. — The jolly- boat was fent to fifh,
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

THE PELEW ISLANDS. *59
proper bait, but every attempt of this kind 178,3-
J C ¦ 1 C SEPTEM-
proved fruitlels. ber.
One canoe came to the ifland to-day, and Saturday
J 27.
brought yams and cocoa-nuts; more copper was
got from the wreck, and a confiderable quantity
of nails.
Raa Kook arrived at Oroolong in the Sunday as..
evening, accompanied by two ftrangers of rank^
who it was afterwards known were Chiefs of
fome ofthe neighbouring iflands; they, came in
three canoes, and brought prefents of yams,
cocoa-nuts, and three jars of moloffes.— -Our
people had been all the day bufied about the
veffel, and were juft then going to prayers; aU
the Pelew people attended the fervice, and be
haved with the greateft decency : one or two of
them happening to fpeak, Raa Kook checked
them; and they afterwards obferved ftrict filence.
— While at prayers, the Malay, Soogle, arrived
from Pelew with a meffage to the General from
Abba Thulle, and coming into the tent was
going to deliver it; but Raa Kook, unwilling
that the Englifh fhould be interrupted, made a
motion with his hand to keep filence, till the
Captain (to whom he pointed) had done read
ing. After prayers, having received the mef
fage, he and the ftrangers entered into conver
sion with Captain Wilson and his officers,
and after fome time the General afked for fifteen
6 men,

S E P T E M.
BER.

66 AN ACCOUNT OF
»
1783. men, and one of the fwivel-guns, to go with
them on another expedition. — The King; flufhed.
with the advantages he had already gained by
the friendfhip of his new allies, feemed defirous
to profit by their aid, and avenge himfelf of all
his enemies. — Captain Wilson thought this a
favourable opportunity, to mention to the General
fuch things as he conceived he had a right to
complain of; firft, refpecting the coolnefs with'
which they had gone away on the laft expedition
to Artingall, and fhewed him an empty
cartouch-box, to let him fee how much he
was in Want of that paper which fome of the
canoes had carried off from the fhip. — He alfo
complained that ' it had been fuggefted to his
people when at Pelew, by the Malay, that
whenever the King appeared, the fame external
marks of homage were expected from them as
were paid him by his own fubjects, and that this-
was a matter which had much difturbed the En
glifh; he likewife informed the General, that the
Englifh could never confent to go again to war
with his brother, if he meant to put their-prifonersi
to death, as it was contrary to the nature and
cuftom of their nation to hurt any who had fob-'
mitted to their power; and finifhed by adding a
word or two on the fubject of one of the fix-
pounders having been carried away from the fhip,
and exprefling an apprehenfion that fome mif-
underftanding,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. i6i

S E P T E M«
• St.

underftanding muft haVe arifen, by their fending 1783
our people home without any of the Chiefs; or
Rupacks to accompany them, by which inattention
his brother with another man was near being
drowned; and fome arms alfo were loft, notwith-
ftanding the utmoft endeavours ofthe boatmen.
The General being come to make this requeft
of the men and fwivel for this third expedition
(which was intended to be a very formidable
one) appeared exceedingly hurt at hearing all
thefe 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 refpect as
Vwarm as his own, he had not a doubt but that
ije could prevail on them to grant the fwivel,
although it had been refufed before: — what then
muft his difappointment have been, when, in
ftead of having this wifh complied with as he
expected, he heard nothing but complaints 1
His countenance, more expreffive than words,
avowed what his feelings were, and the expref
five looks which he caft on Captain Wilson
and his officers, fo ftrongly operated on their
friendfhip, that they willingly liftened to his ex
planations. He broke filence, by alluring the Captain he
would make him and his people perfectly eafy
in every particular prcumftance.—- He began
M with

SE P T E M
BER

62 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. with the paper and cartouch-boxes, (fearing
probably they had not ammunition ready'for the
expedition;) he affured them that every endea
vour had been ufed to get1 the paper that had
been carried away from the fhip, but- there was
none to be found, as what had been taken' on
fhore by the natives- being thoroughly wet,
dropped to pieces in their hands, and was there
fore thrown away as ufetefsv — He faid the white
fluff (meaning the long cloth given to the King
and himfelf, and to Arra Kooker) was never-'
thelefs whole, and fhould be given baok to them
to make cartridges. — That With regard to their
going away abruptly, that Was folely owing to
Mr. BengEr's hafte to put the men into the
canoes. — As to their fending the Englifb>ba.ck in
bad weather, without any Chiefs, that alfo Was
occafioned by Mr. Benger's anxiety to return;
that they had ftrongly folicited him to defer it
till the weather became more fettled, and other
canoes were got ready. — He faid it had not been
always their ufkge to put their prifoners to death,
but they had been lately obliged to do- fo from
neceffity, as fome of them had efeaped: home,
and returning, had treacheroufJy done- them
great mifchief; but affured the Captain that in
future they fhould be all given up to the Englifh
to do, with them whatever they pleafed. — That
reflecting the great gun taken from the.fhip, he
bad

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 163
had in commiffion from the King to tell them
of it;— that Abba Thulle, willing to keep.
the ftrangers that were vifiting him from inter
rupting the EngHfh, had given them an account
of the effect produced by their fmall arms, but,
ftill more to furprize them, wifhed to convey to
them fome idea of the havock that might be
made with one of Our great weapons ; that he
had therefore fent for one to fhow them, and
that the King had defired the General to fay it
fhould now be fent back.- — And laftly, as to his
brother expecting any perfonal reverence from
Captain Wilson's people, he abfolutely difa-
vowed any fuch idea having ever been entertained
by the King; that it was a miftake, or a mif-
conception, nor ever could have hterx Wifhed or
defired *.
* This mifunderftanding had been occafioned folely
by the Malay. This artful fellow probably found, that
the intereft he had with the King had declined in proportion
as oar people became more neceflary to him, and therefore
had fet his brains to work to awaken diftruft amongft them ;
in confequence of this, he had fuggefted this pretended re-
quifition of the King, fuppofing it would- difpleafe the Eng.
UJb, though in reality they never themfelves had the fmalleft
r'eafon to fuppofe fuch a wifh 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 this tranfac-
tion, as he was not viuble for many days after.
M 2 Thefe

164 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. Thefe matters being now fatisfactorily fet-
ber. " tied, Captain Wilson took his officers out, to
confult with them on the requeft ; when it was
judged right to confent to their having the
fwivelrgun and ten men, but no more. This
being refolved on, he returned into the tent,
and acquainted Raa Kook with the determina
tion ; which pleafed him much, and they all
went to fupper with our people in great good-
humour. 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, ihe Rupacks, then wanted to go to reft,
he requefted that he might take them to fleep in
the veffel, as the tent was too fmall for them. ¦
Monday 19. The fucceeding day the General 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 extracted; requefting
that he would go down to Pelew, to fee if it
was poffible to draw it out. Mr. Sharp under
ftanding 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 fwelling; acquainting the
General, that having three of their beft men
very ill, it would be out of his power to accom pany

SEPTEM BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 165
pany him that day to Pelew, but as foon as 1783.
they were better, he would immediately attend
him. Mr. Sharp enquired of fome of our people
who had been in the battle, by what means the
youth had received this wound ; and learnt that
the fpear having been* flung into his foot, by
trying to pull it out, they had broken it fhort
off; that the natives then applied a cord, fattened
to the end of the fpear which remained in his
foot, and had exerted great ftrength to extract
it, but the barb of the fpear having been forced
between the fmall bones, the inflammation and
fwelling, which immediately took place, rendered
every effort ineffectual; and they would more
eafily, in the ftate the limb was, have pulled off
his foot than have drawn out the fractured fpear.
A native, reputed to be fkilled in thefe matters,
was then fummoned to infpect the 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 effufion of blood,
after mangling the foot, they reforted to their ac-
cuftomed method of fomentation, which they were
purfuing (as the General faid) when he left Pe
lew. About noon Raa Kook went from Oroo
long, taking with him the following men, and
alfo the fwivel-gun, for the third expedition, viz.
M 3 Mr.

166 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783.- Mr. Cummin, Mr. M. Wilson, John Blanch
SEPTEM BER, the gunner,- John Meal, James Swift, Nicho
las Tvacke, Madan Blanchard, Thomas
Whitfield, Thomas Wilson, and Thomas
Dulton, Mr. Devis accompanied 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; where
as on the two former expeditions he had none but
his own fubjects with him, except the Englifh.
Tuefday The veffel was now fo far advanced, that hav-
ing planked her up as high as the bends, in the af
ternoon they began to trench under her bottom, in
order to plank to the keel ; this had like to have
been deftruetive to all their labours, for the tide,
in the beginning of the night, rifing higher than
ufual, broke into the trench, and had nearly wafhr
ed away the blocks from under the veffel; but the
accidentwas providentially difcovered intime,and
all hands inftantly went to work, with the utmoft
expedition, to fill up the trench, and fecure the
veffel from falling off the flocks, which kept
OPT f)B PR
Wednefday them employed until near morning, when they
found the danger far greater than what- even
they had fuppofed, for fome ofthe blocks having
been difplaced by the water, they were obliged
to get wedges and fet her up, in order to rein
itiate them, and get her once more fecured;
which being accomplifhed, they contrived a
bank

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 167
bank or dam to keep out the tide. This accident 0ct7ob3er.
was the more unlucky, as three of their beft
workmen were then ill, which, with the abfence
of thofe gone to the war, made the labour fall
heavier on the reft.— It may not be unneceffary,
perhaps, to give an account how this bank, to
keep out the tide, was formed : — The pinnace
was laid a-ground, directly before the veffel,
where they wifhed to flop the tide ; two holes
were bored in her bottom, and fhe 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 ofthe veffel beyond high-water mark;
it was lined on the 'infide with fmall branches and
twigs, fattened with flakes and- ftones, to prevent
their wafhing away; fand was then thrown on
thefe branches, which, all together, compofed a
bank of four or five feet thick; and was conti
nued quite round the infide of the wall, and be
fore the pinnace it was made ftrongeft, as having
-the greateft weight of water to refift. When finifh-
:ed, it effectually kept out the tide, and required
no further trouble, than occafionally to throw a
few bafkets of fand upon fuch parts ofthe wall as
fettled by the wafhing ofthe tide. Owing to thefe
:various ^employments, it was not till Thurfday Thurfday
-the fecoad, in the afternoon, that they could
get their .dam completed, in a -manner to be
M 4 perfectly

168 AN ACCOUNT OF

*7*->- perfectly fecure; this accomplifoed, 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 Pelew
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 render any fervice to Raa Kook's fon.
In the abfence of fo many people, the bufinefs
of the dock-yard was much impeded; it was
neverthelefs followed up with every poffible
diligence by the few Engtifhmen remaining at
Oroolong, who, befide the fick, were only
twelve in all : the Chinefe were employed in re
pairing the bank, bringing down timber from
the woods, and fuch other ufeful work as they
were capable of.
Friday 3. -s The weather was very variable about this
al 4. ay f time, with much lightning from the eaftward,
m — accompanied with frequent fqualls* and hard
rain. Since the laft new moon, the tides were ob
ferved to be remarkably high. The morning
tides were very low, and ehbed very little;
whereas the evening tides were high, and ebbed
?i long way out, leaving the harbour quite dry.
Monday 6. r£hc fay ppened dark and gloomy, with much
thunder, lightning, and continued rain, fo that
they could nqt go out. ofthe tents ro work before noon.

OCTOBER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 169
noon. They were very uneafy on account ofthe 1783.
jolly-boat being abfent fo much longer than they
expected, 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 wea
ther at the fmall ifland till this morning, from
whence they came away at day- light; they brou-o-ht
the welcome intelligence that all our people were
well at Pelew, having returned from the expedi
tion on the Wednefday night preceding, in which.
they proved fuccefsful. They reported this to
have been the fevereft action of any yet fought,
it lafted near fix hours ; the people of Artingall,
acting on the defenfive, behaved with great refo-
lution. The King detained our people, and the
Rupacks who accompanied him on the expedition,
at Pelew, in order to entertain them with feaft-
ing and dancing; and fent in the boat fome
yams and provifion, as alfo the fwivel, which
they reported had done much execution. Abba
Thulle returned by Mr. Sharp the fhip's
coppers; this was indeed a great acquifition to
our people, who were in great want of them to
boil their provifion, having hitherto been obliged
to dreis it in fome little kettles and faucepans,
and defpaired of ever regaining the coppers,
rwhich had been carried away by the natives at
their

• CTOBE«

170 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. their firft vifiting the wreck. Complaint of their
want of them had been made to Raa Kook,
and he, no doubt, acquainted the King there
with, who gave orders for a diligent enquiry to
be made after them, and, difcovering whene
they were fecreted, had now returned them to
the Englifh by the jolly-boat; — evincing by this,
as well as by every other part of his conduct,
the generofity of his difpofition, not allowing
his people to detain from our countrymen any
thing that had been once their property, how-*
ever valuable it might be in the eftimation of
the natives.
Mr. Sharp gave the following account of his
vifit to Pelew : — That he got there about noon
on the day he left Oroolong, and landing,
went immediately towards the General's houfe,
who feeing him, came out to meet him, .with a
vifible concern on his countenance. Mr. Sharp
immediately told him the purport of his vifit,
fhewing-him the inftruments he had brought,
which he told him he hoped might be of much
affiftance to his fon's complaint; he bowed'^
and affumed a more placid look, as . if fenfi-
bly touched with this mark of attention. He
defired Mr. Sharp to follow him, and led him
to the Engliftj houfe, around which he met all
his countrymen, and where was alfo the King,
the Chief Minifter, together with feveral of the
Rupacks,

OCTOBER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 17*
Rupacks, fitting on the large pavement before 1.783-
the houfe allotted to our people. He went di
rectly to pay-his refpects to the King and the Ru
packs. Thepurpofe of Mr. Sharp's comingbeing
known, he was informed by the ChiEf Minifter,
that during the time Raa Kook was at Oroo
long, the fomentation had occafioned the fwel-
Jihg to fubfide, and that they had extracted the
fpear from the bottom of the foot, by forcing it
through; and that the youth (who was about
eighteen, and inherited all the fpirit and intrepi
dity of the father) finding that though he could
not walk, yet that he was able to ftand up in a
canoe, and throw a fpear, infifted that he would
go on this expedition, which they expected would
be fbccefsful, from the circumftance of their
having the fwivel, which they had before fo much
fet their hearts on; but that very early in the
engagement, this gallant youth, eagerly en
deavouring to get up clofe to the fhore, received
a dart in his body, which entering between the
throat and clavicle, he dropped, and died in
ftantly. After Mr. Sharp, and thofe who came with
him, had partaken of fome refrefhment, which
was brought out for them, Raa Kook, who
was now returned, came up to Mr. Sharp and
the boatfwain, who was a favourite of his, and
defired they would follow him, which they did to

OCTOBER

17a AN ACCOUNT OF
,7gj. to the water-fide, where they faw a very large
canoe, with only two men in it. He then in- ,
formed them, he waited for fome people, whom, <
he expected to have found there. Soon, after
twenty-one Rupacks appeared, who were entire
ftrangers to Mr. Sharp, but who had affifted
Abba Thulle in his laft expedition ; Raa
Kook defired Mr. Sharp and the boatfwain to
go into the canoe firft, and a good deal of cere
mony paffed among the Rupacks, to fettle who
fhould go in the laft. — No kind of intimation
was given whither they were going, however it
was foon percived that they were directing their
courfe to the little ifland oppofite to Pelew,
about three or four miles diftant from it, and. 1
where they had ftopped when they firft accom
panied the General /rom Oroolong. On land- ,
ing, he took them a little way up the country,
where there was a fquare pavement, forrounded
by four or five houfes, which appeared to be
uninhabited, as no people were moving about, ,-..
and the grafs was growing between the ftones of
the pavement. After being feated, Raa Kook
difpatched one of his attendants oh a meffage,,:*
Mr. Sharp and the boatfwain remaining ftrangers, ,
%o the purport of this invitation. — Our Surgeon* ,.
who had before fhewn his watch to Raa Kook,
and fully explained to him its utility and defign, ,,
perceiving they were all very filerjt ^nd grave, and,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 173
and recollecting how much this little machine '783-
a OCT08E&.
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 exactly the Englifh were able, by
it, to meafure the divifion and lapfe of time; they
appeared to be all wonderfully aftonifhed at the
account he gave them of its ufe and power, and not
a little at hearing it tick. — It was near an hour
before the meffenger returned, when the General
conducted them to the town, which wa9s about
half a mile diftant ; they arrived at another
fquare pavement, furrounded by a number of
houfes ; in the middle of this fquare were quan
tities of yams and cocoa-nuts, in piles, with
fweet drink and fherbet ; and on the outfide of
the pavement was feated a great concourfe of
people of both fexes. On Raa Kook and the
Rupacks appearing, they all refpectfully rofe up.
The General and his friends being feated, the
attendants ferved out the provifions, firft to the
General and his guefts, and then to the people
who were placed round. It was obferved, that
all the women who were in the crowd at the
General's arrival, as foon as the refrefhments
were handed about, withdrew; and, what was
very remarkable, all the cocoa-nuts which were
brought on this occafion, were old nuts, where
as it had never been ufual at other entertainments
t to

OCT OB ER.

1,74. AN ACCOUNT OF
'7#3> tO' fee any but young ones ; however they toofc
away the old ones which were placed before the
Ewgtifhy and fet young ones in their room.
When this repaft, which was eaten in the moft
profound fifence, was nearly ended, there was
heard at fome diftance the lamentation of wo
men; Raa Kook touched Mr. Sharp, who
was fitting next to him, on the arm, arid with
out fpeaking, made figns to him with his hand
to go and fee what had occafioned this diftrefe;'
lie and the boatfwain both rofe up, and directly
went to the place whence thefe founds of forrow
feemed to proceed, when they perceived a great
number of women following a de^d body, which
was tied up in a mat, and laid on a kind' of bid
formed of bamboos, in fhape not unlike a
chairman's horfe, and fupported On the fhcnildefs
of four men, no other males but the bearers
attending. Mr. Sharp and his companion were
now perfectly fatisfied that this muft be the fu
neral of Raa Kook's fon^ yet were much
puzzled to know why it had been conducted-
fo filentiy, and that not a word Or hint had been
mentioned to them on the matter; whether it was
from that determined firmnefs of mind which Was
armed againft human weaknefs, or from what
ever other motive, remained then, and ftill muff
remaihv uncertain.— They arrived at the place
of burial juft as the people were fetting" ddwn the
6 bier,

THE/ PELEW. ISLANDS. 17$
bier, and laying the body in the grave prepa- ae'^
red for it. — The eerpfe was depofited without
any ceremony; the men Who had carried it
began immediately, with their hands and feet,
rethrow the earth over it and fill up the grave,
Whilift the women knelt down, and with loud
cries feemed as \f they would tear it up again,
fcnwilling to be deprived of the laft fight of a
lOVed object, which death had {hatched from
them. — A heavy rain coming on, drove fome of
the people away, as it did our two countrymen,
to the firft fhelrer they could obtain.
• When it cleared' up they returned to Raa
Kook and the Rupacks, Who had alfo fheltered
themfelves from the Weather. The evening ad
vancing, and proving tempeftuous, they could '
not return to Pelew. — Mr. Sharp and hiscom-
pinion, with fome of the Rufacfa, flept at the
General's houfe; the remainder of the com
pany 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 boatfwain to a houfe not faf
diftant from the place where his fon had been
interred the preceding evening ; there was only
an old woman in the houfe when they went in,
who, on receiving fome Order from the General,
rfrrrriediately difappeared, and foon after returned with

176 AN ACCOUNT OF
x7«3- with two old cocoa-nuts, and a bundle of beetle-
•CXOBE*. - -
nut with the leaves ; fhe alfo brought fome red
ochre. — He took up one of the cocoa-nuts,
croffing it with the ochre tranfverfely ; then
placed it on the ground by his fide. — After fit
ting Very penfive, he repeated fomething to
himfelf, which our people conceived was a kind
of prayer, as he appeared a good deal agitated ;
he then did the fame thing by the fecond cocoa-
nut, and afterwards croffed the bunch of beetle-
nut, and fat penfively over it; this done, he
called the old woman and delivered her the two
nuts, and the bundle of beetle-nut, accompanied
with fome directions. — Mr. Sharp and his com
panion, obferving her go towards the young
man's grave, their curiofity would have induced
them to follow her, in order to have obferved the
conclufion of this ceremony; but peculiarly cir-
cumftanced as the diftreffed father then was,
they felt an unwillingnefs to trefpafs on his
feelings, by teftifying any defire after further
information. At their return to Pelew, their countrymen
much wondered what had occafioned their ab-
fence, of which being informed, they in return
related that they had alfo been witneffes of the ''
funeral of another young man, who- had fallen
in the laft battle.— But this we need not notice
here, referving it to that part of the work
which

3-
OCTOBER.

THE~PELEW TSLAN^PS. 177
which will defcribe the manners and cuftoms of »7?
Pelew. The General conducted" Mr; Sharp to the
King, who was then feated in the fquare, and
who defired to fee .the inftruments which he had
brought with him,, in the kind intention to have
affifled his deceafed nephew; our Surgeon, fent
for them to Raa Kook's houfe, in whofe care
they had been depofited ; they were foon pro
duced, and Mr. Sharp, by the interpreter, ex
plained to him feparately "the ufe of every in-*
ftrument. The furprize and pleafure the fight
afforded Abba Thulle was fo great, that he
begged Mr. Sharp would go with him, juft by,
to where feveral Rupacks were lodged (who were
come to pafs a few days with him on account of
his late fuccefs) that they might alfo be indulged
with a view of thefe inftruments. A full expla
nation of the different purpofes 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 ampu
tation, with wonder; and probably had their
imaginations half overfet by the ideas, which all
rfhefe objects, fo new and fo fingular, muft have
tftarted in their minds.

N CHAPTER

T7& AN ACCOUNT OF

»?83. CHAPTER XV.
• CTOBER, The Men who had been on the third Expedition ti
Artingall return — an Account of it given.—
Captain Wilson invited by the King to vifit
tbe Rupacks, who had attended as Allies in the
laft Battle. — Accompanies the King and his Bro
ther to fome Iflands to the Northward, •when
thVre was much Feftivity on the Qccafian.—,
Is received with great Hofpitality, and after
Five Days Abfence returns to Oroolong.

Twfday 7. * BOUT eleven o'clock in the forenoon all
JfTL the warriors returned to Oroolong, per
fectly well, in high fpirits, and greatly pleafed
^with the treatment they had received from their
-P$lew friends. — Raa Kook accompanied them,
with four canoes, bringing fome yams, and two
jjars of mdlofies.
With refpect to the third expedition, I fhall
ptirfue the fame method as I did in the defcrip-
tion of the fecond battle of Artingall, and
deliver the particulars of it as I myfelf received
-them from Mr. M. Wilson, who was prefent at
it, and which particulars were fully confirmed by
every report of the tranfaction to the Captain. ,;
"Theoutfetof this bufinefs was nearly the
" fame as in the fecond expedition, though the
" number

OCTOBER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 179
*c number of canoes far exceeded thofe which I7s3.
" accompanied the King before. — When we got
" to Artingall no canoes 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
*f command, and conducted the troops; the
" King remaining in his canoe, and occafionally
" difpatching the Frigate canoes with orders to
" him and Arra Kooker. — We were entreated
" not to land ; we however, perceiving that the
" enemy were beginning, to defend themfelves,
"jumped on fhore to affift our friends, and be-
" fieged fome houfes poffeffed by the enemy. —
** The fwivel, which had been fixed in a canoe
" which the natives had prepared for the pur-
"pofe, with great ingenuity and judgment,
" played conftantly on the houfes which were
"filled with people; our mufquetry covering
* the Pelew people, foon diflodged the enemy,
<e and one of the houfes was by fome accident
" prefently in flames. — We were often greatly
" annoyed by the enemy, who rufhed down on
" us with a fhower of ipears ; in return, when-
" ever we perceived them coming, a brifk fire
" was kept up, which not only difperfed them
i " immediately, but in all probability muft have
N 2 "killed

180 AN ACCOUNT OF
T7g3. " killed a confiderable number of them. — Arra
" Kooker, who had* gone further than any
" other in purfuit ofthe enemy, afcending a hill
" in fight of the canoes, • and obferving one of
" the Artingall people coming down, flept
"unnoticed amongft fome bufhes to let him
" pafs, and then purfuing him down the decli-
" 'vity, ftunned him with a blow from his wooden
" fword *, and was dragging him a prifoner to
" his. canoe, when Thomas Wilson, feeing
" feveral of the enemy rufhing down on Arra
" Kooker, and that he muft inevitably have
" been killed, ran immediately to his affiftance,
" and levelled his piece at the Artingall
" people, which they perceiving; inftantly be-
" took themfelves to flight ; this was a cir-
" cumftance the more fortunate, as Thomas
" Wilson had expended his whole flock of
" ammunition in covering the landing, and
" had actually at the time no charge in his
" mufquet. " The natives of Artingall behaved with
*c much courage in this engagement ; they de-
" fended the houfe that took fire to the laft, nor
" quitted it till it was ready to fall. — One of
" the Pelew people alfo on this occafion diftin-
• The fame fort of weapon was prefented to Captain
Wilson uiEmungs. "guiflied

THE PELEW ISLANDS. r8i
" guifhed himfelf in a very extraordinary man- '7&3-
, ' OCTOBSR.
" ner; he ran to the houfe while it was in flames,
" tore off a burning brand, and carrying it to
"¦ another houfe, where many of the enemy had
" taken fhelter, fet it on fire, and (the materials
" of their buildings being very combuftible) it
" was quickly burnt down ; the man, after ac-
" complifhing this bold atchievement, had the
" good fortune to return to his companions un-
c? hurt ; the King publicly rewarded him for his
" courage, by immmediately placing with his
" own hands a firing of beads in his ear, and
w making him afterwards an inferior Rupack on
" his return to Pelew.
"In this action five canoes were deftrOyed,
" which the enemy had hauled on fhore, and alfo
" their wharf or caufeway, which was much
" longer and broader than that at Pelew. Be-
" fide doing much other damage to the enemy,
"they brought away the ftone on which the King
"af Artingall fits when in council; this af-
"tforded occafion for .great rejoicings when they
(f got back, although thefe were not fo truly felt
" as after the fecond battle, the triumph ofthe day
" being overclouded by the death of Raa Kook's
" fon, and another youth of note, both killed in
" this engagement, as alfo from having thirty or
" forty of their people wounded, feveral of whom »
v. N 3 " died

8.

182 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- " died in confequence thereof, in a few days
'CTOBgR. x '
" after their return to Pelew *."
Wednefday This morning Mr. Barker unfortuhatelyfell
backward from one of the ftages, and was much
hurt. — Our men being now employed about the
veffel, and Raa Kook waiting with two canoes
at Oroolong, Captain Wilson went, by the
particular defire of the King, to pay a vifit to
the Rupacks who attended him on the laft expe
dition. The Captain was accompanied by his
fon Henry Wilson, Thomas Dulton his
fervant, and the linguift. — After they had got
out of the harbour they waited fome time for
the canoes, which had been fifhing. — The Ge-
neral.fent a turtle and fome fifh to the tents, and
took the reft to Pelew, where they arrived about
ten o'clock at night ; the King had been gone
an hour before to the great ifland called Emungs,
wherd thefe Rupacks lived, but had left his eldeft
fon, Qui Bill, to receive Captain Wilson, and
go forward with him. — Raa Kook afked the
Captain if he liked to follow his brother; but
he declined going any further till morning, feel
ing himfelf indifpofed.
* The carrying v off the regal ftone from Artingall,
might add as much imaginary glory to the day as our firft
Edward's bringing to Westminster the inauguration
ftone ofthe Kings of Scotland. About

THE PELEW ISLANDS. i?3.
About feven o'clock the next morning they . 1783.
' ' OCTOBRR.
, „ embarked in Raa. Kook's canoe; the Genef al - xhoriday
was accompanied by two of his wives, haying
eleven^ men to paddle, and taking with them ,
provifion for the day; they went to the north- f
ward, about ten or twelve leagues, and about
noon were off the mouth of a rivulet that ran up
into the ifland of Emu,ngs, where Abba Thulle
^ ^ then. was.— Raa Kook here ornamented his ca
noe with fhells, and founded his conch, to giveA
notice of his arrival.
This rivulet was both narrow and ihalipw, its
fides full of mangroye trees, which in feyeral,
places were cut away to make a free paffage for
the canoes to pafs up and down.«~In their paf
fage 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-ftones upon the banks; it was ne
ceffary for them to keep a good look-out, as,
they had frequently fudden tranfitions from deep
to Jhallow 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 fome
houfes ; the conch-fhell was again founded, when
three or four young men appeared, but returned
back immediately, as if furprized; Raa Kook,
on feeing this, ordered two of his men to go up
N4 tQ

i&4 AN ACCOUNT. OF
.1783: to the houfes, who returned with a piece of
OCTOBER.. , ( f
board, on which they feated Captain Wilson,'
and affifted by two others took him on fhore,
Raa Kook walking by his fide, the cartoe being
a-ground. The bank of the river was by this time
crowded" with the natives; through this throng
.they were conducted to a large houfe, where the
novelty of feeing men of a different colour to
themfelves had drawn together a frefh concourfe
of people, whofe Curiofity Was ftill more raifed
by what they had heard of them in the late dif
ferent expeditions.— The Captain and his com
panions flayed at this place about half an hour,
to reft themfelves, and gratify the natives, Who
appeared exceedingly defirous to touch them;
they then walked about a quarter Of a mile fur
ther, where Abba Thulle with the Rupacks
were expecting their arrival, — They found. the
King and the Chiefs in a large houfe or public
building; the former'- made figns to Captain
Wilson to fit dowrt. — They remained there
about two hours, and then went to vifit the 'Ru
pack of 'the town, who was a very old man and
unable to walk, being accompanied- by Raa
Kook, who introduced them. A kind of ftool
pr low table covered with boiled yams, a tub of
fweet drink, and a fifh were fet before them. —
They tafted them, and remained about half an
hour with the old Rupack, and returned to the
great

THE ^E LEW ISLANDS. 185-'
great houfe, whither the provifions were fent after 1783.
them. — About • five o'clock in the evening a
dancing began, after the manner of the country,
at each end of the outfide of the greae houfe, and ?
another at a houfe a little diftant, Vhere another*
large company were with ArrA Kooker and
the TCing's eldeft fon, Qui Bill. — Supper was
ferved by two butlers. It was obferved, in the
houfe where Abba Thulle was, that though
ah allotted fhare," 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; neither did Jthey at night'
lie down to fleep until he was covered with his
mat. The dancing continued the whole night, with
finging, the women joining in both,; which alto
gether made a terrible noife ; and our people hav
ing only rough uneven boards to •fleep on, with a
boat cloak fpread under them, and a jack for a co
verlid, they may be rather faid to have lain down,
than refted. — Thefe diverfions did not ceafe till ten
o'clock the next morning, and at three in the after- Friday v»
noon were renewed for an hour; when two parties
of the natives came from a wood that was clofe
to the town, and rufhing out by different ways,1
feprefentcd to the fpectators a mock fight j after
which they joined in one band, and began a
6 * kind

«CT022E

j86 AN ACCOUNT OF
*7i3- kind of dance,- with their fpears in their hands j
during which four large fpears were brought and
prefented to Captain Wilson by the Chief of the
band, one at a time, he making a fhort fpeech
at the delivery of each of them, and then returned
to join the dance; he alfo prefented the Captain;
with a fword, made of very hard wood, and cu*
rioufly inlaid with fhell. — This dance lafted
about an hour ; when it was ended, Captain
Wilson enquired ofthe linguift the meaning of
fome human fkulls he faw placed over the out-
-fide of the doors at the ends of the great houfe;
he directly went and afked Raa Kook, who
gave him the following account: — That the
Rupacks and principal men of Emu nos having
gone on fome particular occafion to another
ifland, taking with them a confiderable number
pf the inhabitants, a party of the Artingall
people landed at their town, and killing many
who could not efcape into the wqods, - fet
their hcfufes on fire ; the news of which being
brought to Abba Thulle, he immediately af*
fembled his canoes and warriors, and went and
attacked, them before they had quitted the place j
that being fo unexpectedly befet, many were
killed, and the reft fled, fome in their canoes,
and others into the woods j that the Rttp&ch
and people of Emungs returning at this junc
ture, few of the Artingall people eft/aped; and

IX.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. i»7
and that thofe were the heads of fome of the ^'83-
¦OCTOBER-
Chaefs.— This affair appeared not to have hap
pened very long beforej as the materials of the
houfes which had been deflroyed looked ftill ra
ther frefh, nor were overgrown with weeds an
that time. — In the evening they renewed their
merriment, which continued till midnight, when
they went to reft.
The morning was ufhered in with new dances. s«wa»y
After breakfaft there was much heavy rain with
thunder and lightning ; 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 of the great houfe where our people
were ; he was brought on a hoard flung with a
rope at each end, and carried by four men.—
After he was feated, a meffenger came and
fpoke to Abba Thulle, whq immediately faid
fomething to the Rupacks in the great houfe,
and they all went out on the pavement, and
feated themfelves with much refpect ; Abba
Thulle alfo quitted the houfe, leaving none
but the Englifh in it ; yet did not go to the old
Rupack, or take any notice of the ceremony car
rying on, but fat down under a tree, where he
could not be obferved, and amufed himfelf with
making the handle of a hatchet. — After fome
time fpent in converfation, the old Rupack dis
tributed beads to the other Rupacks, in the fol
lowing

188 AN A*C COU NT OF
'7?3- lowing manner : — The old Rupack gave them to
an officer in "waiting," who advancing into' the
i middle of the fquare, and holding them up be
tween his fore-finger and thumb, made a fhbrt
fpeech, and with a loud' voice called out the
perfon's name for whom they were defigned; arid
immediately ran and gave them to him, and
then returned in a flow pace to the old Rupack for
the next, which was prefented in the fame man
ner. — Captain Wilson remained in the houfe
obferving the ceremony, till the linguift was
fent to hirn> when he went out, and was directed
to a feat near to his friend Raa Kook,' and
foon after two tortoife-fhell ifpoons, and a firing
of red beads, which were made from a cbarfe
fpeeies\ of cornelian, were brought forward,
which the before-mentioned officer holding up,
called out Englees, and inftantly ran and pre
fented them to the Captain.— Abba Thulle's
beads, which were of glafs *, were given to
* The beads firft fpoken of were of their own making,
being a kind of coloured earth baked : they made them alfo
at Pelkw, but our people had never any opportunity of
feeing how they were manufa&u red. —They alfo confide'reo-
as beads the glafs ones laft mentioned, being only bits cf
broken g'afs, which they had the art of drilling ; fome beads
they faw of 'this kind were made of green and white gl|afs,
being fmall pieces of broken bottles which had been got
cut ofthe Antelope.
Raa

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 189

Raa Kook, who .perfonated; the King on this 1783-
1 OCTOBER
occafion. • .- ¦ . ., j;i
There certainly appears/ from what has been
faid, to have been' fome etiquette, not properly
underftoOd by our people, in Abba Thulle's
retiring whilft the old :Rupack was diftributing
his favours.— There was reafon to fuppofs, that
if:lheir.rJank was the fame, yet the ceremonials of
their perfonal interview, might not be fufficiently
fettled, fo as to admit of their meeting on terms
of equal dignity on .hoth fides. Therefore the
King of Pelew, though actually prefent, .was
only prefomed to be To in the>. perfon of his
brother the General; who, as , appears before,
anfwered for him, and in his name received that
teftjmony of refpect with which one fovereign
was pleafed to greet another. When the old
Rupack had diftributed allhis.favours, 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. Fifh, yams, and other refrefh-
ments Were then given to the attendantsjaf Abba
Thulle and the other Rupacks. — The evening
was paffed in the great hQufe as before.
In confequence of Captain Wilson having , Sunday i».
requefted to return to Oroolong, the conch-
fhell was founded at day-light, and th? canoes goc

•CTOBER.

190 AN ACCOUNT OF
*7*s- got in readinefs for departure. At eight o'clock
they all went to the houfe where they firft
landed, and here, before they embarked, Raa
Kook expreffed a wifh to fire a mufquet ; but
having no idea of the fhock it would occafion,
and holding it loofe, it ftruck his fhoulder with
fuch force as threw him backwards/ and it fell
from his hands. He expreffed much furprize
that the Englifh could do this with fo much eafe,
and that he was neither able to ftand 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 Rupacks, who was going to the
northward, where he lived, parted company, car
rying away in his fuit eight or nine canoes. This
Rupack, whofe name was Maath, had two
Benes on. his arm. Captain Wilson 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 afterwards
returned to him, as our people faw him wear
the coat when he went againft -Pelelew, and
faw the dog frequently afterwards at Pelew;
Which fatisfied them that they were only: lent to
Maath to take to his ifland, that he might fhew
them to his own people, Captain Wh.son hav-
t »"ff

OCTOlER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. tp
ing declined going to vifit them, though ftrongly i7»j;
felicited, excufing himfelf on account of the long
time it would occafion his being abfent from
Oroolong. — Abba 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 obli
ged every canoe to fhift for itfelf; the boatmen,
in that canoe where the Captain was, jumped
overboard, to avoid being wetted with the rain *,
holding by the canoe with one arm, and keeping
it as it were at an anchor ; but finding the rain
continue after the thunder had ceafedi they made
for the fhore, which having reached, the boat
men very expeditibufly kindled 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, fheltered under his boat-cloak, mut
tered fbmething that feemed to be a prayer; or
ejaculation ; Raa Kook covered himfelf with
his mat. About noon the weather cleared up,
and they joined the King, who gave our people
* BJotwithftanding the natives bathed daily in frefli water,
yet they all appeared to have a great diflike at being wetted
by rain ; it is probable the fpat t ering of it on their naked
bodies might create an unpleafant fenfation. toiled

OCTOBER.

192 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- f boiled fifh for dinner, fomewhat refembling mul
let. About one o'clock ail landed; and. the
King and his retinue, with our people, walked
up the country about a mile, to a town called
Aramalorgoo, where was exhibited a dance of
fpearmen ; after which the ufual fort of . refrefh-
ments were ferved to the company. They then
returned to their canoes, and came to a place
called Emillegue, which appeared, to be a dif-
tinct government, as a formal invitation 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-fhore.
The Rupack was a fat, good-looking, friendly
old man ; and by every mark of external refpect.
paid to him, feemed to be a perfon of confider
able confequence.
Our people conceived the idea, that fome eti
quette here alfo operated on the King of Pelew,
as he would not himfelf go on fhore, but flayed
in his canoe, though it was his wifh that all the
reft of his company fhould land. They were here
entertained with a dance, and treated with fome
Broiled pigeons, &c. They alfo were invited to,
and moft kindly received at two or three private
"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
conduct them in fafety to the water-fide, bearing lighted

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 193
lighted torches ih their handsj ahd taking them ,7gj.
by the arm whenever the path was uneven or OCToSE't•
difficult. About ten o'clock Captain Wilson and his
party arrived at Pelew ; the King's canoe not
being come in, no perfon offered to go on fhore,
the fame was obferved by all the other canoes ;
nor till the King went on fhore was any thing
removed from the boats. And here I muft no
tice, that though thefe ceremonials were obferved
by all ranks to Abba Thulle, even by his
brothers Raa Kook and Arra Kooker, yet
Captain Wilson and the Englifh were exempt
from them; and Raa Kook gave him to under-*
Hand the Englifh might land when they pleafed ;
but the Captain, finding this was an eftablifhed
form, chofe to remain in the canoe, out of re-
fpect to the King, and in compliment to the
General. — Our people flayed all night at the
houfe by the water-fide, Abba Thulle remain
ing with them. A council was held, before they;
went to fleep, confuting of the King, his bro
thers, and the chief Rupacks who'had returned
to Pelew; the purport of which was made
known next day at breakfaft, by Abba Thulle's Mondav ,3,
afking the Captain if he would go with him once
more to battle ?— *Who replied, that he muft
confult his officers and people at Oroolong,
before he could with propriety give an anfwer ;
O that

OCTOBER.

194 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. that when 'he left the. ifland many of them were
fick, nor could he tell but that at his return he
might find others ill alfo ; but fhould that not
be the cafe, he would with pleafure comply with
his wifhes. The King then afked, why the
jolly-boat had never been once down at Pelew
for yams, fince the time the Captain had been
with him at. the iflands ? Captain Wilson an-
"fwered, that they had only one boat in ufe, the
other being funk at the head of the new veffel,
to make a bank to keep off the tide. — The
weather, that had beeri fqually, being now
clearing, and the wind getting to "the N. E. our
people left Pelew 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 at Oroolong, it was with great
fatisfaction they'1 found Mr. Barker fo well re
covered from his accident as to be able to go
about. The veffel was alfo much forwarded, all
her beams laid, and moft of them fecured. — The
General, ever attentive to the intereft and fer
vice of our countrymen, fent back immediately'
all the canoes (except his own, in whom he
could confide) that they might not pilfer, or be
guilty of any mifdemeanor.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 'ift

CHAPTER XVI. ,,83.
OCTOBER.
Proceedings at Oroolong."1— Tbe General remains
with tbe Englifh. — Intelligence is brought to him
that the People of Artingall were cometofue
for Peace. — The King arrives the next Day, and
for tbe firft Time brings one of his Wives, his fa
vourite Daughter, and feveral of their Female
Attendants.— He continues at the Back of the
Ifland three or four Days, during which Time tbe
General, who went with him, was much indif
pofed. — Mr. Sharp vifits him, and relieves, bis
Complaint.— -The King, with Raa Kook, and
his Retinue, return to Pelew. — He fends the
English fome Colours to paint their Veffel. —
Mr. Sharp goes to Pelew tofMquire after Raa
KookV Health, whom he finds getting well.
t~mf\ H E jolly-boat went this morning for wa- . TuefJay

X ter, but found the well dry, there being
feven canoes already there. It was underftoQd
from Tom Rose, that they preceded the King,
who was coming with men and boats to bring
on fhore all the fhip's guns. feIn the courfe of
the day our people got fome water, and a fmall
O 2 canoe

14.

>S-

i96 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. canoe brought a few fifh, and a fine fea craW-
.CTOBER. _„
fifh.
Wednefday The cook having been very negligent in his
bufinefs, fpoiling often the rice, and being fuf-
pected, in concert with one of the China-men, his
affiftant, of appropriating to themfelves part of
the very fmall quantity of meat they could af
ford to boil with it ; he was ordered to be pu-
nifhed with a Cobbing. In confequence of the
regulations before mentioned to have been made
amongft themfelves, this was carried by a majo
rity. The Cobbing was performed by ftripping
him to the waift, and tying his hands againft a
tree, to keep him extended ; when one man, with
a thin flat piece of wood, like a battledore, im-
pofed the number of ftripes he was ordered to
receive. The cook's affiftant was alfo punifhed
in like manner; and another China-man for
wounding one of his countrymen on the head with
a ftone. Raa Kook, feeing thefe fellows tied up,
appeared concerned, and applied to Captain
Wilson to beg them off; but the fafety of this
little community abfolutely required that regu
larity and obedience fhould be preferved ; and
this was fully explained to the General, as an
apology for his requeft not being complied with.
He flood by, however, whilft thepunifhmentwas inflicted;

OCTOBER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 197
inflicted; and not finding it was of a ferious na- 1783.
ture, feemed convinced our people were right ;
and when the China-men came to receive the fame
difcipline, they fet up fo lamentable a cry, that
he was even diverted by their pufillanimity.
This afternoon three canoes came to the wa
tering-place, in one of which was a woman, the
firft that had been feen at Qroolong by the
Englifh ; they afterwards came round to the har
bour, when the woman came on fhore ; who,
after viewing the veffel, went up to the fmith's
fhop, and from thence to the cook's habitation.
After looking about with much attention, fhe
came back to the veffel ; which fhe examined
again for a few minutes, and tiien returned to
her canoe. She was not accompanied by any
one of the men from the canoes. Our people
never could learn who fhe was, as Raa Kook
was gone off at that time to the wreck. She
appeared to ftep cautioufly, but ftill was excited
by her curjofity to peep about every where. It
was judged they came from Emillegue, no one
recollecting any Pelew : countenance among
them. The bottom of the veffel was this day be
gun to be caulked, as alfo her deck to be laid.
The jolly-boat ftill continued her vifits to the Thurfday
wreck, from whence fhe generally brought, fome-
tinng that was of fervice. A canoe came into
0 3 the

16.

198 AN ACCOUNT OF
*i*3- the harbour with fifh, and a turtle of about two
OCTOBER* hundred pounds weight. Raa Kook "fent the
turtle to the King, but gave our people moft of
the fifh. In the afternoon a canoe came from
Pejlew, to notify to the General the arrival of
%he Chief Minifter of Artingall at that place,
who had brought with him offers of peace. No
tice of it was alfo fent to Captain Wilson,
Raa Kook appeared much pleafed with the
news, and told the Captain, "that he fuppofed this
was the reafon why his brother Abba Thulle
was npt come up before, but that he would be
at Oroolong the next day. — A canoe wanting
to enter the harbour in the night, the watch fired
Friday i.7. to keep it off; but it came in the next morning,
and brought fome fifh, The General gave our
people three, which ferved every one for dinner,
and was the faving of two hams ; the reft of the
fifh being kept for the King, who arrived about
ten -o'clock' in the harbour, attended by nine ca
noes, With him came his youngeft daughter,
Erre Bess, and eight or nine women, who, ex
cept tiie fingle woman juft before mentioned,
were the firft who had vifited Oroolonq. Be
fore Abba Thulle came on fhore, the General,
who went out tp meet him, had given him an
account of every thing that was going on. The
King ordered a prefent of yams, cocoa-nuts, and
fweetmeats, to be given to our people ; after
, which

OCTOBER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 199
which he landed. He led his daughter by the ,7g3.
hand on fhore, who feemed to be about nine years
of age ; and of whom then, as well as on all fu
ture occafions, 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 Captain Wilson for
not having been able to come to Oroolong ear
lier to thank him for his fervices, feemed impa
tient to view the works carrying on. He took
the Tackelbys, or artificers who came with him, to
fee the veffel, and appeared much delighted to
obferve the form it had taken fince he had laft
been on the ifland, and was quite aftonifhed at
the conveniences he found it had. Then going
within the barricade, he was attracted by the
boys fpinning fpun-yarn, which much pleafed
him. His brother then took him into the China
men's tents, who were all employed in pick
ing oakum. — Among the women whom Raa
Kook conducted about the cove, there was one
who ftruck all our countrymen as being fupe-
rior in elegance and beauty, as well as in her
graceful manner of walking, to any female they
had noticed at Pelew ; fhe was very young;' and
they could not help making fome enquiries about
her of the General, who informed them that fhe
was one ofthe King's wives, and was called Lu-
dee ; — this lady, as well as all her female com-
O 4 panions,

OCTOBER.

aoo AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. panions, teftified that degree of furprize, which
the firft fight of our different works had excited
in all the other natives. *
After they had amufed themfelves in feeing
every thing that was going forward, a canvafs
was fpread in the cove for the King, the General,
and the ladies ; the Captain entertained them
with fifh, and boiled rice mixed with moloffes to
fweeten it; which never having tafted before,
they feemed to relifh very much-
The, King, in converting with the Captain,
wanted to^know where he kept his powder, and
how much he had; he anfwered, that the gun
ner, who had the care of it, was abfent, but
when he came ¦ home in the evening he would
enquire. Abba Thulle, feeming to recollect
that. there might be fome impropriety in the
queftion^ changed the difcourfe inftantly, nor
refumed it $ny more. He faid he was come to
get the great guns on fhore, and afked if he
fhould bring them to Oroolong, or take them
to Pelew? Captain Wilson went out and
confultfc] the Chief Mate, when it was thought
beft to pay him the compliment of faying he
might take them, all to. Pelew except one, which,
would be wanted to go with the veffel.
Abba Thulle informed the Captain, that he
was now at peace with moft of his.neighb.ours,
but that he beheved he was indebted for this
peace
#

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 201

OCTOBER.

peace to their mufquets; he therefore hoped 1783
the Englifh - would give him fome when they
went away ; adding, that they did not requeft
iron, as of that they had now received a fufH-
ciency ; the only thing they wifhed for was pow
der and mufquets, and defired he might have
ten. — In anfwer to all this, the Captain told
him, that the Englifh would always continue to
be his friends ; bUt that it would be impoffible
to fpare ten of them then, as the Englifh were at
that moment at war with different nations, whofe
fhips they might have to contend with in their
paffage home ; however, that when they quitted
his country, they would at all events give him
five ; he feemed much pleafed with the Captain;s
anfwer : who added, that fhould his neighbours
again make war with him, he might (from the
kind treatment he had fhewn the Englifh) de
clare, that they would return in a much larger
fhip, with a number of men, and would avenge
any infult they fhould offer to him in their ab-
fence. In the afternoon he took his canoes and people
to the watering-place. — This amiable Prince
was perpetually giving new proofs of his atten
tion to the Englifh : as he commonly came with
a confiderable retinue, he obferved, that when
he arrived, our people left off working, and
thence conceived it was for fear the natives fhould pilfer

2oa AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. 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 countryr
men had fo much at heart.
He had not been at the watering-place long,
before he fent for Captain Wilson to come over
to him : Mr, Sharp and Mr. Devis accompa
nied 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 fit
ting, divided into two parcels ; and the reafon why
the Captain had been fent for, was to give hirri
one of the portions, which confided of ten large
fifh. The Captain faid, four would be as many'
as would feaft all his men, and the reft, he feared;
would fpoil before the next day, The King gave
orders to have the other fix cleaned and dreffed
for keeping, after their own manner, and faid he
would fend them over in the morning. — It now
advancing towards fun-fet, the King wifhed
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 expreflions of thanks;
for the repeated marks of his attention. — In the
night there was a very hard fquall. Some

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 203
Some boiled rice was fent for the King's break- 1783-
e • OCTOBER.
fall. Soon after, Raa Kook came over land, Saturday
followed by fix men, bearing the fifh ; they were ,s"
finging all the way through the woods, and were
heard long before they were feen. The fifh were
quite fweet and good ; and, as the great heat of
this .climate taints all their fifh 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 fifh, to fupport and
keep it flraight, 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
ftage or trivet, placed about two feet from the
ground, upon which the fifh is laid, and a flow
fire made underneath, over which it remains for
feyeral hours, till it becomes fmoke-dried, and
then it is fit for eating without any further dreff-
ing, and would keep a couple of days, though
certainly not fo well- flavoured as when eaten
frefh. — By a good obfervation at noon, the. lati
tude of the watering-place, was 70 1 8' north, and
the northern extremity of Oroolong was 70 19'
north. The King left five or fix canoes with the
women at the watering-place, and went to the
wreck ; 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

ao4 an Account of
1783. ¦ and an adze; which he promifed fhould be en
quired after and returned. Three of the Ar
tingall people being with the King, they were
pointed out to Captain Wilson, who gave them
an invitation to breakfaft.
Sunday 19. Arj^a Kooker Came to fpeak about the
things that had been purloined. He had reco
vered the caulking-iron, . but the adze had been
carried to Pelew. — He told them the King re
quefted ten of our people to affift in getting out
the guns, his own having no tackle equal to the
effecting it, and having before accomplifoed the
taking the one away, 'which had been carried to
Pelew, with infinite fatigue and labour; they
were accordingly fent off to the wreck,' where
Abba Thulle met them, and was not a little
. .. amazed when he faw the eafe with which the bu
finefs was managed. — The General, accompa
nied by the Arti ngall people,, came, as invit
ed, to breakfaft with the Englifh. They fhewed
them their tents, and the work that was going"
forward, with which they feemed aftonifhed, and
particularly with the fwivel. and fix-pounder.
When they were fttewn the fmall arms, they by
forcible geftures feemed to defcribe, that thofe
were the inftruments which had killed fo many
of their countrymen at Artingall. They did
not appear to entertain the flighteft animofity,
but fhook hands with the Englifh in much ami-

OCTOBER.

20.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 205
ty, and received the civilities offered them with 1783.
great thankfulnefs. — At noon there were fqualls,
accompanied with heavy rain. Captain Wil
son had plenty of fifh fent him, and fome large
Kima Cockles, which are well known in the
-Eaft, as alfo in Europe, from the number of their
fhells which are brought over to adorn grottos
and fountains.
The King fent again more fifh to the Englifh, Mon lay
with a large bafket of yams, and another of
plantains. — Raa Kook being indifpofed, did not
come to breakfaft, but fent to defire Captain
Wilson and the Surgeon would come over
to fee him. When they got there the King
was gone again to the wreck, They found -the
General very feverifh, from the pain of a large
boil on his arm, which Mr. Sharp fomented
and dreffed. 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 enquired the caufe, but not
having the linguift with them, could Only learn
that it was done with a prickly kind of long leaf ;
and, from the apparent concern of thefe women,
it was conceived, that the wounding themfelves
was an external mark of forrow for the General's
indifpofition. In the evening they returned to
fee him, and found him much better. The
King was then come on fhore, and feemed much
pleafed

aorj AN ACCOUNT OF

OCTOBER.

,783. pleafed with the attention fhewn his brother; he
appeared on this occafion to be particularly
anxious on his account, and indeed our people
had repeated opportunities to difcover, that
Abba Thulle teftified to every part of his fa
mily a moft affectionate and tender difpofition.
When the fifhing canoes came in, a large
portion of what they had taken was given to the
Englifh. Whilft they were fitting with the King,
a flying fox fettled on a tree near where they were,
Captain Wilson's fervant, who had been fhoot-
ing pigeons in that part of the ifland, juft then
coming up, and having his piece loaded, foot
it. This is an animal that has fome fimilitude
to our bat, but is five or fix times larger ; it re- v
fembles a fox in its head, and hath much fuch
a fmell. The natives call it Oleek. It runs
along 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 whenever they can knock
them down, efteeming them a great delicacy;
on which account the Englifh, whenever thejf
faw any, ufed to fhoot them for the King, be
ing, like the tame pigeon, a privileged difh for
thofe of a certain rank. The Artingall peo
ple 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

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 207
if up, -andon examining it, perceived the holes 1.783.
which the foot had made, and remarked, that 0CTP"*'
fuch of their own countrymen as loft their lives
in the late battles, fell down with holes in their
bodies juft like this animal, and died.
Whilft thefe men thus naturally teftified their
furprize, Abba Thulle and the General, who
were now become matters of the power and
effect of the mufquet, could not forbear fmiling
at finding their Artingall vifitors had at laft
difcovered what had fo completely defeated then-
force, as well as overpowered their comprehen-
fion. In the morning our people received their fifh, Tuefday
cured as ufual. — About nine o'clock the King
came round with his canoes and attendants, in
his way to Pelew. — He landed, examined
the works, and obferved, on looking at the
pinnace, that it wanted repairing. — Before he
went away, he afked the Captain if the Englifh
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 readily would.—
^"He then went on board his canoe, firft defiring
Tom Rose and another of our people might'go '
back with him to Pelew. This was agreed to,
and Mr. Devis expreffed a wifh to accompany
the linguift. — In the converfation Captain
Wilson h^d with the King this day, he ap-
6 peared

21.

OCTOBER.

208 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. peared extremely anxious that our people would
not leave his country without making him pre
viously acquainted with the time they intended
going, faying he would fend two men with them
to England, and promifed to give them colours
to paint their veffel. — Raa Kook was much
preffed to remain at Oroolong till his arm was
quite well, but he faid he could not then conve
niently ftay, but would very foon. return. — Our
people conjectured his prefence was nece'naFy at
the council which was to be held on the expedi
tion they were then projecting. — When the jolly-
boat returned from the wreck, fhe was fent
down to Pelew for the paint. — After dinner
every man received a file, to give to his Sucalic
or friend ; Captain Wilson having taken into
cuftody all the tools and pieces of iron, that our
people might difpofe of them judicioufly.
jVednefday Frefh gales from the N. E, and fair weather..
—'The provifions were overhauled, to dry and
air them. The jolly-boat, that had followed
the King to Pelew, returned with the paint
he had promifed, confifting of red and yellow
ochre *, of which he fent a quantity fufficient to
colour the veffel three or four times ; he charged
* Thefe were the only natural colours they had, though
they occafionally applied black and white in fome of their
ornaments, the former made from burnt cocoa-nut fhells,
the latter from burnt coral. the

22.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. aoo
the imeh who brought it to be particularly careful T?83'
° r ' OCTOBER.
to. keep the bafkets in which the colours "jyete
packed from being Wet, and defired them to
acquaint the Captain, that when he came up to
go againftPELELEW (the place to which he was
directing his expedition) he would bring men
with him to paint the veffel. — In the afternoon
there were hard fqualls of wind from the north
ward, with heavy rain.- — The jolly- boaf, in the
evening; returning from the watering-place,
was followed by two canoes to the mouth of the
harbour. — It was thought, by their not coming
in, that they were people from Pelelew.
, The , caulkers this day finifhed caulking the Thurfday
bottom of the veffel, and alfo completed the 2i'
planking of the top fides; and in the evening
handed water into her to try for leaks.
Next day all were,' bulled in caulking her Friday 24.
upper works, and fixing the fteps for the mafts*
The jolly-boat was. difpat'ched for Pelew, to
fetch Mr. Devis and Tom Rose ; Mr. Sharp
was font down in her to vifit Raa Kook; 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 raw yams, having
received none after the .firft' ten days but what
were fent "ready dreft. '¦
>. .The caulking of the outfide of the veffel was Saturday
rr. 1.. P finifhed'

si® AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. finifhed this day. — The jolly-boat brought back
OCTOBER. .
the furgeon ; the King and all his people at Pe
lew being wonderfully pleafed at this mark of
attention paid to their favourite the General.
Mr. Sharp, on going,' found Raa Kook much
better ; one of the Pelew furgeons had cut out
the core of the boil, and the flefh about it, with
One of the fame ordinary knives which had been
applied to the foot of his fon. Mr. Sharp
dreffed the wound, and left him feveral other
dreflings, with neceffary directions, and he foon
got perfectly well.
When one confiders that thefe medical gen
tlemen at Pelew never purfued any other me
thod but cutting out the part affected; and that
till the prefent sera, when accident had thrown
in their way a few twopenny knives, their ope
rations were performed by fhellS ground to an
edge ; one muft wonder at the boldnefs of the
practice; and, living ourfelves in countries where
the anatomy of the human frame and the art of
forgery are fo well underftood and perfectionedy
aided too by fuch admirable inftruments, one
cannot avoid feeling for the corporal fufferiiigs' of
thofe whom difeafe or accident fubjected to be
practifed on by a Pelew furgeon.
When the jolly-boat returned with Mr. Sharp
and Tom Rose (Mr. Devis choofing to remain
till the King went againft Pelelew) it brought plenty

THE PELEW ISLANDS. an
plenty of yams and fweetmeats, and alfo five 0£^'08B31R(
young wild ducks juft fledged, the only bird of
the duck kind our people faw in thefe parts. —
Tom Rose informed the ,Captairi,- that what
Abba Thulle wanted him for, was to make
more enquiries of him concerning the Englifh,
and to give him fome account of the different
people they were at war with.
This morning the veffel's bottom was bream- Sunday ttj
ed ; the outfide caulking being completed, to the
great joy of all. — They now filled up the trench
under the veffel, and broke down the darm which
was a work of fome labour, as the bank had be
come as folid and firm as if formed by nature j
they alfo cleared and floated the pinnace.— While
employed about this work, ten canoes were ob
ferved coming into the harbour;, thefe came
from the land to the fouthward; they, were at
firft thought to be from Pelelew, but after
wards dicovered to be ftrangers going to join
Abba Thulle. — They gave our people fome
yams of a different kind to any they had feen
before, being of a ftraw colour, tinged with a
gritty red. Thefe ftrangers were treated^with
fherbet, and carried round all the places where
the works were going on ; fhewn the veffel,
and every thing that was judged might pleafe,
or entertain them. They viewed every object
with that degree of furprize which might natu-
P i rally

OCTOBER.

.aia AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. rally be expected ; but by the little diffidence
they expreffed in coming on fhore, and from being
lefs ftruck With the colour of our people than
the other natives of thefe regions had been be
fore, it was fuppofed they had come with minds
fully prepared to meet with thofe objects' w.hich
their vifit to Oroolong difplayed to them.
There was an old Rupack with them, who after
wards 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 many. They
. flayed about two hours on fhore, and on going
. away the Captain prefented the Rupack with
fome pieces of iron.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 213

¦781.
OCTOBER

CHAPTER XVII.
The King comes for the ten Men who were to go.
with him againft Pelelew. — A great Storm at
Oroolong. — Intelligence arrives that the Ex
pedition to Pelelew had ended peaceably .—The
Englifh return, and give an Account of the
Manner of its Progrefs and Termination. — Re
joicings on the Qccafion at Pelew. The King
notifies an intended Vifit to the Englifh before
their Departure.
THE morning was cloudy, with light winds ' Monday
from the northward; the boats employed
in getting fome more ftores from the fhip. In the
afternoon a great number of canoes came from
Pelew, they were moft of them from the iflands
to the northward ; in one of thefe Mr. Devis re
turned ; he brought intelligence, that almoft
every ifland in alliance with Abba Thulle had
fent fome forces, and that he really thought there
were upwards of three hundred canoes a'fTembled
at Pelew to go on this expedition ; that when
they left that place they feparated in three divi-
fions, making a very fine appearance ; that two
of them went towards Pelelew ; and the third
divifion, in which was the King and Raa Kook,
Were coming to Oroolong for the English ;
P 3 * that

414 1783.
OCtOBER.

Tusfday 28.

Wednefday 29.

AN ACCOUNT OF
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 return
ed from the wreck, the following men made
themfelves ready to go, viz. Thomas Wilson,
Nicholas Tyacke, Madan Blanchard,
James Swift, Thomas Whitfield, John
Duncan, Thomas Dulton, William Stew
ard, William Roberts, and Mr. M. Wil
son; before night they were all embarked and out
<kf the harbour, the Englifh giving them three
cheers at their putting off from the fhore, which
was returned by the whole fleet ; our people de-
voutly wifhing this expedition might be the laft. .
¦ — In the night the weather became overcaft, and ,
there was fome rain ; which before morning he-
came very heavy, accompanied with ftrong gales
of wind and fqualls, which carried away all'the
awnings that were laid over the veffel, though
the dock-yard was in a manner fheltered by the
hills. Nor was the next day more favourable,
the morning being cloudy, with a frefh gale of
wind from the northward, and frequent fhowers$ .
in the afternoon they alfo had hard fqualls, ac
companied with thunder, lightning, and rain ;
towards evening the lightning to the eaftward
was ftrong, with diftant thunder. After the bad
2 clofe

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 21$
clofe of day, the night was rendered truly "0C*708B3; R«
tremendous by the dreadful conflict of' the agi
tated elements. > Situated as the Englifh were,
under the fhelter of protecting hills, they appre
hended all their tents would have been blown
down ; and much feared their veffel might be
fhook off its blocks ; much difquietude was alfo
felt for the fafety of their abfent countrymen ;
which all together rendered the night extremely
uncomfortable. The morning was however dry Thurfday
though cloudy, with a frefh 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 wind
ward part of the ifland, then fet their fail and
flood over towards Pelelew. 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
Englees, it was permitted to enter the cove; in
' her was the Rupack named Arra Zook, Mr.
Sharp's Sucalic, or friend, who the reader will
recollect treated that gentleman and Captain,
Wilson with fo much hofpitality when they went
to fee his fick child ; his arrival awakened all
the Englifh, and brought them together, anxious
to hear fome account of their friends. This
Chief gave them to understand, that there had
been no engagement at Pelelew ; the inhabi-
P 4 tants,

2i6 AN ACCOUNT OF-
1783. tants, on the King;s approach, laid down their
OCTOBER. . ,
fpears, and came and fupplicated Abba Thulle
for peace, prefenting'him with beads, and deli
vering up to him two men who had belonged to
the Malay wreck. — Ar.ra Zook. was welcomed
with every teftimony of gratitude, both in re
membrance of his former kindnefs, as alfo for
his prefent good news. ,;
Friday 31. Soon after day -light another canoe arrived/
which brought information that the fleet was re-'
turning from the expedition. About ten o'clock
in the forenoon two more came into the har
bour, in one of which was John Duncan,
who gave the following account of this expedi
tion againft Pelelew, which account was fully
confirmed by the others who had been with him, 'I
at their return, — In the evening of the 27th, the'
day they left' Oroolong, they got to the fmall '
ifland to the fouthward of that place ; hauled up
their canoes, and laid under fome rocks all
night.-1— In the morning, at day-break, they
went to an ifland four or, five leagues further to
the fouthward, which Was uninhabited, and lay
about four or five miles diftant from Pelelew ;
here they built huts, or wigwams, and encamp^
ed, the weather being very bad; when it be
came a little more moderate, a party of the
Pelew people went to another ifland, not far
diftant from the firft, which belonged to Pele
lew,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 217
lew, and deftroyed the plantations of yams, *783-
1 i" 1 /• 1 1 1 OCTOBER.
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 Pelew landed. Only two of the
Englifh were fent on this party, who having de-
moli flied as much as they could, returned to the
encampment before fun-fet. — The next morning
the weather was very bad, but the afternoon be
ing moderate, a party was fent to the fame ifland
again, to deftroy whatever might have efcaped
the ravage of the preceding day ; three of the
Englifh went on this fervice.— In the evening all
the pany returned, as before, to the camp. —
The fecond morning two Rupacks came from
Pelelew to the camp, and foon after returned
back, accompanied by the linguifts.; who in the
evening rejoined the King's forces, attended by
three of the Pelelew Chiefs.— ^ A council was
held by the King foon after their* arrival ; and
the fucceeding morning Arra Kooker went to
Pelelew, and concluded the peace. — After his
return, which was early in the forenoon, the
King fent to the Englifh, to acquaint them that
peace was made with the Pelelew people, and
defired to know if they wifhed to fee the town,
in which cafe his brother, Arra Kooker, would
accompany them ; himfelf and Raa Kook hot
meaning to go on fhore. This meffage a.
little

OCTOBER.

318 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. little furprifed theEngliJh, until it was explained
to them by the linguift ; who informed them,
that no Rupack of higher rank than Arra
Kooker could, in the prefent fituation Of the
Pelelew people, go thither ; as it would be too
great an honour and condefcenfion in the King,
either to- go himfelf, or fend the perfon next in
rank to him. — This being explained, the Englifh
accepted the King's offer to vifit Pelelew, but
agreed amongft themfelves to take their arms,
and keep together when on fhore, left any mif-
underftanding taking place (as the peace was but
juft made) they might be furprized. They were
accompanied by a great number of the Pelew
people, and received in a very friendly manner
by the inhabitants, who entertained them ac
cording to the cuftom of the country, with the
ufoal refrefhments. .They reported that the
town was defended by a ftone wall thrown up
acrofs the caufeway, which leads up to it ; that
thisrwall was ten or twelve feet high, with afoot-
bank of ftone raifed behind, upon which they
could ftand and throw fpears at their enemies ;
that the water near the town was fo very fhallow, .
that canoes could only go in at high water. This'
circumftance, ofthe difficulty of accefs^ might
be a reafon why they faw fo few canoes belong-
ing to Pelelew, though it appeared to be a po
pulous ifland ; and their manner of fortifying the
entrance

OCTOBER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 219
entrance of their town by a ftrong and high wall, 178 3-
afforded juft reafon 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, qnd Abba Thulle's party had
fhared the hofpitality of that enemy they had
armed themfelves to combat, they returned to
Pelew. The King of Pelelew accompanying
his brother King, though in one of his own ca
noes, carrying ten women in his train ; whether
this was a mark of humiliation fhewn to Abba
Thulle, or a public teftimony of friendfhip and
confidence being re-eftablifhed between them,
our people could not underftand ; but certain it
was, that all the women did not return again to
Pelelew with their King, as two of them came
afterwards to Oroolong with Abba Thulle ;
but whether they remained on a vifit, or as hoft-
ages, they were not certain. — The two Malays
were unqueftionably given up to the King ;. and
it is not improbable but that he might have been
iriftigated by Soogle, the Malay favourite, to
demand his two countrymen, and that the King
of Pelelew refufing to give them up, might in-
creafe whatever mifunderftanding fubfifted be
fore, and fo excite the Pelew people to go on
this hoftile expedition, in which they, appear to
have exercifed a rancour undifcovered in their
other

220 AN ACCOUNT OF
'78?. other contentions ; which the King of Pelelew,
October, . — .
by his well-timed fubmiffion to terms, happily
faved his people from more fully experiencing.
— Before noon, Raa Kook came to Oroo
long with a number of canoes, bringing with
him all our countrymen ; who commended much
the pleafantnefs of the ifland of Pelelew, faid it
appeared fertile, the land more level than hilly,
and that the houfes were rather larger and better
built than thofe at Pelew, having abundance
of cocoa-nut and other trees about them. The
inhabitants feemed to be courteous, friendly,
and well-difpofed ; and fhewed particular atten^
tion to the Englifh, although they had come
there as a formidable ally to their enemy.
Abba Thulle, accompanied by the Pe
lelew King, went immediately to his own
ifland, which the Englifh now, for the firft
time, learnt, was called Coorooraa, Pelew.
being only the capital, or refidence of the
King. — -Captain Wilson, converfing with Raa
Kook on the fubject of the laft expedition,
enquired where all the fleet of canoes- came
from that had attended the King at this
time; the General, in anfwer, enumerated the ,
places in the following order, beginning at the
northward; Emungs, Aramalorgoo, Emil-'
legue, Arraguy, Coorooraa, CaragabaJ /
Pethoull, the fmall ifland fo often men
tioned;.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 221
tioned, and whofe name was not till now known, 1783-

OCTOBER.

NOVEM BER.

and Oroolong, or Englifhmen's Ifland. Raa
Kook feemed very defirous to be at Pelew, and
made this vifit the fhorteft he had ever favoured
the Englifh with, leaving them immediately after
dinner, and all the canoes going with him. He
defired the Captain to fend his boat for fome
moloffes and torches, of which they were in want,
our people being defirous of referving their fu-
gar-candy and candles for the voyage.
¦ In the evening the jolly-boat was got ready,
and Mr. Sharp, with four of the meh, went to
Pelew, to congratulate the King on his eftab-
lifhing peace, and to bring the things promifed
by Raa Kook. — The morning being fair, and
the deck laid, they began to caulk it; when a Saturday 1
difficulty arofe with what they were to pay it,
having neither pitch, rofin,* or dammer: and here
Providence directed them to a refourte in 1 the
produce ofthe ifland ; for, confulting together
how to fupply this want, putty was propofed ;
but they having no chalk to make it, fome of
them recollected that the foams of veffels in
India, and efpecialhy in China, were payed with
Chinam ; the Chinefe were ' immediately called,
and queftioned about the mode of preparing it ;
which, after the beft information they could col
lect, they endeavoured to imitate in the follow^

222 ) AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. ihg manner :— They took the coral-ftone, and
815."' 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 pbunded fine,
was fifted through bunting, after which it was .
mixed with fuch greafe as had been faved ; and
this made a moft excellent putty,
Sunday 2. The Weather being cloudy, with light' north
erly breezes, all our people were employed about-
the veffel, when their attention was fomewhat
taken off* by two canoes coming into the har-,
bour to fifh for bait ; their method of doing it
ftriking all our feamen as uncommon, may,
wtthout impropriety, be mentioned : — The boat
men look abbut for a fhoal of that fort of fifh
which they bait with, which is not much unlike
our fpfat ; thefe they drive into fhallow water;
and having covered their canoes .and outriggers
with matting, they then make a great fhouting
and noife, fplafhihg the water with their pad
dles oh each fide the fhoal, which fo frightens
the fifh; that they fprihg out of the water, and
numbers of them falling upon the matthlg, are
immediately fecured in the ends of the canoes;
Which are left open to receive them.
Mr. Sharp returned in the evening from Pe
lew, whilft our people were at prayers, bring
ing with him the things promifed by Raa Kook,
together*.

BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 223
together with a large quantity ofthe fweetmeats N07vk"m,
called Woolell *. He reported that there was
great rejoicing at Pelew ; that the Rupack of
Pelelew was ftill there, though probably not
much difpofed to enjoy the feftivity his fubmif-
fion had given birth to. — The feafting was much
in the fame manner as what on other occafions
has already been defcribed ; diftinguifhed only
by a fong, apparently compofed fince our people
have been at Pelew, and in which the greater
part of the natives always joined. Though Mr.
Sharp could not underftand the whole fenfe bf
it, yet he readily comprehended that the Englifh
were the fubject, by the frequent repetition of
the words Englees^- Weel a Trecoy — and Tom Rofe.
¦*— This man going with the Ertgliflf upon every
expedition, as interpreter, and poffefling a great
fund of pleafantry and humour, hit the fancy of
.all the natives, with whom he 'became a wor£
derful favourite. — So fingular were the talents
of this truly faithful fellow, that wherever he
went he made himfelf not only ufeful, but be
loved; andj from his great utility to Captain
Wilson in his voyage, well merited the recopri-
rhendation that had been given him at Macao.
* This i» the fweatrneat which the failors called choak-
dog, and which now their ftomachs found pretty good,
.however cpntemptuoufly they, had thought of it at firft.
—The

NO V E M
BER.

224 AN ACCOUNT OF
i7s3. —The furgeon further reported the King of Pe
lelew to-be a man much advanced in years, of a
rough manner and appearance ; his hair was grey,
and his beard tapering to a narrow point, in the
manner the Jews frequently wear theirs. He was
Melgothd, or tatooed, quite up to the navel ; the
Pelew people only tatooing up to the middle of
their thighs, as already noticed.
It was not in the power of our people to ob
tain any account, which could be depended on,
of the number of this chain of iflands ; nor could
any eminences they ever afcended, allow them
to fee the extent of them, either to the north
ward or fouthward.— The new veffel being now
in a ftate of great forwardnefs, and the time of
their departure drawing near, Captain Wilson
this evening expreffed to his officers and people
a defire, before they failed for China, to endea
vour to explore -thefe iflands, upon which Pro
vidence had thrown thern, and that ten or twelve
days' might 'effect the defign; that they had a
quantity of provifion fufficient to authorife the
attempt; and that he would apply tp. the. King
for three or four canoes, with men, to accom
pany them through the iflands, and to affift them
in afcertaining their number, fituation, and ex
tent ; that he did not mean to make a furvey of
them; but that it-would be a great fatisfaction/'
both to themfelves and their Employers," to
have

N O V E it-
B E Ri

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 225
have a general account of thefe iflands; On which 1783.
no European had ever been before ; as alfo to
know whether there was ahy apparent difference
in the inhabitants, their manners, Or cuftoms. —
He was liftened to with a great deal of atten
tion ; but the near profpect before every man's
eyes, of being liberated from a place whence, a
fhort time before, none had any juft hope of
ever departing ; the fear of its proving a much
longer bufinefs than apprehended ; the uncer
tainty of what difficulties they might meet with;
fhould they have hoftilities to encounter, which was
more than probable might be the cafe, from the in
habitants of fome ofthe remote iflands ; thefe com
bined considerations prefented themfelves to moft
' of them as rifques not advifable to be run, after
the hardfhips they had already foftained ; which;
added to the natural wifh 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 thus was
ftifled the defire of all further inquiry j more ef-
pecially when Mr: Sharp acquainted them, that
he was commifiioned by Abba Thulle to in
form them, that he would in about four days
pay them a vifit, and ftay with them till their
departure, and that he would then paint their
Q^ veffel.

SOVtM- b Ra.

ao6 an ACCOUNT OF
"783. veffels— This meffage awakened fufpicions la
feveral minds of the King's defigns, whichy be-
caufe they breathed on every occafion fuch per
fect 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 fentiments of liberality,
uncontrouled, or uncontaminated by art, or ia~
tereft.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 227

CHAPTER XVIII.
Preparations made for the Completion of the Veffel,
and fecuring her being fafely launched. — Great
Sufpicions entertained on the King's Meffage,
which Captain Wilson endeavours to quiet. —
Steps taken by our People to make Refiftance, in
cafe their Departure fhould be impeded. — The
Captain fends Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. Wil
son to Pelew, with all the Tools and Iron they
could fip are, with Affur ances of the reft, as foon
as the Veffel 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 Way to Oroolong. — Go back with him
to the Ifland of Pethoull, where they pafs the
Night. — Abba Thulle receives the Prefents
.gracioufty. — A great Supper of the King's de
fcribed. — They all come next Day to Oroo
long. — Mad an Blanch ard informs Captain
Wilson of a Refolution he had taken to remain
behind with the Natives ; — after Arguments ufed
in vain to diffuade him, he is propofed 4o the
King to be left at Pelew, who, pleafed with the
Circumftance, takes him under his Protection.
0^.2 THE

1783.
N o V E M-
B E R."

2a8 AN ACCOUNT OF

JJOVEM BER

1783- rTpHE weather being now fair and fettled,
JL with frefh gales of wind from the N. E.
Monday 3. the- carpenters were employed in making the rud
der, and Albert Pierson the quarter-maftery
in making the mafts out of fome of the fmall
fpars faved from the wreck ; fome 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 even
ing they held a confultation about the method of
launching their veffel, which they had now near
ly 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 cut
ters .-^-This was a matter of ferious moment, for
had any accident happened to the veffel during
this operation, their tools being nearly wern out,
and their former refources from the wreck at an
end, their deftiny muft, in ail human probabi--
lity, have been to have paffed the remainder of
their days, exiled from the reft of the world, in
thefe remote and unknown iflands*
Tuefday 4. This morning many hands went to work in
cutting down trees to make blocks and hunch
ing ways, others in giving the bottom of the
veffel another coat of Chinam. Two canoes be
ing feen near the harbour, before night, and nei-
8 ther

T HE PELEW ISLANDS. 229
ther of them coming in, was a circumftance 1783.
MOVE M-
which contributed not a little to increafe the ber.
fufpicions entertained by our people, thefe ca
noes being conjectured to be fpies Watching their
motions ; they having entertained an idea that
the natives intended to prevent their departure.
At dark they went to a quarter watch, loaded
the fwivels and fix-pounder with grape-fhot, and
kept a good look out to prevent furprize. — The
alarm our people felt, was, that being nearleavT
ing the iflands, the natives (who had experien
ced the great utility the Englifh were of to them) wednefday
might endeavour to detain them, by attempting 5'
to feize their arms, and poffefs themfelves of their
veffel. — It was in vain that Captain Wilson
ftrove to remove thefe apprehenfions, by recall
ing to their remembrance the generofity the
King and all his people had fhewn them, on
every oecafion, fince they had been thrown upon
his territories ; that his behaviour had been al
ways to them humane, unreferved, and unfofpv
cious ; that therefore there could be no room
now to doubt the fincerity of a people, who had,
in all the time they had been under their pro
tection, never given them any real caufe for
miftruft ; that it materially behoved them, in
their prefent fituationj not to let the natives fee
they entertained any ; that by doing otherwife
they might put ideas into their minds, which,
0.3 but ,

230 AN ACCOUNT OF
T783- but for their own indifcretion, might never have
U 0 V E M-
ber. occurred. Nor did he fail to fet before them the
little avail of all the force of the Englifh, .if the
natives were refolved upon any fuch enterprize
as they fufpected ; he reprefented to them, that
their ammunition muft be foon expended, in
cafe of hoftilities ; that the natives could hinder
their embarking, even if their veffel was launch
ed ; 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
water, fhould they chufe to come to the ifland in
any number.
All thefe arguments were ineffectual to fubdue
the general apprehenfion, not more than two or
three uniting in fentiment with the Captain ; it
was therefore concluded, after a long confulta-
tion on the matter, that every one fhould be
ftrictly on his guard ; that the fwivels and fix-
pounder fhould continue to be kept loaded with
grape-fhot, the fmall arms ready charged with
ball, and the cartouch-boxes filled with loaded
cartridges ; but that every one fhould carefully
avoid all appearance of fufpicion, unlefs any
uncommon number of canoes fhould pour into
the bay, or thofe who were in them appear arm
ed with fpears, or approach; with any hoftjle pa
rade, in which cafe every method fhould be
taken to defend themfelves ; and, as their nun> bers:

NOVI; M*
s rr.,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 231
bers were inadequate to refift fuch a multitude as 178;
might attack them, that they muft then ufe their
abilities in fingling out the Chiefs, and by fuch
a meafure throw confufion and difmay among
the reft.
As the faithful hiftorian of thefe tranfactions,
it is my duty to record 'every material occurrence;
though I muft confefs, that my hand forinks
from the paper, whilft, impreffed with horror
and pity, I am compelled to relate, that the lives
firft intended to be devoted were, thofe of the
humane, liberal King, the manly and benevolent
General, the facetious and inoffenfive Arra
Kooker. But, however this refolution may
fhock the reader, yet he will candidly afcribe this
daring conception, not to a want of that gene-
rofity which is one of the characteriftics of my
countrymen, nor to a forgetfulnefs of the bonds
of hofpitality ; but to its real caufe, the weak-
nefs of human nature, operating on two conflict
ing paflions, the hope of immediate delivery, and
the dread of perpetual detention ; the agitated
mind faw no alternative, and in its perturbation
' threw down the barrier of every nicer fentiment.
After the defperate refolution juft recorded to
have been taken, ic is with particular fatisfaction
that I refume my pen, and have it in my power
to inform the reader, that this frenzy of the
Englifh, fuggefted by anxiety and defpair, was
CL4 but

332 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. but of fhort duration ; the cool reflections of die
Nrer.M' night weakened their apprehenfions., by convin
cing them fo fully of the force of the Captain's,
Thurfday arguments, that with the morning, their wonted,
good-will towards the natives returned, ' info
much, that after breakfaft he found no difficulty
in getting the pinnace manned to go to Pelew
with all the iron and tools they could fpare, hav
ing made the King fuch a promife, whenever
their veffel fhould he completed. Mr. Sharp
and Mr. M. Wilson went down in the boat,
with orders to inform the King> that the Englifh
would be ready to fail in fix or feven days ; that
the remainder of the tools, and the mufquets,
which he wifhed to have, fhould be given him,
but that they could not be parted with till fuch,
time as the veffel was launched ; thefe gentle
men had alfo orders to fay, that the Englifh wifh
ed to fee the King and his Chiefs before their
departure, that they might make them their
perfonal acknowledgments, and aflure thern^
that when they returned to their own country,
they would publicly declare the kind fervices
and protection they had received from them. ¦¦
This was conveyed in the form of a letter, which
Mr. Sharp was directed to read to the. King in
the prefence of the two linguifts, who were to
, ' explain it to him^ as coming immediately from
the Captain. While

THE PELEW ISLANDS. H33
While Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. Wilson, to- 1783.
gether with Tom Rose, the interpreter, were se r. "
receiving the aboye inftryctions, Madan Blant
chard, one of the feamen, came into the tent
for fome tools that he wanted, and hearing the
Captain explaining his letter to Tom Rose, de
fired him alfo to tell the King, that when his
countrymen went away, he intended to ftay be
hind, and remain with him at Pelew ; Cap-.
tain Wilson defired him not to fend any
fuch idle meffage, and to go about his bufi
nefs, and forbad Tom Rose to deliver it ; upon
which Blanchard very ferioufly defired it
might be delivered, affuring the Captain, that it
was his fettled determination to remain at Pelew,
. jf the King would permit him. Finding he had
taken yp fuch a ftrange refolution, the Captain
endeavoured all in his power to difiuade him
from it, fetting -before him the many difficulties
and difadyantages he would have to combat,
when his friends and companions were gone, par
ticularly as he had no trade, like that of a car
penter or a fmith, by which he might make
himfelf of ufe and confequence to the natives. —
The Captain, perceiving all his arguments in
effectual, defired his men would try to' divert
him from fo fingular an intention ; in which if
he ftill perfifted, the Captain might know how
to act when the King fhould come next to Oroo
long. — The pinnace was difpatched about ten
o'clock,

BER.

'234 A N A C C O- U NT O F
T-,83. o'clock, with orders to take no notice of Blan-»
chard's meffage to the' King, but to leave that
to be mentioned afterwards, fhould there\be oc-
cafion, when he and his Chiefs came up to
Oroolonc. — Soon after the pinnace failed, the
weather became fqually, accompanied with hard
rain, which continued moft part of the day ;
this however did not entirely hinder the work,
they being employed in fixing the pumps and
laying the ways, preparatory to launching their
veffel. — In the evening, after the people had
left off work, fome of them acquainted the Cap
tain, that they had endeavoured, though in vain,
to perfuade Blanchard to alter his refolution;
as he was determined to fpeak to the King him
felf, the firft opportunity, about it, finding his
meffage had not been fent : therefore, to avoid
any difpute with him, or mifunderftanding with
the King, it was judged beft to let him follow his
own inclination ; and, in order to engage the
natives as much as poffible in his interefl, as
well as to make a merit of what could not be
avoided, it was determined to.make it appear as
a favour to the King, the letting one ofthe Eng
lifh remain behind with him. — There was fome-
thing in thefe people, or the manners of the
country, which had fo forcibly worked on Blan-
chard's imagination, the firft time he went
with them to fight againft Artingall, that on
his
I

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 235
his return, while in the canoes, he declared to 1783.
his companions, that he would moft willingly ber.
partake of all their labour, would lend them eve
ry affiftance in his power towards building and
fitting out their new veffel ; but that when they
departed he would remain behind, and end his
days among the natives of Pelew. — This was at
the time looked on as a jeft ; but he never va
ried from thefe fentiments, and now proved his
refolution was unalterable.
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon of this Friday 7.
day the pinnace . returned, bringing the King,
his young favourite daughter, Raa Kook, and
feveral of the Chiefs, in her. Our people gave
the following account of the commiffion they
were charged with : — In their paffage to Pelew,
the preceding day, they faw a confiderable num
ber of canoes, which went in fhore to avoid the
bad weather ; on coming nearly abreaft of them,
one appeared to be making towards the pinnace,
which ' thereupon flood to meet it ; in this was
the Chief Minifter, who gave thofe in the pin
nace fome cocoa-nuts and boiled yams; he in
formed our people, that the King had fheltered
himfelf from the weather under the fhore, be
ing on his way to Oroolong. After taking
fome of the refrefhments offered, the pinnace
went to the King, who was in his canoe, fur
rounded by feveral Rupacks. The pinnace be
ing

M O V E M
BER

$36 AN ACCOUNT OF
I7?3. ing brought alongfide the King, Mr, Sharp
read the letter, which Tom Rose explained to
Soogle, the linguift, who communicated its
purport to Abea Thulle. The intention of
this vifit being made known, and the tools
and iron fhewn to the King, he defired they
might remain in the pinnace; when, after en
tering into fome converfation with his Chiefs, he
acquainted the gentlemen that he would return
to the fmall ifland of Pethoull, inviting the
Englifh to accompany him in the pinnace, and,
that the next morning he* would attend them
to Oroolong, As they were returning to the
ifland, they met Raa Kook in a large canoe,
with the wives belonging to the Rupacks, whom
he was conducting to Oroolong to fee the
launching ofthe Englifh veffel; the ladies feem-s
ed much difappointed at being obliged toreturn^
and on finding their jaunt was put off till the
next day ; they, in confequence, joined the
King. — On landing at Pethoull, they were all
conducted to a large houfe by the water-fide,
where, being feated, the prefents were brought
and laid before the King, when the ufe of th©
tools/ and the method of working with them,
were fhewn to him, and his Chiefs, with which
they appeared very much pleafed; and --a con-
vtrf.Ltion took place between the King and them,
bit: particularly with Rai Kook ; towards the-
clofe

N O V K NH
1'. Il K-

¦ THE PELEW ISLANDS'. 237
clofe of which, the Malay, Sooglej remark-.-d *73*-
to -them, /£#/ A&* Englifn had fent no mufquets;
for this impertinent obfervation he received a
fevere rebuke from the General, Who, with a
look, and in a tone which teftified great indigo
nation, 'replied, the Englifh had faithfully kepi
their word, • in fending the things they had fent,
and in acquainting them of the time of their de
parture ; that they had not fpoken with two
tongues, as he, worthlefs Malay! had dared to
fuggeft ; and that he had brought fhame upon them
all, by his advifing the King to find -only boiled
yams to the Englifh, left, in fending them raw,
they fhould thereby flock themfelves, and leave
tbe iflands without notice, or without preferr
ing them thofe things they had promifed. — This
pointed rebuke of Raa Kook affected 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-
humour, and Abba Thulle distributed fome
of the tools and iron amongft the Rupacks, every
one having fomething given him. Supper was
then brought in, and placed or! ftools in the
middle ofthe houfe; abundance was alfo fet out
before the houfe, and diftributed to the King's
attendants.— The company were ferved with fea
craw-fifh, together with fome other fifh, brought in,

HO V E M

238 ANACCOUNTOF
1783. in, and divided by the butlers, who cut it
ber. " 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
Abba Thulle began, and gave the word
Munga ; when the Rupacks and the company
followed his example, and notice was given to
the people without, that the King was at fupper,
which was their fignal to begin. It now grow
ing dark, torches * were lighted, and placed
between the boards, or cracks in the floor, in
rows, one before each family, or feparate mefs,
who fat behind the lights, which were ranged
in ftraight lines lengthways of the houfe ; lb
that the centre part, from one end of the
building to the other, was kept clear and
lighted, which had a very pleafing effect, none
fitting face to face in their own party. A lit
tle fpace was preferved between one Chief and
another, each Chief keeping with his diftinct
* On being analyfed, thefe torches appear to be a Refill
mixed with fmall pieces of wood. The refin is probably the
exudation of fome tree ; but it is uncertain whether the
wood is little bits of bark which inevitably mix with the reiin
infcraping it off, or whether they are purpofcly joined with
it, tofupply the place of a wick, and render it lefs liable to
run and diflblve haltily, like a ftick of wax. — They have long
leaves twined and tied round them, to prevent their flicking
to the hand. — When lighted; they afford an agreeable fmell.
family.

MOVE M-

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 239
family. As to our people, they, as . ftrangers, ,783.
were welcome to all ; they alternately fat with
the King, with Raa Kook, and with the other
Rupacks. When the fifh was portioned out, each
family's fhare was laid on a plantain-leaf; and
this leaf, in general, ferved them as a plate,
though on occafions of particular ceremony,
when at home, the great people have fmall plates
or difhes of tortoife-foell, and alfo others made
of wood and earthen- ware.
Having indulged an hour's converfation after
fupper, each party cleared away the litter of the
meal, by fweeping it down between the boards
of the floor ; the attendants then of each family
brought in to their refpective matters their mats,
which they always carry with them in their ca
noes whenever they are to fleep from home;
they are made thin and light, laying one under,
and another over them : the King fent mats for
the Englifh ; and every one's bed being quickly
made, they all laid themfelves down, the torches
were extinguifhed, a total filence prevailed, and
every individual compofed himfelf to reft; a fire
being firft lighted to keep off the mofquitos.
Between the hours of two and three, a meffen-
ger from an ifland to the northward arriving,
the King was thereupon awakened by one of his
attendants, who brpught in a lighted torch ; he
inftantly arofe, and ordered the meffenger to be
introduced ;

KO VE M

240 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. introduced ; after holding fome converfation with
JVEM- TI
BER, him, the King delivered to him a piece of cord,
On which he had tied as many knots as there
would be days before our people purpofed to*
fail ; this they were afterwards acquainted withj
and alfo informed the above meffage was occa-
fioned by a defire which fome of the northern
Chiefs, who were the friends of Abba Thulle;
felt to know the time when the Englifh intended
to depart — not to gratify idle curiofity, not to
increafe the Unjuft and ungenerous apprehen
fions entertained by our people of the natives
of thefe unknown regions ; but to throw in, to
wards their fea-ftore; whatever their country
produced, which thefe benevolent children of
nature thought might be of ufe, or acceptable
to the departing ftrangers, and to thofe ftrangers
they might never more fee ! — The meffenger
beiiig difpatched, the King retired again to his
rnats Early in the mbrning Abba Thulle and his
Rupacks went to bathe, and returned to break
faft, when he prepared to proceed to Oroo
long. — Mr. Sharp and Mr. M. Wilson in
vited the General to go with them in the pinnace;
which he accepted, ordering his canoes to attend
the King. — When they had got about two or
three miles from the ifland, it began to blow
frefh, fo that the canoes were obliged to make their

NOVEM BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 841
their way along the fhore for fhelter ; Raa Kook, n ^
delighted to fee the pinnace fail fo well, and feel
fo little the effect of the bad weather, requefted
his two friends to go in fhore to the King, and afk
him on board; which they immediately complied
with. Abba Thulle, with his young daughter
and the Chief Minifter, came into the pinnace;
the wind ftill frefhening, they made great way, the
boat rolling much, going before the wind and
fea. — The King and his company expreffed great
fatlsfaction in finding they fat there fo dry and
comfortable, to what they could have done in a
canoe, which is only fit for fmooth water; our
people perceiving h6 was fo pleafed with the pin
nace, informed him, that the Captain intended to
prefent him with that boat when they went away;
on which he defired his brother Raa Kook to be
very particular in obferving in what maaner the
fails were managed.
They brought with them many things for
prefents; and foon after Abba Thulle and the
General, agreeable to their promife, fet their
people about painting the veffel, as alfo the
mafts, booms, bowfprit, &c. — <¦ About three
o'clock in the afternoon the veffel was lowered
off the blocks down-upon the ways ; but being
too 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, un-
R derftood

242 AN ACCOUNT OF
i783- derftood what was doing, and fetching a long

» O V E M-

*»"•• pole, was going to apply it as a lever to heave
her over, but was requefted to defift, for fear of
ftrairiing her ; fhe was with eafe got fair upon
the ways, and all things made ready for launch
ing in the morning. — Abba Thulle fat down
near the veffel, talking with Raa Kook and the
Other Chiefs ; then calling to Tom Rose, bade
him inform the Captain, who was at fome dif
tance, that they wifhed to fpeak to him ; who
being come, the King ordered the linguift to
acquaint him, that they wifhed the veffel to have
a Pelew name, as they fuppofed it was then
called by fome Englifh one, which they defired
might be changed to Oroolong, in remem
brance of its having been built there ; the Cap
tain affured them it fhould immediately be
done — fent for his officers and people, and com
municated to them the King's requeft; they
were pleafed with his- idea, which the King per
ceiving, expreffed himfelf greatly fatisfied.—
Soon afterwards Abba Thulle, with his at
tendants, went over to the watering-place, and
defired Captain Wilson to go with him ; when
they arrived there, fome canoes were juft come
in from fifhing, and he ordered what had been *
caught to be divided, and the beft portion to be
given to the Englifh; this feemed to be the pur
port of the invitation. But a bufinefs of more
confequence

The pelew islands. 243
tonfequence took place at thisvifit : the third mare, *i*3-'
the gunner, and fhip's fteward, came over, and * E R-
informed the Captain, that Blanchard was
coming himfelf to fpeak to the King concerning
his intention of remaining at Pelew ; after a
fhort confutation, it was agreed to abide by their
former determination. The Captain, in confe
quence, talking with Abba Thulle about their
departure, told him he would, in. return for the
hofpitable kindnefs that both he and his people
had fhewn them, leave one of his men with
them, to take care of the guns and other things
they intended to give him when they went away;
which appearing to the King as a teftimony of
confidence and efteem, could not fail to be very
acceptable. — Evening coming on, our people
returned to the tents, having firft informed
Blanchard that the matter he wifhed was
" fettled; and introduced him to their Pelew
friends as the perfon whom they intended fhould
remain with them.
In the night the weather Was exceedingly bad>
blowing a hurricane, with fo much rain that no
work could be done at law*water, toward get
ting ready for the launch in the morning. — At
day-light the weather was cloudy, with little Saturday jj
wind ; but from the very high wind in the night
it was thought beft to defer launching the veffel,
as it was judged the next tide would not rife
R % fufficiently

NIlVtM' Ii ER,

244 AN ACCOUNT OF
1785^ fufficiently high for that purpofe. — The King,
' with his attendants (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. — Abba Thulle,
converting with the Captain, gave him to under-
* ftand, that they would have bad weather until
the moon quartered, and, left he fhould 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, which happened to be the then
ftate of that planet ; when he had fhewn this,
he altered its rotundity into the form of a cref-
eent, thereby intimating that the weather would
continue unfettled, 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 im
patience to get away, Captain Wilson afligned,
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 fubfe-
quent feafon.
While paifiting the veffei this morning, the
ftern was particularly decorated by Raa Kook;
under the immediate direction of the King ; our
people

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 245
people took notice that he made on each fide of 1^-
the ftern two circles, one within another, in black BER«
and white, with fome little zig-zag ornaments
hanging from them; thefe were not the effect 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 directions,
not ferioufly, but in a pleafant and rather jocofe
way. The painting being finifhed, the General
and Arra Kooker joined the King and the
Captain, who was fitting with him ; after fome
converfation, feveral bafkets of old cocoa-nuts
in a ftate of vegetation, and fome other feeds,
were brought ; and the linguift acquainted the
Captain that they were brought to Oroolong,
to be planted for the Englifh. — Raa .Kook then
defired Captain Wllson would accompany him
and Arra Kooker, and fhew them where he
would like to have them planted, and that fome
of our people, with tools, would affift them, by
digging the holes ; which being done, the Ge
neral and his brother planted feveral cocoa-nut
and other fruit-trees round the cove where the
Englifh lived; and it was obferved, that in cover
ing each nut, or feed with earth, they faid fome-
thin'g gently to themfelves, with an appearance of
folemnity that looked like a folemn rite. When
they had completed this work, they told the
Captain thefe would be future fruits for him,
R 3 and

246 AN ACCOUNT OF
v of i^, anc* the Englifh, whenever they returned ; and
B P *• that, fhould any inhabitants of the other iflands
accidentally eome on fhore at Oroolong, and eat
thereof, they would thank the Englifh for their re
frefhment. — In the evening they tried to launch
the veffel, but to their great difappointment could
not move her, until the tide began to fall;' they:
therefore let every thing remain until the next
tide, hoping in that time to difcover and remove
. the obftruetion.
Blanchard having eome over with the King
in the morning, gave an account to his comrades
of his treatment after the Captain and his com
panions had left him ; the King, he faid, was
very much pleafed in the thought of his being'
to remain at Pelew, and with his readinefs to
ftay with them, and had promifed to make him
a Rupack, and to give him two wives, together
with a houfe and plantations ; affuring him, that-
he would do every thing to make him happy '
and contented, and that he fhould always be
with himfelf or Raa Kook.
Madan Blanchard was a man of a Angular- :
character, about twenty years of age, of rather-
a grave turn of mind, at the fame time poffeffing
a confiderable degree of dry humour; and what
rendered the circumftance of his determination
the more remarkable was, its being well known
that he had formed no particular attachment on

N 0 V E M>
1S>.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 247
the ifland. His good-tempered, inoffenfive be- _ 1783
haviour during the voyage had gained him the
regard of all his fhip-mates; and, feeing the
extraordinary refolution he had taken of remain
ing behind, every one was anxious to intereft
the natives in his favour. As he perfevered in his
refolution to the laft, every reader will naturally
feel a wifh 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 knowledge may hereafter
ever reach our ears. It is by no means impro
bable, if he ha? conducted himfelf well, that by
this time he may have become a character of con
fiderable confequence ; courage he poffefled in an
eminent degree, a virtue held in high eftimation
by the natives. Unfortunately, his fituation in
life having denied him any advantage of educa
tion, he was unable either to write or read, other-
wife his memoirs, fince the year 1783, well
digefted, might, to all the inveftigators of fimple
nature be infinitely more interefting than thofe
of half the minifters and ftatefmen of Europe,
who have only bequeathed to pofterity a remem
brance of all thofe dark counfels, fecret devices,
and profligate intrigues, which difturbed the
tranquillity of the age they lived in.

R4 CHAPTER

248 AN ACCOUNT OP

1783.

CHAPTER XIX.
* E R" The Tfeffel fuccefsfully launched. — The great Satif
fatfion expreffed by the Natives on the Occaftoit.
— Our People give the King the Remainder of
the Tools. — Captain Wilson fent for ty the
King to the Watering-place, who propofes to
make him a Rupack of the firft Rank. — Invefts
him with the higheft order ofthe Bone. — Ade*
fcription of the Ceremony.
Sunday 9. /TT^HE night proving fine, every hand had fiif-
X ficient employment in preparing things
for launching the veffel ; they fwept her with a
lower-fhroud hawfer, and carried out an anchor
and hawfer a-head, and got a runner and tackle
purchafe upon it ; they likewife got a poft with
wedges fet againft the ftern-poft, and every thing
ready before daylight. The tide ebbed extrabrdi-
nary low this night, infomuch that fome of our
people walked dry to the flower-pot ifland, which
had neyer been done at any other time before
fince their coming to this place ; it was low-wa-t
ter rather before two o'clock this morning. At
day-light they began to try their work, to fee if
their preparations would anfwer their wifh.es, and
got the veffel down about fix feet ; they then
ftopped till high-water, and fent to the King, who

NOVF.«« BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 249
who with all his attendants came over to be pre- 1783
fent at the launch. — About feven o'clock, our
people happily got their veffel afloat, to the ge
neral joy of every fpectator, all appearing deeply
interefted in the fuccefs of this event, — The
Englifh gave three loud huzzas at her going off,.
in which they were joined by the natives, whofe
friendly hearts feemed on this occafion to feel a
fatisfaction little inferior to that of our own
people, which may be fuppofed to have been
great indeed. — The Englifh fhook hands with.
each other, with a cordiality but feldom expe
rienced ; and the mutual look of congratulation,
exchanged from eye to eye, conveyed to each
other's feelings, with energy, and ardour, thofe
fentiments of tranfport which words would not
with equal force have communicated. The long-
wifhed-for moment of deliverance was now al
moft arrived"; every one faw again, in imagina
tion, thofe objects of his affection, from whom,
but a few weeks paft, he thought he had been
feparated for ever. And the part the inhabitants
of Pelew appeared to take in the comfort of the
day, extinguifhed for the prefent every alarm
that had been unjuftly entertained. — Indeed the
conduct of the latter now exhibited, in lovelieft
colours, the triumph of native benevolence. —
They faw thofe ftrangers ready to depart, from
whofe - aid they had benefited, and from whofe
talents
6

250 AN, ACCOUNT OF
1783' talents and art they had received a knowledge
tJOVEM. . °
» * r. and information which had never hitherto reach
ed them ; they faw them exhilarated with the
profpect pf 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 behold
thefe virtuous natives, glowing with the fpirit of
true philanthropy, in the general tranfport for
getting 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
Rupacks with the Captain, the attendants with
the people : this was indeed 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 mafts, :
the water-cafks, 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 veffel having ftopped two or three ¦
times in the launching, which had caufed them
fome trouble, and more uneafinefs ; in taking
up the ways, they perceived that it had been oc-
cafioned by a nail in the bottom not being drove
home, the head of which had grooved the plank A

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 251
all the length of the ways.— When the flood-tide i783.
came in the afternoon, they hauled the veffel in- "J^"
to the bafon, which was a deep place of four or
five fathom water, in the middle of the level
fandy flat of the harbour, large enough to hold
three veffels of the fame magnitude, where they
could lie afloat at low Water. In the night -they
got on board all their provifion, ftores, ammu
nition, and arms, except fuch as were intended
to be given to Abba Thulle ; and renewed
their labour in the morning, taking on board Monday
their anchors, cables, and other neceffaries, mak
ing bitts, and fitting a rail acrofs the ftern of
the veffel. In the morning the King fent a
meffage to Captain Wilson, defiring him to
come to him at the watering-place ; and on his
arrival acquainted him, that it was his intention
to inveft him with the order of the Bone, and -
make him in form a Rupack of the firft rank.
The Captain expreffed his acknowledgments for
the honour he purpofed to confer on him, and
the pleafure he felt at being admitted a Chief of
Pelew. — The King, and all the Rupacks, then
went and fat down under the fhade of fome large
trees, and Captain Wilson was defired to fit at
a little diftance ; when Raa Kook receiving the
Bone, prefented it, as from his brother Abba
Thulle, and wanted to know which hand he;
tifed in common; this the General wifhed to
afcertain,

!•*

HOVE !.l.
til,

252 ANACCOUNTOF
1783. afcertain, by putting a ftone in his hand, which.
he defired him to throw 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 fuffi
ciently fo, it was rafped away, till judged to be
wide enough,- when Raa Kook, the Chief
Minifter, and all the Ru/packs, proceeded to the
inveftment, in the following manner : — The
General made a firing faft to each ofthe fingers
of the Captain's left hand, and then lubricating,
the hand with oil, the Chief Minifter placed
himfelf behind the Captain, holding him faft by
the fhoulders ; Raa Kook then paffed the dif
ferent firings -through the Bone, and giving them
to another Rupack, they endeavoured to draw
his hand through ; Raa Kook at the fame time,
with his own hand, compreffing that of the
Captain into the fmalleft compafs he poffibly
could, fo- that the Bone might pafs over the
joints. During this the moft profound filence
was preferved, both by the Rupacks who affifted,
and the people who attended as fpectators, ex
cept by the King, who occafionally fuggefted in
what manner they might facilitate the operation.
The point being at laft obtained, and the hand'-
fairly paffed through, the whole affembly ex
preffed great joy. Abba Thulle then addref- fing

N o V E M«
BE V

THE PELEW ISLANDS. aft
fing Captain Wilson, told him, that ihe Bone 1783
fhould be rubbed bright every day, and preferved as
a teftimony of the rank he held amongft them ; that
tins mark of dignity muft, on every occafion, be de
fended valiantly, nor fuffered to be torn from his
¦arm, but with the lofs of life.
The ceremony ended, all the Rupacks con
gratulated Captain Wilson on his being one of
their Order; and the inferior natives . flocked
round to look at the Bone, and appeared highly
^leafed to fee his arm adorned with it, calling
him Englees Rupack.
Thofe who may have been witneffes of the
conferring the more fplendid Orders of diftinc
tion, beftowed by foyereigns of powerful and
polifhed kingdoms, where the Gothic hall is de
corated with waving banners — where mitred
prelates affift the ceremony — where the pomp of
regal ftate impofes on the fenfe — and the blaze
of fuperb ornaments, beaming from female
beauty, gracing the ceremony, overpowers the
fpectator with a vaft difplay of magnificence —
fuch may vith a fmile of contumely read the
conceptions of thefe children of nature, or be
difpofed to ridicule the fimplicity with which the
unadorned natives of Pelew hold a chapter of
their higheft Order of the Bone. But it will be
recollected, that the objetJ and the end are every
where the fame. — This mark of diftinction is
given

15 O V te M
» ER.

&S4 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- given and received in thofe regions as a reward
of valour and fidelity, and held out as the prize
of merit.— In this light fuch public honours were
originally confidered, and ftill ought to be fo, in
every ftate, from Pelew tO Britain. — And
while they continue to be thus regarded, they
will operate on the human paflions, excite emu
lation, infpire courage, promote virtue, and
challenge refpect. — The decoration indeed de
rives all its fplendor from the combined ideas of
the mind whilft viewing it ; and the imagination
is equally impreffed with the fame fentiment,
whether the badge of honour be a ftrip of vel
vet tied round the knee, a tuft of ribband and
crofs dangling at the button-hole, a ftar em
broidered on the coat, — or a Bone upon the arm.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. £55

CHAPTER XX. „gJ.
KOVESl-
The good Conduit of tbe Natives, not to difturb or * E**
impede the Operations of our People. — The King
informs Captain Wilson of his Intention to fend
his fecond Son, Lee Boo, under bis Care, to
England. — Raa Kook having alfo folicited
Abba Thulle's Permiffion to accompany tht
Englifh, is refufed by his Brother, on very pru
dential Motives. — A fingular Occurrence rs-
JpetJing one of the King's Nephews. — The Time
of tbe Veffels Departure noticed — and, prepa
ratory to it, an Infcription, cut on a Plate of
Copper, is fixed to a large Tree, to record the
Lofs ofthe Antelope.
IN the evening the tents were all cleared, and Monday
every thing carried on board from the old
habitations at the Cove. — Our people being
much hindered by the natives wifhing to come
on board the veffel to fee and admire her, it was
obferved by Raa Kook, and mentioned by him
to the King, who immediately gave directions
that none but the Chiefs fhould go, and that the
others fhould only paddle alongfide, and look at
her from their canoes. When all the ftores were
3 on

10.

as* an Account of
* ^J83" °n board, and the fails bent, the Captain invited
BEK> Abba Thulle to accompany him in her round '
to the watering-place, which he declined, and
went with his attendants over land ; the invita
tion was however accepted by the General and
Arra Kooker, who were highly delighted at
every manoeuvre ; their canoes, with many .
others, full of the natives, attended them,
ihouting, hallooing, and rejoicing, Raa Kook
calling out continually to his people to obferve
every motion and action of the Englifh in con
ducting their veffel. They carried her to the
weft fide of the ifland, and moored her in fix'
fathom, abreaft of the well of frefh water. —
Captain Wilson then went on fhore to the King,
accompanied by Raa Kook and Arra Kooker,
who related to their brother every, circumftance
they had noticed, defcribing particularly the man
heaving the lead, and the manner of anchoring.
—Some canoes, as ufual, -had been out a fifh
ing, and caught a great quantity, . of "which they
had made no diftribution, waiting for the En
glifh to come and fhare with them ; this friendly
attention could not be accepted, as all our peo
ple were on board, and they had no convenience
as yet made for a fire-place in their little veffel.
The King then afked the Captain to ftay and eat
fome of the fifh with him, which he complied
, with, the interpreter remaining with him.
Abba

N O V E M-
t L If

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 257
AbbA Thulle had, in his vifits to OrOo- 17S3.
Long, been always a very attentive obferver of
whatever he faw the Englifh were employed In,
ftanding by them frequently Whilft at work for a
confiderable time, and noticing every trivial
occurrence.— He had already, as will be recol-
ledtedj hinted an intention of fending two of his
people to England, whenever the veffel was
ready to depart 5 and this evening, after fupper,
reverting to what he had formerly mentioned;
he explained himfelf more fully on the fubject ;
he told the Captain, that though his fubjects
looked up to him With refpect, and regarded
him as not only fuperior in rank but in know
ledge, yet, ,that after being with the Englifh^
and Contemplating their ingenuity, he had often
felt his own infignificance; in feeing the loweft
man, whom the Captain had under his command;
exercife talents that he had ever been a ftranger
to; he had therefore refolved to intruft his fecond
fon, whofename was Lee Boo, to Captain Wil
son's care, that; he might have the advantage of
improving himfelf by accompanying the Englifh,
and of learning1 many things, that might at his
return greatly benefit his own country; — He
added, .that one of the Malays from Pelelew
fhould. alfo go to attend on him. — He defcribed
his fon as a young man of an amiable and gentle
difpofition ; • that he was fenfible, and of a mild
i. . S temper,

25& AN ACCOUNT OF
T783- temper, and fpoke much in his commendation;

N O V E M-

"«' faid he had fent for him from a diftant place,
where he had been under the care of an old
man ; that he was then at Pelew, taking leave
of his friends, and would be with him at Oroo
long the next morning: Raa Kook alfojoinedj
with his brother Arra Kooker, in giving the
fame good character of their nephew.
Captain Wilson replied, that he was exceed
ingly obliged and honoured by this fingular mark
of his confidence and efteem; that he fhould have
thought himfelf bound in gratitude to take care
of any perfon belonging to Pelew, whom tfyi
King might fend ; but in this, cafe, he wifhed
to affure him, that he fhould endeavour to merit
the high truft repofed in him, by treating, the
young prince with the fame tendernefs and af-
fection as his own fon. — This, anfwer gave
vifible fatisfaction ; and then the converfation
changing, the King expreffed a wifh that the-
veffel might go down to Pelew before her de
parture ; the reafon he afligned for making this
requeft was, that many of the men. had enjoyed
various opportunities, at Oroolong, of feeing
the veffel, and her conftruction ; but that this
had not been the cafe with the aged, the women;
and the children ; that, if they went down ta
Pelew, thefe latter would then have the pleafure
of gratifying their curiofity; that the mothers would

N 0 V E M-
B ER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 359
would hereafter talk over to their children and I7s3.
families the Angularity of the fight, recall the
qircumftance to their memories, and by this
means the name of the Englifh, and of their
building fuch a veffel on the ifland of Oroo
long, would be preferved by his people, which
was what he much wifhed.— Captain Wilson,
who well knew the difpofition of his own people,
and was in his mind fully perfuaded that their
former fufpicions would revive, and induce them
to doubt whether fome treachery was not con-
k cealed under this requeft; fearing alfo, that
tfie eagernefs of the natives to come on board
and view her interior, as well as her exterior
form, might caufe confufion and delay, oppofed
the King's propofal, by fuggefting fuch well-
qonceived objections to it, that he acquiefced,
and nothing more was ever faid on the fubject.
, It may not be improper in this place to no
tice, that from the time Raa Kook was bufied
with the King in painting the veffel, it was ob
ferved, that there was a penfive gloom about.
him, which they had never before feen cloud his
countenance, naturally open and cheerful.?—
The Captain found it had been occafioned by a
dif^ppointment he had met with.— His great at
tachment to the Englifh had induced him to afk
his brother's permiffion to accompany thenv" to
England, to which the King had refufed his
S 2 confent j

a6o ANACCOUNTOF
T783- confent; afligning the neceffity he was under to
rovEM- o a '
ber. object to it, from the circumftance of his- being
the next heir, and the inconvenience that would
arife in cafe of his own death when he fhould be
abfent; the fucceflion ofthe fovereignty of Pelew
firft devolving to the brothers ofthe King, in fuc
ceflion, and after their deaths reverting to the eld-
eft fon of the firft branch of the family ; the fe
cond fon becoming, of courfe, hereditary General
of the forces. And though the good underftand
ing which Raa Kook poffeffed, fhewed him
the impropriety of what he had defired, and the'
prudent ground of his brother's refufal, yet it
was evident it had much depreffed him; indeed,'g
the very ftrong partiality he had from the firft
teftified for our countrymen, the pleafure he al
ways feemed to enjoy in their fociety, and the
intereft he certainly felt in their welfare, would
naturally touch his ftnfibility, make him fee
with regret the fails of his departing friends un
furled, and anticipate the pang of a farewell
look 1 -
Tuefday At day-light every body was bufied, in filling1
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 frequently with^ur people, who
had taken a pleafure to affimilate himfelf to all
• - their

n.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 261

NOVEM BER.

their Ways and manners, and who now applied 1783*
to Captain Wilson, to folicit him to take him
in his veffel to England ; he was anfwered by
the Captain, that it would be impqflible to do
it without the direction and confent of the 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 plea-r
fore. — The young man above alluded to, was
the King's nephew, and fon of that brother who
had been killed at Artingall, and whofe death
had occafioned the war which had fo lately been
terminated between his uncle and thofe people.—
.Captain Wilson accordingly mentioned the af
fair to the King, who appeared much difpleafed
at the application ; faid his nephew was a bad
man, and neglected his family ; that he had
himfelf, two or three times, fince the deceafe of
his father, changed his houfe and plantation for
him, in order to cure his rambling difpofition,
but. that -nothing feemed to affect, or alter him.
.T-The; nephew now prefented himfelf to urgC
hjs own fuit, probably thinking, that the Cap-
tain, heing prefent, would fecond his requeft.—
(The King gave him an abfolute denial, faying,
." You are undutiful, and negleclful of your mother;
"you have deferving and good women for your
" "Wives, to whom, as well as to all your relations,
"you behave ill, for iyhich you have been juftly
S3 " expofed

NOVEM BER,

261 A N A C C O U N T O F
1783- " extofed throughout the whole ifland.'— You are
" afhamed ofyottr conduit, and would now fly from
"your family; youfhall not have my confent, and
" I defire the Captain not to countenance you;— ftay
tc at home, — and let your fenfe of fhame amend your
" life"
s 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
circumftance feemed to give him gfeat concern;
he faid he had, by the return of the meffenger
who came to him at the ifland of Pethoull,
Tent word to the Rupacks of the different' iflands
in fri'endfhip With him, that the day after the
day that the Captain now mentioned would be
the time of departure, they all wifhing to bring
the Englifh fome prefents 'for their voyage, as
memorials of their regard ; and would in confe
quence come up the evening of the next day,
in full' hope of feeing them before they quitted
Oroolong, a fatisfactioh they would now be
deprived of. — Captain Wilson told Abba
Thulle, they had been fo amply flocked with
provifions by what his goodnefs had prepared
for them, that they had fufficient ftore for all
their voyage, and that, the wind and weather be
friending them, they muft' requeft to take leave
of him the next day. The difappointment the
Chiefs would feel, fenfibly affected the "King, as
well

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 263
well as the recollection that he had himfelf been *isi-
N 0 V E M-
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 genera
lity of the King's mind foon overcame it; for he
-almoft directly told him, that as it muft be the laft
day, he requefted himfelf and his officers would
dine with him on fhore; which they all accordingly
did. — The true caufe which induced the Englifh
to think of going a day earlier than they had
given out, was to avoid the vaft concourfe of
Grangers, who they knew were coming, and who,
they feared, would impede their operations by the
riomber of their canoes, and their curiofity to
examine the veffel ; the buftle and confufion that
this would neceffarily have occafioned, muft
-have unavoidably incommoded our men, and
jSevented them from going away with that
<almnefs and recollection which their departure,
and their paffage over the reef, required* — After
dinner, Arra Kooker, who had, from the
firft day of his feeing the Newfoundland Dog, fet
his heart on the animal, and had often expreffed
a longing defire to poffefs it when our people
went away, now renewed his folicitations : from
¦the earneftnefs with which he begged it, and
the care he affured them he would take of it;,
they were induced to make him happy, and;
-relinquifh all right in poof Sailor. ,J
S4 Raa

264 AN ACCOUNT OF
n o'»^. Raa Kook, whofe thoughts were of a different
.» E ,*• turn, and whofe ideas were wholly intent on be
nefiting his country by every information he
could obtain from the Englifh, made many en
quiries about the method of building a veffel in
their way; Mr. Barker drew him a plan to
work by, recommending the jolly-boat as a
model, rather than the pinnace, foe ; being
broader, and not of fo deep a form. He expref
fed a wifh to have the launching-ways left, and
faid, if he was able to compafs fuch a purpofe,
that he v/ould do it on the fame fpot, efteeming
it to be fortunate. — Abba Thulle, who had
been diverted by Arra Kooker's requeft, ap
peared to lend a very ferious attention to the
fubject which had fo much engaged Raa Kook ;
obferving that with the iron and tools they had
now in their poffeflion, they could do more work
in a few days, than they could before 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 paffing on the deck, and being feen
by many of the natives, who were alongfide in
their canoes, the account of it foon reachedthe
fhore; the Captain went immediately on board
to enquire the caufe. After reprimanding the
parties, he returned to the King, who being ap-'
prized. of the bufinefs> was told that it was a tri
fling ,

NOV1I III.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 26$
fling difpute, and the effect of paffion j on hear- 1783.
ing which, he faid, " there were in all countries
*c bad men, who he fuppofed could not be kept in
"order" Some ofthe Rupacks, however, afked
if fuch an accident might happen to the young
man who was to go with him (meaning the
King's fon) ; Captain Wilson affured them no
fuch thing could, as Lee Boo would be as his
own fon, and entirely under his own care : with
. which anfwer they all appeared fatisfied.
Before our people quitted the Cove, they left
in Englifh pendant hoifted on a large tree, which
grew clofe to where their tents had flood; and '
cut upon a plate of copper the following infcrip-
tion, which after being nailed to a thick board,
was affixed to a tree near the fpot where they had
built their little veffel :
The Honourable
Englifh Eaft India Company's Ship
The Antelope,
Henry Wilson, Commander,
Was loft upon the reef north of this, ifland
Jn the night between the 9th and 10th of
Auguft;
Who here built a veffel,
And failed from hence
The 1 2th day of November 17SJ.
" , , The

266 AN ACCOUNT OF,~*

¦ ST O V EM
BER

J^l\ m , The meatriftg of this infcription was explained
to the King, and that it was put up as a memo
rial of the Englifh having been there. — He was
pleafed with the idea, and explained it himfelf fo
his own people, promifingthat it fhould never he
taken down, and if by any accident it fhould
happen to fall, he would take care of it, and have
it prefervedat Pelew.
The difcourfe of the day turned much on the
fubject of their departure; whilft they fat to-
" gether, Abba Thulle, addrefling Captain Wil- ¦
' son, faid, " You are going ; and when gone, I fear
** the inhabitants of Artingall will come down
"*c in great numbers and moleft me, as they have
'" done frequently before ; and, having loft the aid,
*** of the Englifh,- 1 fhall be unable to refift them,
" unlefs you will leave me a few of your muf quits,
" which you have already taught me to hope you
u would." — Captain Wilson fpoke to his offi
cers on the propriety of doing this inftantly;-
they feemed fomewhat unwilling to put the arms
they v actually meant to give them,' into their
hands till the laft moment ; — that miftruft which
had poffeffed their minds, ftill kept its hold, and
appeared too ftrongly impreffed on their coun
tenances to efcape the quick difcernment of the
King; who, willing perhaps that they fhould
know he had noticed their appreherifions, with
that calm reflecting temper which marked his
character,

BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 267
character, afked if they were afraid to truft hirh "783-
N O V E M-
with a few arms ? <c What is there (faid he) can
" make you harbour doubts of me ? I never teftified
*' any fear of you, but endeavoured to convince you
" that I wifhed your friendjhip. — Had I 'been dif-
" pofed to have harmed you, I might have done it
" fong ago ; I have at all times had you in my power
" ~—but have only exeTcifed that power in making
" it ufeful toyou—s-and canyoq not confide in me at
" the laft?"
When the foregoing pages are attentively con-
fidered, the hofpitality with which our people had
been treated, both by Arba Thulle and the
natives, from the firft friendly interview to the
prefent moment— who had foread before them
'Whatever they had to give, or their country pro
duced ; and when, added to this, the 'King, as an
unequivocal proof of the high opinion he enter
tained of the Englifh, was going to cbnfign his.
own fon to their care — is there a reader who, re
calling all thefe circumftances, can wonder they
affected the fenflbilky of Abba Thulle? — Or
rather, is there a reader who will not be ready
with myfelf to afk, Under what fun was ever
tempered the fteel that could cut fuch a paffage
to the heart as this juft reproach of the King's ?
— Every individual felt its force, and its truth;—
'Cvery individual alfo felt how much his mind had
injured the virtues of this excellent man. — Nor was

s68 T, AN ACCOUNTOF
i7*3- was the wound of this . reproach rendered lefs
JOVIll. *
<¦" ker. acute by the confcioufnefs each man had, of
having been fo lately induced, by his unjuft fears,
to join in fuch deftructive counfel againft him and
his family.
But the eye of philofophy will candidly view
and difcriminate between the two parties ; the
people of Pelew, tutored in the fchool of Nar
ture, acted from her irnpulfe alone, they were
open and undifguifed ; unconfcious of deceit.
themfelves, they. neither feared nor looked for it
in others. — Our countrymen^-born and brought
up in a civilized nation, where Art affumes every
form and colouring of life, and is even perfec-
tioned into a fcience — were.fafhioned. by educa
tion to fufpicion and diftruft^ and awake to, all
their bufy fuggeftions.— Such is the fatal know
ledge the world teaches mankind, fencing too
often the human heart againft the inlets of its
own happinefs, by weakening . confidence,, the
moft valuable bond of fociety. ! Cf1;
The King's rebuke was too powerful for our
people to refift; they inftantly defired the Cap
tain to affure him, that whatever had been, pro
mifed fhould be faithfully fulfilled, and, to con
vince him they could have no fufpicions, the
arms fhould be immediately given to him ; they
accordingly fent on board, for the quantity of
, arms they could with conveniency fpare, and on
the

B JS.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 269
the boat's return prefented him with five muf- 17*3
quets, five cutlaffes, near a barrel of gunpowder,
with gun-flints and ball in proportion. Captain
Wilson alfo made him a prefent of his own
fowling-piece, with which he feemed to be par
ticularly pleafed, having often feen its effect on
the fowls and other birds at Pelew.
' And now the gentle fpirit of the King appear
ed to forget every trace of what had happened ;
— but the fcene enabled all who were prefent to
usanfmit to pofterity a moft captivating picture
of the forcible, yet mild triumph of virtue !

CHAPTER

270 AN ACCOUNT OF

1783. CHAPTER XXI.
B o V E M - 1
BER. Lee Boo arrives, and is introduced to Captain
Wilson ; who, at the King's Defire, remains
i- all Night on Shore. — The interefting Manner in
which he delivers his Son to his Care. — The Cap- ,
tain gives Blanchard> Advice how to conduit
himfelf. — In the Morning Signals for failing
reared. — A Boat fent to bring the Captain on
board. — The King and his Brothers accompany
tbem to the Reef .— -Multitudes of the Natives, in
their Canoes, furround the Veffel to teftify their
Regard. — The King takes an affeliionate Leave
of the Englifh. — Character of Abba Thulle.
j-Raa Kook croffes the Reef, and goes a good
Way to Sea before he quits them. — His Charac
ter. — The Englifh proceed on their Voyage to
China.
Tuefday 1 1. T N the evening arrived the King's fecond fon,
A Lee Boo ; he was brought from Pelew by
his elder brother, Qui Bill, to accompany our
people to England, His father introduced
him to Captain Wilson, and then to the officers
who were on fhore; he approached them all in
fo eafy and fo affable a manner, and had fo much
good-humour and fenfibility in his countenance,
that every one was immediately impreffed in his
. . , ., favour,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 27?
favour, and felt that intereft for him which his 17%.
amiable manners daily increafed.— Before dark » e *. "
the officers took their leave of the King, and
went on board the Oroolong, leaving the Cap
tain behind, whom Abba Thulle had requefted
to pafs the night on fhore. The King now
(having Lee Boo clofe at his fide) difcourfed
much with him, giving him ihftructions how to
conduct himfelf, and what he was to attend to ;
telling him he was henceforward to look upon
Captain Wilson as another father, . and win his
affection by obferving his advice. — Then, ad-
dreffing the Captain, faid, " When Lee Boo got
" to England, he would have fuch fine things
" to fee, that he might chance to flip away from
" him, to run after novelty ; but that he hoped
" the Captain would keep him as much as he
" could under his eye, and endeavour to mode-
" rate the eagernefs of his youth."
After further converfation relative to the
confidence repofed in Captain Wilson, Abba
Thulle concluded his recommendation in near
ly thefe expreffions : — " I would wifh you to in-
"form Lee Boo of all things -which he ought to
" know, and make him an Englifhman. — Thefub-
" jell of parting with my fon I have frequently re^
"wived; I am well aware that the diftant coun-*
" tries he muft go through, differing much from bis;
" own, may expofe him to dangers, as well as to dif-
" eafes
4

K O V E M
¦ EX,

472 -, AN ACCOUNT OF
17S3- ce eajes tfoai are unknown to us here, in confequench
ee of which be may die ; — / have prepared my
" thoughts to this ;— I know, that death is to all men
" inevitable, and whether my fon meets this event at
tc Pelew, or elfewhere, is immaterial. — lamfatif-
*'fied, from what I have obferved of the humanity
** of your char alter, that if he is fick, you will be
tc kind to him ; and, fhould that happen, which your
u utmoft care cannot prevent, let it not hinder you,
" or your brother, or your fon, or any of your coun-
<c try men, returning here ; I fhall receive you^ or any
" of 'your people, in friendfhip, and rejoice to fee you
" again." Captain Wilson repeated his affurance, that
he would have the fame care for Lee Boo as for
his own child, and that nothing fhould be want
ing on his part to teftify, in his attention to the
fon, the gratitude and regard he fhould ever feel
for the father.
The thoughts of the King, as well as thofe of
the Captain, were too much engaged, to devote
much ofthe night to fleep ; Abba Thulle paf
fed a confiderable part of it, as did alfo the Ru
packs, in difcourfing with their young country
man, who was now launching into a new and Un
tried world, and on the point of being feparated
by an immenfe diftance from every former con
nection.— Being fo near to their departure, Cap
tain Wilson took this opportunity to talk again
3 with

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 273
with Blanchard, and to give him advice how 1783-
" . H o V EM-
he fhould conduct himfelf towards the natives, ur-
and in what things he could be inflictive and
beneficial to them ; particularly in working fuch
iron as had been given to them, and. what more
they might hereafter obtain from the wreck ; and
alfo in taking care of the arms and ammunition
they had left them, which would be ofthe utmoft
confequence ; requefting he would never go
naked, like the natives, as, by preferving the
form of drefs his countrymen had appeared in,
he. would always fupport a fuperiority of cha
racter ; and, that he might be better enabled to
follow this advice, he was furnifhed with all the
clothes they could fpare; and directed, when
thefe were worn out, to make himfelf trowfers
with a mat, which he could always procure from
the natiyes, and thereby preferve that decency he
had always been accuftomed to. — Nor in the in-
ftructions delivered to him, were forgotten an at
tention to his religion ; he was earneftly exhorted
not to neglect thofe acts of devotion which he had
been taught to practife ; and to keep a Sabbath
or Sunday, and follow thofe Chriftian duties in
which he had been educated. — He was laftly de
fired to afk for any thing that he might think
would be of ufe and comfort to him : — when he
requefted to have one pf the fhip's compaffes ;
and, as the pinnace was to be left, that they
T might

NOVEM BER

IZ.

•274 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- might have 'the mafts, fails, oars, and 1 every
thing1 belonging to her; -which were all given,
as foon as- they -had towed the veffel Over the
reef.
Wednefday In the morning, at 'day-light, an Englifh- jack
was hoifted at the 'maft-head of the veffel, arid
one of the fwivels 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 with a profufion of proyifion,
lay alongfide the Oroolong ; fo that, had all the
expected northern Rupacks added their intended
prefents, it would have .fupplied a fhip -of five
'times3 the fize.
As foon as the veffel was loaded with every
thing they could take on board, and got ready
for fea, the boat was fent on fhore for the Cap
tain ; who acquainting the King therewith; he.
fignified that he and his fon would eome;bn board
prefently in his canoe. — Captain Wils&n then
took Blanchard, as alfo the five men who had
come on fhore for him, into a temporary hOufe
that had-been erected for the accommodation of
the Rupack Maath, who was expected from 'the
northward, and being entered, he once more re
quefted Blanchard to imprefs on his memory
all that .advice which he had before given him, and

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 275
and particularly to be obfervant of his duty, that 1783.
• 1 N O V E M«
the people of Pelew mjght thereby fee that he ber.
retained that faith andfenfe of religion in whiqh
he had been trained. 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 this
act of devotion, the King and his Chiefs remain
ed near the entrance of the houfe, obferved and
well knew what our people were about, and
preferved a profound filence.
It alfo muft be noticed, that when Lee Boo
came up, a bafket, with fome dozens of a fruit
refembling an apple, was brought from Pelew;
. jhey were of an oblong foape, and in colour of
a deep crimfon, not unlike what are called in
^England The Dutch Paradife Apple *. — They
fookeof them as a fruit that was very rare, and
faid they were then juft corning in feafon. The
, Captain gave one to each of his officers, being a
. fruit they had not feen before; and the -reft he
. carefully referved for his young paffenger, to
treat him with during his voyage.
* Of this fruit there are different forts, in many of the
• South Sea iflands ; it is the Jamboo Apple, the Eugenia
'Mataccmfis ofLiNN^us.
T % About

276 AN ACCOUNT OF
1v's- About eight o'clock in the morning the CaD-
•»• tain went on board in his boat ; the King, with
his fon Lee Boo, and his Rupacks, followed him
very foon in their canoes, accompanied by Blan
chard ; their little veffel was fo deeply loaded
with their fea ftores, that a doubt arofe whether
fhe 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 fhe could not much longer fwim. This being
made known to the King, and that they were in
want of a boat, he immediately offered to fop-
ply them with a canoe, and pointed to feveral
then alongfide ; all which being too large to
hoift on board the veffel, the King difpatched
his eldeft fon Qui Bill on fhore, who foon re
turned with one of a proper fize.
Mr. Sharp had been defired to take the King's
fon under his particular care, till the Oroolong
fhould arrive at China ; and Abba Thull?
now pointed out Mr. Sharp to him, who he faid
was to be his Sucalic; and from that moment
Lee Boo attached himfelf to him, keeping clofe
at his fide imwhatever part of the veffel he went.
In putting every thing to order before the Oroo
long moved, there was a fmall fail belonging
to the pinnace, which could not be found,
Blanchard was now got into the pinnace, ia
order

N O V E M-
S EX.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 277
order to take the veflel in tow; he had, with the i7gj.
moft unwearied affiduity, lent his countrymen
every affiftance in his power to the laft, and,
having laid up carefully the fail enquired after,
came on board to fhew where he had flowed it ;
which having done, he wifhed them all a prof-
perous voyage, and, without teftifying the fmall-
eft degree of regret, took leave of all his old
fhip-mates, with as much eafe as if they were
only failing from London to Gravesend, and
were to return with the next tide.
The Oroolong now proceeded towards the
reef; and, loaded as fhe had been by Abba
Thulle's bounty, even to fuperfluity, with what
ever he conceived might be ufeful or pleafant to
his departing friends, yet on either fide pf her
were a multitude of canoes, filled with the com
mon natives, who had all brought our people
.'.' prefents from themfelves, intreating they might
be accepted. — It was in vain they were told that
the. veffel was fo full there was no room to re
ceive any thing more ; each held up a little
fomething, " Only this from me " — " Only this
" from me," was the, general cry ; — the repeti
tion of which was urged with fuch fupplicating
countenances, and watery eyes, that this be
witching teftimony of affection and generofity
" almoft overcame every one on board. — From
fome pf thofe who were neareft, a few yams or
T 3 cocoa-

2?8 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. cocoa-nuts were' accepted; and the poor crea-
« e r. " tures, whofe intreaties-' could not be attended to,
unable to bear the disappointment, paddled; a-
head, and threw the little prefehts they had
brought into the" pinnace, totally ignorant that
fhe was to return back with Blanchard.
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 deepeft water for her paffage -
over it : by all the previous examinations, as
well as by the prefent precautions, the Oroo
long cleared the reef without the Jeaft diffi
culty. The King accompanied the Englifh in their
veffel, almoft to the reef, before he made a fig
nal for his canoe to come alongfide ; he gave
Lee Boo his blefling, wifhing him happy and
,ir profperous, which his fon received with great
refpect. — Seeing Captain WrLSON bufied in
giving directions to his people, he ftopt till he '
found him quite at liberty, and then went up
to him and embraced him with great tendernefs,
fo ewing, by his looks and voice, how much he
was diftreffed to bid him farewell ; he fliook all
the officers by the hand, in a moft cordial man
ner ; faying, " You are happy becaufeym are go-
ri ing home ; — I am happy to find you are happy—
t( but ftill very unhappy myfelf to fee you going
x " away."

N O V E M-

THE PELEW- ISLANDS. 279
(< away." — Then, affuring our. people of his 17S3.
affectionate wifhes for their, fuccefsful 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 Engliffy
clear of danger to .the outfide of the reef. As^
the canoes drew: clofe and furrounded , that of
the King, the natives all looked up eagerly, asr
if- to take leave, whilft their countenances com-^
rmuiicated all their benevolent hearts felt, in
looks more expreflive than language. , Our
countrymen might with truth fay, they left a;
whple people in tears ; and fo fenfibly were they,
impreffed themfelves . by this interefting . fcene,
that when Abba Thulle and his train turned
back to Oroolong, they were hardly able to
give-thern three cheers, and their eyes purfoed
them to catch the lateft look, whilft every man
• on board, with the warmeft emotions of grati-
tude, , felt the efficacy. of his fervices, which in a
great meafure had brought about their deliver-.
ance — and the fteadinefs of his friendfhip, which,
though from imaginary, alarms at times doubted,
ihey had found firm and unfhaken to the laft.
Having now bid adieu to this good and ami
able prince, it may.,not be improper to give an
oudine of his general character. — It is more than
probable, that the curtain . is for ever dropped
T 4 between

280 AN ACCOUNT OF
i783. between him and the world !— He is entered into
",Tr.M" hi;s own unnoticed domains, where he and his
Anceftry 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 unexpected, hath
given us at laft a tranfient fight of thefe people;
hor is it likely that they will again be fought, or
looked after, as they poffefs 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 tranquillity. — If they
have not, nor yet know the comforts of civi
lized nations, the advantages of arts, or the
blandifhments of luxury — they have, in counter-
poife, been ignorant of the anxieties they awaken,
the paffions which they inflame, and the crimes
they give birth to ! — Even in their ftate of na
tive fimplicity, as pictured in the foregoing
pages, there is, I fhould conceive, fofficient
matter to intereft, and ftill far more to admire.
With regard to the excellent man, who ruled
oyer thefe fons of Nature, he certainly, in every
part of his conduct, fhewed himfelf firm, noble,
gracious, and benevolent; there was a dignity
in all his deportment, a gentlenefs in all'his man
ners, and a warmth and fenfibility about his
heart, that won the love of all who approached
him. — Nature had beftqwed on him a contem plative

IJ o y p M-
1EI.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 281
plative mind, which he had himfelf improved by 1783.
thofe reflections that good fenfe dictated, and
obfervation confirmed, — His remarks on the af
fair of the mufquets was as pointed, and at the
fame time as delicate a reproof as perhaps was
ever thrown out. — His converfation with Cap
tain Wilson, refpecting his fon, whilft it fhew
ed an unbounded confidence on the part of the
King, marked alfo the force of great fentiment
and reafoning ; and his rebuke, when refilling
his nephew's felicitation, difcovered a heart tu
tored in the fentiments of refined honour.
The happinefs of his people feemed to be al
ways in Abba Thulle's thoughts. — In order
more effectually to ftimulate them to ufeful la
bour, he had himfelf learnt all the few arts they
•poffeffed, and was looked on, in fome of them, to
be the beft workman in his dominions. — His re
questing from Captain Wilson the Chinefe mat,
was only to giye his people a better pattern than
their own to follow ; and, in fending his fon to
England, and in the long inftructions given
him before hjs departure, he had not, nor could
have> any other object in view, but that of bene
fiting his fobjects by the future improvements
he would bring back to .his country; ideas,
which the intercourfe he had had with the Eng
lifh muft have folely excited. — In fhort, had his
lot been thrown tp rule over a great nation,
connected

8**j #N A C C O U N T 0 F
1783. connected with mankind,, 'one is at liberty, tq
^BERi" conjecture, ' that his talents, and. natural difpofi
tion might have made him: the Peter of the
fouthern'/ world!
Placed as he was by Providence in its ob- }
fcurer fcenes, he lived beloved by his Chief sx
and revered by, his people; over whom, whilft
he preferved a dignity that-diftin-guifhed. his fo.-
perior ftation, . he reigned n iore as the father ,
than the fovereign. — The- eyes of his fubjeets
beheld their naked prince with, as much awe and
refpect, as thofe are viewed who govern- polifhed
nations, and- are decorated with all the dazzling
parade and ornaments of royalty ; nor was the
purple robe, or the fplendid. diadem neceffary to
point out a character, which the mafterly, hand.
of Nature had rendered fo perfect !
Having paffed 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 overfhadowed their joy. — Raa
Kook remained very penfive, and fuSered the "'
veffel to proceed a confiderable way from -the
reef before he recollected himfelf, and fummon-v
ed his canoes to return back. — As this Chief had
been their firft and truly valuable friend, they
prefented him with a brace of piftols, and a car-
touch-box loaded with the proper cartridges,— -
The pinnace being now at the fide of the veffelj •
the

JOV£JI.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. a8j
the- Captain and officers were prepared to take i7r3
leave of the General ; but, when the moment of
feparation arrived, he was fo affected, that fie
was at firft unable to fpeak; he took them
cordially by the hand, and pointing with the
other to his heart, faid, it was there he felt the
pain of bidding them farewell; nor were there
any on board who faw his departure without
fearing nearly the fame diftrefs, — He addreffed
Lee Boo by his name, and fpoke a few words
to him ; but, being unable to proceed; he went
into the boat, when, immediately quitting the
rope, he gave our people a laft affectionate look,
-=-then dropped after n. ,
This excellent man appeared to be fomewhat
upwards of forty years of age, was of a middling
ftature, rather inclinable to be corpulent; he
had great expreflion of fenfibility in his counte-,
nance, tempered with much good-nature. His
character was firm and determined, yet full of
humanity; in whatever he undertook he was
fteady and perfevering ; he delivered his orders
to the people with the utmoft lenity, but would.
be obeyed ; and they, on every occafion, feem
ed to ferve him with ardour and alacrity, as if
mingling affection with duty. The reader muft-
have* obferved, that from his firft interview with
our people, he had fheWn an' 'attachment to
' ' them, which was never after leffened or cooled.
He

r O V E M.
SI1

a84 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- He was not of fo ferious a caft as the King, nor
had he that turn for humour and mimickry which
Arra Kooker fo ftrongly poffeffed ; but he
had abundant good-humour, was always pleafant
and lively, and well-difpofed to laughter, when
it was occafionally excited. He had an eager
fpirit of inquiry, and a defire to examine the
caufes and reafons of every effect which he faw
produced, and was wonderfully quick in com
prehending whatever was defcribed to him ; his
mind was ftrong and active, his behaviour man
ly and courteous, and accompanied with fo nice
a fenfe of honour, that he felt it wounded when
ever any of the natives had, by their little trifling
thefts, violated, as he judged, the laws of hof
pitality, which he held moft< facred, and always
difcovered an impatience till he could make therd
4^ftore what they had taken away. This he car
ried fo far as even to fhew his difpleafure at the
Chief Minifter, for requefting a cutlafs of Cap
tain Wilson (at the firft interview), thinking it
a breach of this virtue, to folicit a favour of thofe
¦Who were fo fituated, as not to be at liberty to
refofe the requeft, though the granting it might
be inconvenient. He was much amufed by
the peculiar manner of the Chinefe, and their
way of talking; would frequently fit down to
pick oakum with them, on purpofe to fee more
of them, without feeming to intrude. Our
people

VOIEX-

the Pelew islands* as$
people were probably partly indebted to his 1783
good offices for the fteady friendfhip the King
had for them ; at leaft, on (their firft coming,
he certainly interefted his brother in their favour.
He beheld all duplicity with indignation, and
publicly, before the King, fhewed his contempt
of Soogle, the Malay, who had dared to throw
out infinuations prejudicial to the Englifo. He
was communicative to our people on every oc-
cafion, and at ali 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 more eafily converted with him,
many things might have been cleared up, which
muft now remain undetermined. — With all thefe
excellent qualities, he appeared in his domeftic
character equally refpectablej as the reader will
recollect, who has had a view of his pleafant
deportment in his own family, and has feen him
in ail the filent majefty of grief attending the
obfequies of a valiant fon who had been flain in
lighting for his country. — To all thefe circum-
ftances 1 muft add, that the concern he difco
vered fo takrag leave of his nephew, and our
.countrymen, evidently proyed there was no fmall
portion of fenfibility lodged about his heart.
Whilft I am clofing this laft remark on the
characterof Raa Kook, I cannot avoid making
a general Obfervation on the people of Pelew, who,

286 AN ACCOUNT OF
I7gv who, though they appeared to be Philofophers in
MbIr.M adverfity, Stoics in pain, and Heroes in death,
yet, in many ofthe mpre delicate feelings of the
human breaft, they poffeffed all the amiable ten-

CHAPTER

the PE.LEW Islands. 287

, bn:",

i

CHAPTER XXII. *»«3-

I O V E M-

The Englifh, in /^Oroolong, quit the Pelew
Iflands. — An Account of their Paffage fro^n thence
to Macao. — Their Arrival there.— They dif-
fofe-of their Veffel, and proceed to Canton,
where they embark for England.
OU R countrymen being now in a fair way WedneCday
of getting to China, after parting with
their humane friends of Pelew, hauled up along
the back of the, reef, N. W. by N. having the
end ofthe outer breakers on their lee-beam. — At
noon the ifland of.QROOLONG bore S. E. by E. i
E. diftant about four leagues, from whence they
took their departure ; its latitude being f 19'
north, and longitude -134° 40' eaft of Green
wich. The. two firft days after leaving the Pelew r Thurfday
iflands;. our. people had tolerable weather, with | Friday"*
light fqualls and rain, the wind variable from E.
to S. E. with which they fleered to the northward.
— Lee Boo, the firft night he , flept on board,
ordered Boyam, his ferVant (who was one of
the two Malays from Pelelew) to bring his mat
upon

NO V E M

288 AN- ACCOUNT OF
1783. upon decfk ; a warmer covering was prepared for
him, to defend him from the cold. — He was the
next morning much furprized at not feeing land.
— Captain Wilson now clothed him in a fhirt,
waiftcoat, and a pair of trowfers ; he appeared tc*
feel himfelf uneafy in wearing the two firft arti
cles, and foon. took them off and folded therh
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 as the veffel, proceeding north- -
ward, advanced into a climate gradually grow
ing colder, he in a little time felt lefs inconve
nience in putting on again his jacket and fhirt ;
to which, when he had been a little time accuf-
tomed, 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 forrie dark cor
ner where no One could fee him. — Themotioii of
the veffel at . firft made him very fea-fick, and
obliged him frequently to lie down ; this fick-
nefs by degrees abating, he had one of the ap
ples given him which had been brought from
Pelew ; he expreffed a doubt about eating it ;
but, being told it was the Captain's defire, and
that Abba Thulle had fent them for him, h«
obferved to Boyam, that he was much indulged,
* none

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 289
Sibne but a few great people having his father's t783.
permiflian to eat of this fruit *. "„ L""
This young man was remarkably clean in his
perfon, wafhing himfelf feveral times a day;
and1 as tfoon as he was perfectly recovered from
his feaj-ficknefs he appeared to be eafy and con
sented. The latitude, on the fourteenth, at noon,
was 90 38' north by obfervation. — The day foi- Saturday
lowing was cloudy but good weather, with .a
fwell from the N. E. — They faw a few fea-birds
and fiying-fifh ; and, having an obfervation .at
noon, found they were inlatitude iop 45' north;
the weather continued moderate, though cloudy?,
and their little veffel (excepting a fmall leak;)
was found in every refpect equal to their hopes.
— They had this forenoon prayers read upon Sunday is,
deck, all our people having, in this happy deli
verance, too ftrong a recollection of the mercies
of Providence not to offer them publicly, with
hearts full of gratitude. The latitude at noon
was 1 a0 1' north. — Lee Boo was now fo well
recovered as to eat a flying-fifh that was caught
upon deck, and fome yam, having till this time
eat very httle. — He this afternoon told Boyam,
'.that he wasfenfible his father and family had been
¦very vnhappy from knowing that he had been fick.
* This remark of Lee Boo's agrees with the King's tel
ling Captain Wilson, when he gave him thofe apples,
that they were a great rarity.
U The

290 AN ACCOUNT OF
i7&3- The weather continuing fair, withthe wind*
NOVEM BER, from the N. E. and eaft, they endeavoured this
Monday morning to make more room, by re- flowing
their provifion and ftores ; in doing which they
difcovered that the leak was Under the end of
one ofthe floor-timbers : it was propofed to cut
• it away, in order to come at and flop it from
within, but on more mature confideration this
was thought to be too dangerous an attempt, as
it might occafion the ftarting of a plank, which
would expofe the veffel 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 130 19' north. — In the night
they had ftrong fqualls, variable to the north
ward, with rain, and at times had very hot puffs
of wind, as if from land ; they kept under an
From ,. eafy fail and a good look-out until day-light, but.
1% to7 1 faw no appearance of land ; the weather being
Fl2i? J very unfettled, with fqualls and rain, and the
wind varying at times to 'the eaftward, fouth
ward, and S. W. with lightning and dark
clouds. — On the twenty-firft they found, by ob
fervation, their latitude to be 17° 47' north, and
Saturday tne next day were in i8°!2q' north: the weather
continuing very unfettled, vvith frequent fqualls,,
the wind remaining in the E. and S. E. quarters
Sunday 13. until the twenty-third, when it veered round to
the

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
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 obferva
tion ; 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 rip-
plingsinthe water, they hauled up to the north
ward till day-light, when they faw the Bashee
iflands bearing W. N. W. diftant about three
leagues. This circumftance much pleafed 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
remarks, and tied a knot thereon, as a remem
brance of the circumftance. — At feven o'clock
the wind changing to the northward, they bore
away through a paffage between the iflands, and
at noon were in the China fea, their latitude
21" 5' north, by obfervation; they had now
fair weather with fmooth water, and by four
o'clock in the afternoon had loft fight of the
Bashee iflands.
The next morning about nine o'clock they
faw land upon their quarter, bearing from
N. E. | N. to E. N. E. being part of the ifland
of Formosa ; at noon their latitude was 21" 49'
north. The fair .weather continued next day,
but with a fwell from the, northward, which wet
: T U 2 them

291

'783- '
NOVEM BER.
Monday 24.

Tuefday 2J.

Wednefday z6.

Thurfday 27-

NO V'E-'M
BER.

29.

S92 AN ACCOUNT OF
*783- them a little; their latitude at noon beinfe 22" -if
north The wind increafing in the afternoon to
a frefh gale, they now felt a material change do
cold, ofwhieh they were the more fenfible from
the hot Weather they had before experienced.
Friday 28. The next morning thq' faw feveral Chinefe fifh
ing boats, and a fmall China junk*: Atejght
o'clock they faw land, being a fmall hill, bear
ing N. by W. ; at noon they were in latitude
22° '20' north. The wind blowing brifkly, at
Saturday one o'clock in the morning they got foundings
•at twenty^five fathom, foft ground ; they kept
founding during the night, and at feven o'clock
in the moAiing they few the land, bearingifrorh
N. by E. to W. S. W. : they flood in amongft
the iflands, as the wind would permit, and it
noon were in latitude aa° 3' north, the >hjgh
land called the Asses Ears then 'bearing
S. S. W. They fteered to the weftward amongft
the iflands Until fix o'clock in the ^evening,
when they anchored in ten fathom water, a foft
clay bottom, amongft fome fmall Chinefe veffels.
— Lee Boo appeared quite delighted at the
fight of land, and the number of boats on the
water. * Junk is the name given by Europeans to the Chintfe-
built veffels employed in their homeorcoaftlrtg trade ;"folne
of them are Very large, and trade to Batavta and3M«-
XACCA.
The

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 293
The next morning Captain Wilson procured 1783-
. NOVEM-
a pilot to conduct their veffel between the iflands ">.
to Macao ; and when they came in fight of it, SmAiy 3°"
an Englifh jack was hoifted at the maft-head, -
which being feen by the officers of the Portu- <
gxefe fhips at anchor in the Tvpa, they imme
diately fent their boats to meet our people,
bringing with them fruit and provifions, as alfo
men to affift them; judging, from the fize of
their little veffel, that they muft be part of fome
Englifh fhip's crew that had been wrecked ; and
one of the officers was fo obliging as to wait;
with his boat to take the Captain on fhore to
the Governor; who, being at that time engaged
on particular bufinefs, defired to be exeufed.
from feeing the Captain, but acquainted him,
by the officer on duty, that they Were welcome,
to the port of Macao. This gentleman in
formed Captain Wilson, that the Honourable
Q-omoany's fupra-cargoes were all up at Canton,,
and that there was no Englifh gentleman then at
Macao, but Mr. M'Intyre, to whom Captain
Wilson immediately went on taking leave of
this officer, having, when before at Macao, in
the Antelope, received many teftimpnies of
this gentleman's friendfhip ; who, when he heard
of Captain Wilson's misfortunes, with his
wonted humanity and attention ordered provi
fions to be fent on board the veffel to the officers
V 3 and

294 AN ACCOUNT OF
oT78> and people, and fuch other neceffaries as they
B *r- might ftand in need of; whilft the Captain wrote
to the Company's fupra-cargoes^ to acquaint
them with the fate of the Antelope, as alfo of
his arrival and fituation'; which letters Mr.
M'Intyre immediately forwarded to Canton.
— They now learnt that Peace was eftablifhed in
Europe, and that there were a number of Englifh
and 46ther fhips at Whampoa ; that fome of the
Company's fhips were loaded and ready > to fail,
which was moft welcome intelligence. — Before
Captain Wilson went on fhore, Lee Boo, on
feeing the large Portuguefe fhips at anchor in the
Typa, appeared to be greatly aftonifhed, ex
claiming, as he looked at them, Clow, clow,
muc clow ! ' that is, Large, large, very large !
He gave our people an early opportunity of fee
ing the natural benevolence of his mind ; for
fome of the Chinefe boats, that are rowed by
poor Tartar women, with their little children
tied to their backs (and who live in families on
the water) furrounded, the veffel, to petition for
fragments of- victuals — the young Prince, on
noticing their fupplications, gave them oranges,
and fuch other things as he had, being particuT
larly attentive to offer them thofe things which,
he beft liked himfelf.
dYeErM" The next morning M. M'Intyre, with a
Monday i. Portuguefe gentleman of Macao, accompanied- the

DECEM BER.

THE PELEW ISLAND"ST 295
the Captain on board the Oroolong, taking i7s3
v ith them ,11 kinds of refrefoments and provi-
fions ready dreffed. In the evening they took
Lee Boo and all the officers on fhore, except
the Chief Mate, who remained with the people
to take care of the veffel, till they foould
receive orders from the Company's fupra-car
goes. The Portuguefe gentleman, who paid Captain
Wilson this vifit, expreffed much pleafure in
feeing the Pelew Prince, and on going on fhore,
requefted that the New Man (as he called Lee
Boo) might be permitted to vifit hjs family. —
This being the firft houfe our young traveller
had ever feen, he was apparently loft in filent
admiration; what ftruck moft his imagination
at firft, was, the upright walls and the flat ceil
ings of the rooms; he feemed as if puzzling himfelf
to comprehend how they could be formed ; and
the decorations of the rooms were alfo no fmall
fubject of aftonifhment. When he was intro
duced 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 embarraffed, he permitted the company to
examine his hands, which were tatooed, and ap
peared pleafed with the attention fhewn him.
When he retired with Captain Wilson, his be
haviour left on the mind of every one prefent
U4 the..

>ec em
BER

296 AN ACCOUNT OF "
1783- the impreffion; that however great the furprize
might be, Which the fcenes of a new world had
awakened in him, it could hardly be exceeded'
fjythat which his own amiable manner's and na
tive polifh would excite in others.
Macao being the firft land our people had'
fet foot on fince, they left the Pelew iflands} they-
congratulated one another very cordially, Lee
Boo feeming to join in the congratulation as
warmly as any one. Mr. M'Intyre conducted*
them to his own houfe, where they were intro
duced into a large hall lighted up, with a table
in the middle covered for fupper, and a fider
board handfomely decorated. — Here a new fcene
burft at once on Lee Boo's mind, he was all
eye, all admiration. The veffels of glafs ap
peared to be the objects which rivetted moft his
attention. — Mr. M'Intyre fhewed him what
ever he conceived; would amufe him ; but every
thing that furrounded him was attrar^ling — his eye
was like his mind, loft and bewildered. — It was in
truth tb him a fcene of magic, a fairy tale. —
Amongft the things that folicited his notice, was a
arge mirror at the upper end of the hall, which
reflected almoft his whole perfon. Here Lee Boo
flood in perfect amazement at feeing himfelf; —
he laughed— he drew back, and returned tolook
again,quite abforbed in wonder. — He madeanefr
fort to look behind, as if conceiving fomebody wasi
there,

P E C E M-
8 IK.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 297
there, but foundrhe glafs fixed clofe to die wall. T783
Mr. M'Intyre, obferving the idea that had
croffed him, ordered a fmall glaft to be brought
into the room, wherein having viewed his facej
he looked behind, to difcover the perfon who
looked at him ; totally unable to make out how
all this was produced.
Nor did Lee Boo's furprize at feeing him
felf in the mirror, much exceed that of each
of our own people, though the caufe was dif
ferent, 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 flood before the mirror, every
one individually perceived that hard labour;
hard living, fpare diet, and anxiety of mind, had
wrought a change in every countenance far greater
than they could have imagined,
After paffing an evening, which had been
rendered pleafant and chearful from the hofpita
lity of their hoft, and the'fimplicity of Lee Boo,
qur people retired for the night : whether Lee
Boo paffed it in fleep, or in reflecting on the
occurrences of the day, is uncertain ; but it is
more than probable they were the next morning
recollected by him in that confufed manner in
which we recall the traces of a dream,
Th?

298 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- The fucceeding day he had more leifure to ex-
JECEM- .
• o, amine the houfe in which they had flept ; the up-
Tuefday 2. ^^ ^^ an^ ^t cejijngS ft.JU continued to be
the objects of his furprize ; he was perpetually
feeling the firft, as if he thought he. could there-.
by gain an idea of their conftruction : but the
it
latter feeming felf-fupported, was beyond what .
his m'md could at that time comprehend.
As our people were too numerous to remain
with Mr. M'Intyre, without trefpafling on dim,
Captain Wilson requefted his affiftance to form
an eftablifhment of their own ; in which he com
plied, by accommodating them with a houfe be
longing to an Englifh gentleman then at Can
ton ; and, having provided them with fervants
and neceffaries for their table, they fent for the
crew of the Oroolong on fhore, leaving only
one officer and a few men on board, who were al
ternately relieved,
Soon after our people came on fhore, fome of
them went to purchafe fuch things as they were
1 in want of, in doing which they did not forget
Lee Boo, who was a favourite with them all ;
they bought him fome little trinkets, which 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
ecftafy; he hugged them with a tranfport that
could not be exceeded by the interefted poffeffor
6 ' of.

DECEM BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 299
of a ftring of pearls of equal magnitude. — His 1783
imagination told him he had in his hands all the
wealth the world could afford him. — He ran with
eagernefs to Captain Wilson, to fhew him his
riches, and, enraptured with the idea that his fa-,
mily fhould fhare them with him, he, in the ut
moft agitation, intreated Captain Wilson would
immediately get him a Chinefe veffel, to carry his,
treafores to Pelew, and deliver them to the King,
that he might diftribute them as he thought beft,
and thereby fee what a country the Englifh had
conveyed him to ; adding, that the people who
carried them fhould tell the King, that Lee Boo
would foon fend him other prefents. He alfo
told Captain Wilson, that if the people faithful
ly executed their charge, he would (independant
of what Abba Thulle would give them) pre
fent them at their return with one or two beads,
as a reward for their fidelity. — Happy ftate of
fimplicity and innocence, whofe pleafures can be
purchafed on fuch eafy terms, and whofe felicity
arifes from In ignorance of thofe objects which
difquiet the human race, and agitate their paf-
fions! But one grieves to think this fentiment
cannot be indulged, without reflecting how foon
a knowledge of the world deftr'oys the ilfofipn of
this enviable enchantment!
In a few days Captain Wilson received Jetters
from the fupra-cargoes, expreffing their concern for

IECEM J ia

300 AN ACCOUNT OF
1783- for his- misfortunes, and the fatisfaction they re
ceived In his fafe return, with his fhip's company,
after fo many perils ; accompanying the letters
¦with a variety of neceffaries, and warm clothes,
and advifingthe difpofal of the veffel and ftores,
as the Chinefe government would not admit of
her coming up to Whampoa, without paying
duty and port chargesto a confiderable amount.
Mr. M'Intyre alfo received letters, defiring
him to furnifh them with money, and every thing
elfe they might be in want of. — They alfo re
ceived -congratulatory letters from their particu
lar friends, on their arrival at Macao, after the
hardfolps they had fuftained ; and thefe were ac
companied by other letters from the command-
ers of feveral of the Company's fhips^ kindly of
fering to accommodate them with a paffage to
England. — And it would be an injuftice to the
gratitude and feelings of Captain Wilson and
his officers, fhould the recorder of thefe events
pmit to mention the kind treatment they experi
enced from the Company's fupra-cargoes ; from
feveral Portuguefe gentlemen, inhabitants of Ma
cao ; and alfo from the Commodore of their
fhips, who being almoft ready to fail for Eu
rope, offered Captain WiLsoN,-with many kind1
expreffions, a paffage in his fhip, for himfelf, and
fiich other perfons as he might wifh to take with
him, Whilft

DECEM BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. joi
Whilft LeeBoo remained at.MACAO,he had *m
frequent opportunities of feeing (people of dif-
¦ferent nations ; and alfo was fhewn three iEnglijh
women, who having loft their hufbands in India,
had been fent from Madras thither, and were
waiting there to return to Europe, .to wham the
mew man, as he was called, gave the, preference
to any other of the fair fex he 'had feen.— -This
early decifion made in favour of our country
women, and made by one who could feel no pre
judices, butjudged,byhis eye— had this ^amiable
tyouth lived to have been. much known in Eng
land, muft have infored him i the-countenance
-and favour 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, andiother cattle which
he met with whilft at Macao, were viewed* with
¦wonder. The Newfoundland -dog, which had
-been given to 'his uncle Arra Koojces., .being
.called Sailor, he applied the word Sailor to
xvery animal that had four tegs.— --Seeing Tome
horfes in a liable, he called them Glow Sailor,
that is, Great .Sailor ; hut the next day feeing a
•man pafs the houfe on horfebaok, he was himfelf
-fo wonderfully aftonifhed, that he wanted every
one to go and fee the ftrange fight. He went
•afterwards to theftables where the horfes were*
¦he felt, heftroaked them, and was inquifitive to
know
4

»ECF, M
HER

302 AN ACCOUNT OF
•783- know what their food was, having found, by of
fering them fome oranges he had in his pocket,
that they would not eat therri. He was eafily
perfuaded to get on one of their backs ; and
when he was informed what a noble, docile, and
ufeful animal it was, he with much earneftnefs
befoughtthe Captain to get one fent to his uncle
Raa Kook, to whom he faid he was fore it would
be of great fervice.
They were now waiting for a permit and boats
to take them to Canton, when Captain
Churchill, ofthe Walpole, having, made his
paffage to China againft the Monfoon, arriving
at Macao at this time, was fo obliging as to ac
commodate them with a paffage up to Wham-
poa; only Mr. Benger, with five or fix ofthe
irien, remaining at Macao with the Oroolong,
till fhe fhould be difpofed of.
During the time Lee Boo Was in the Wal
pole, he had fufficient. matter to kefep all his fa
culties awake ; the. furniture, tables, chairs,
lamps, and the upright bulk-heads, with the deck
over head, were all furprifing ; after his eye had
in filence run over thefe objects, he whifpered to
Captain Wilson, that Clow Ship was Houfe. : It
is more than probable that nothing on board the
Walpole efcaped his notice, as it was evident
^nothing on fhore did. — At Canton, the num
ber of houfes, the variety of fhops, and the mul
titude

D E C £ M-

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 303
titude of artificers, induced him to fay, there was 1783
a Tackalby for every thing. — Being at the Com
pany's table at the factory, the veffels of glafs, of
various fhapes and fizes, particularly the glafs
chandeliers, attracted his notice. — When, on
-looking round, he furvey ed the number of at
tendants ftanding behind the gentlemen's chairs,
he obferved to Captain Wilson, that the King,
his father, lived in a manner very different, hav
ing only a little fifh, a yam, or a cocoa-nut,
which he eat from off a leaf, and drank out of
the fhell of the nut; and when his meal was
finifhed, wiped his mouth and his fingers with a
bit of cocoa-nut hufk ; whereas the company pre
fent eat a bit of one thing, and then a bit of an
other, the fervants always fupplying them with a
different plate, and different forts of veffels to
drink out of. — He feemed from the firft to re
lifh tea; coffee- he difliked the fmell of, and
therefore refufed it, at the fame time telling
Captain Wilson he would drink it if be ordered
him.— On their arrival at Macao, one of the
feamen being much intoxicated, Lee Boo expref
fed great concern, thinking him very ill, and ap
plied to Mr. Sharp, the furgeon, to go and fee
him ; being told nothing material ailed him,
that it was only the effect of a liquor that com
mon people were apt to indulge in, and that he
would foon be well, he appeared fatisfied ; but
would

J°4

•D f. C E M
BE R,

AN ACCOUNT OF
1783. would never after even tafte fpirits, if any were
offered him, faying, it was not drink fit for gentle
men. — As to his ^eating and drinking, he was in
iboth temperate to a degree.
After they had been about five or fix days. at
Canton, Mr; -Benger, and the men who re
mained with him at Macao, accompanied by
Mr.M'lNTYRE, 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, with
out faying a word to the Captain, or other per
fon, he.fprang from his feat, and was at the edge
of the river before the boat reached the fhore.;
he, received them with fuch joy and eagernefs,
and foook their hands with fu«h expreffionsof
affection, as won their warmeft regard; he feem
ed impatient till he could get them into the houfe,
fearing that by flaying behind they had not fared^
fo well as himfelf.
When our people went on board the Wal
pole, Mr. M'Intyre had kindly undertaken to
manage the bufinefs of cfifpofing of the Oroo
long; fhe was accordingly put up to auction,
and fold for. feven hundred Spanijh dollars. — It
having been judged that the two time -pieces
which they had in her would fetch more money
at Canton, they were brought up there for Tale,
as were alfo the furgeon's. inftruments, the latter
being

305

DECIM, BER.

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
being intended as a prefent to Mr. Sharp ; but t783.
the carpenter's mate objecting to relinquifo his
foare in them, in confequence of his tools having
been difpofed of, Mr. Sharp declined the offer j
they were therefore put up to fale at Canton,
with the time-pieces, and bought By Captain
Wilson, who prefented them to Mr. Sharp, as
an acknowledgment for his attention to, and care
of, the fhip's company, of whom not a fingle
man had died, or been unable to do duty for
any length of time, fince their leaving Eng
land. Whilft at Canton, feveral gentlemen, who
had, been at Madagascar, and other places,
where the throwing of the fpearjs practifed, and
whd themfelves were in fome degree fkilled in
the art, having expreffed a wifh to fee Lee Boo
perform this exercife ; they affembled at the hall
of the factory for that purpofe. — Lee Boo did
.not at firft point his fpear to any particular ob
ject, but only fhook and poifed it, as is ufoally
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 hung up in the hall,
and which had a bird painted in the middle ; Lee
Boo took up his fpear with great apparent indif
ference, and, levelling at the little bird, ftruck it
through the head, aftonifliing all his competitors,
X who,

DECtM
' 8 E R,

30.6 : AN -ACCOUNT OF.
1783. who, at the great diftance from whence they
flung, with much difficulty even hit the cage.
He was greatly pleafed with the ftone build
ings and fpacious rooms in the houfes at Can
ton ; but the flat ceilings ftill continued to ex
cite his wonder ; he often compared them with
the floping thatched roofs at Pelew, and faid,
by the time he went back he fhould have learnt
how it was done, and would then tell the people
there in what manner they ought to build. — The
benefiting his country by whatever he faw, feem
ed to be the point to which all his obfervations
were directed.
Being at the houfe of Mr. Freeman, one of
the fupra-cargoes, amongft the things brought in
for tea was a fugar-difh of blue glafs, which much
ftruck Lee Boo's fancy. The joy with which
he viewed it, induced than gentleman, after tea,
to carry him into another room, where there were
two barrels of the fame kind of blue glafs (which
held about two quarts each) placed on brackets:
his eye was again caught by the fame alluring.
colour, he looked at them eagerly, then went
away, 7 and returned to them with new delight:
the gentleman obferving the pleafure they gave
him, told him he would make him a prefent of
them, and that he fhould carry them to Pelew;
this threw him into fuch a tranfport of joy he
could hardly contain himfelf; he declared them to

DICE X.
hil'..

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 307
to be a great treafure, and that when he return- 1783.,
ed, his father, Abba Thulle, fhould have them:
he wifhed his relations at Pelew could but fee
them, as he was fore they would be loft in afto-
nifhment. As there were fome of the Company's fhips
that were foon to fail for England, Captain
Wilson declined two advantageous offers of
the command of country fhips; thinking it his
duty to embrace the earlieft opportunity of ac
quainting, in perfon, the India Company with
the fate of the Antelope, and the particular cir-
cumftances attending it.
It ftill remained for him to lay before the
companions of his adverfe fortune, a ftatement of
the different fales, and give to every man an
eqGal fhare of what they had produced ; which
being fettled, Captain Wilson acquainted his
officers and men, that they were now at liberty
to provide for themfelves as opportunity fhould
offer, at the fame time recommending to them
all, but particularly his officers, to return to
England; where, he had no doubt, but that the
-honourable Company would recompenfe, in
feme meafure, every individual for the hardfhipa
they hadfoftained; declaring that he felt himfelf
in the higheft degree obliged to them for the
good order, the unanimity, and the excellent con
duct they had fo cheerfully perfevered in, during .
' ' ..; X 2 the

tlCEM. HER,

308 AN A.CCOUNT OF
1783- the trying fcenes they had experienced together,"
and which had afforded them an opportunity
of teftifying their zeal for ' the general fervice ;
which it fhould be his bufinefs to reprefent in
fuch terms as their whole behaviour truly me
rited. Mr. Sharp, who, from the time of leaving
the Pelew iflands, had taken Lee Boo under his
immediate care, nOw refigned his charge to Cap
tain Wilson, and came home in the Lascelles,
Captain' Wakefield ; the other officers and
people engaged in different fhips, as vacancies
offered ; but the greater part of the men em
barked in the York, Captain Blanchard;
nor did any of them feparate without fome
emotions of concern in quitting thofe compa»
nions with whom they had fhared fo many diffi
culties. Lee Boo embarked with Captain Wilson in
the Morse, Captain Joseph Elliott, 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 fhall,
for the prefent, leave their refpected Commander
purfuing, with our young Prince, his voyage to
England. — Being inclined to hope that the
character and conduct of thefe hitherto unknown
people^ whom I have introduced in the foregoing'
t, narrative,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 309
narrative, have interefted the reader, I fhall now 1783*
give him fome account of the Government, Cuf- in.
toms, Manners,, and Arts, ofthe Natives of Pe
lew, as far as I have been able to collect them,
from the different reports of the Captain, and
fuch of his officers who have favoured me with
their communicationsr

X3 CHAPTER^

3io AN ACCOUNT OF

,-ViJnis:.

/CHAPTER XXIII.

General Idea of the Iflands.— Of the King-.— -0/
i?^(? General.— 0/ #><? Chief Minifter. — Of
the Rupacks. — Of the N&tiire. of Property a$
PeleW.
TH E Palos or Pelew iflands are a chain
of fmall iflands, fituated between the 5th
and 9th degree of north latitude, and between
130 and 136 degrees of eaft longitude from
Greenwich, and lie in a ,N. E. and S. W. di
rection : they are long but narrow, of a mode^
rate height, well covered with wood, at leaft fuch
of the iflands 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 feeq
>
from any eminences they were on ; this reef in
fome places extends five or fix leagues from the
fhore, and in no parts that were vifited lefs than
two or three.
The reader will bear in mind that the Ante
lope was not a fhip particularly fent out to ex-r
plore undifcovered regions, or prepared to invef-
tigate the manners of mankind ; it had not on
board philofophers, botanifts, draughtfmen, or
gentlemen experienced in fuch fcientific purfuits
• • ¦ x as

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 3a
as might enable them to examine with-judgment
objects which prefented themfelves, or trace na
ture through all her labyrinths. — Diftrefs threw
them on thefe iflands, and when there, every
thought was folely occupied on the means of get
ting away, and liberating themfelves from a fitu
ation of aU others the moft horrible to the ima
gination, that of being cut off for ever from the
fociety of the reft of the world.
Forlorn and melancholy as their lot at firft
appeared, the gloom it caft over them was foon
difpelled, by finding themfelvls amongft an hu
mane race of men, who were foperior to the wifh
of taking any advantage of their diftrefs ; who
had hearts to feel for what our people fuffered ;
benevolence to relieve their immediate wants ;
and generality to co-operate with them in every
effort to work out their deliverance. — The Eng
lifh poffeffed what was in the eftimation of the
natives of the higheft value — iron and arms.
The Malay wreck had, for the firft time, thrown
in their way a few pieces of the former ; the ufe
and power of the latter had only been difcovered
to them by the ill fortune of our countrymen.-^
Thefe objects, fo defirable to them, they might
# unqueftionably have poffeffed themfelvesi of, the
number of our people, capable of bearing arms,
being only twenty-feven, the Captain and Sur
geon included ; but their notions of moral recti--
X 4 tud§

312 AN ACCOUNT OF
tude lay as a barrier againft the intrufion of fuch
a thought ; — renouncing every advantage of
power, they approached them only with the fmiles
of benevolence.
All the varied courtefies offered to the Englifh
by the natives, from whom a very different line
of conduct had been apprehended, operated
forcibly on their minds ; and their misfortune
happening at a moment when their affiftance Was
very material for AbbJv Thulle's fervice againft
his enemies, this circumftance foon formed a
connection, and produced an unreferved inter-
courfe and fteady friendfhip between the natives
and our countrymen, which, during the thirteen
weeks they remained there, afforded thercroppor-*
tunity of obferving the manners and difoafitions
Ofthe inhabitants, and thereby to form fome nQ'
tion of their government and cuftQms,-=-If they
were not enabled to trace the current of power
through all its various channels, their obferva-
tions 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
i
ABBA THULLE, THE KING,
At Pelew the King was the firft perfon in the
government, He appeared to be confiderecj as
the

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 313
the father of his people ; and, though divefted of
all external decorations of royalty, had every
mark of diftinction paid to his perfon.— His Ru
packs or Chiefs approached him with the greateft
refpect ; and his common fubjects, whenever they
paffed near him, or had occafion to addrefs him,
put their hands behind them, and crouched to
wards the ground ; — even if they were palling
any houfe or place where the King was fuppofed
to be, they humiliated themfelves in the fame
1
manner, till they had got beyond his probable
prefence, when they refumed their ufoal mode of
walking. On all occafions the behaviour. of
Abba Thulle appeared gentle and gracious,
yet always full of dignity ; he heard whatever his
fubjects had to fay to him, and,- by his affability
and condefcenfion, never fuffered them to go
away diffatisfied. — This perfonage, however great
he was held at Pelew, was not underftood by
our people to poffefs a fovereignty over all the
iflands which came within their knowledge.—
The Rupacks of Emungs, Emillegue, and Ar
tingall, and the Rupack Maath, were inde
pendent in their own territories. — Yet Abba
Thulle had feveral iflands over which he ruled;
and afl the obfervations that follow are folely
confined to Ills' government, though it is not im
probable that the other iflands might have much
fimilitude in their fyftem. • Upon

314 AN ACCOUNT OF
Upon all occurrences of moment, he con
vened the Rupacks and officers of ftate; their
councils were always held in the open air, upon
"the fquare pavements which have fo frequently
been mentioned in the foregoing narrative, where
the King firft ftated the bufinefs upon which he
had affembled them, and fubmitted it to their
confideration ; each Rupack prefent delivered his
opinion, but without riling from his feat : when
the matter before them was fettled, the King,
ftanding up, put an end to the council. — After
which they often entered into familiar converfa
tion, and fometimes chatted together for an hour
after their bufinefs was difpatched.
When any meffage was brought to the King,
whether in council or elfewhere, if it came by
one of the common people, it was delivered at
fome diftance, in a low voice, to one of the in
ferior Rupacks ; who, bending in an humble
manner, at the King's fide, delivered the meffage
in a low tone of voice, with his face turned afide,
— His commands appeared to be abfolute ;
though he acted in no important bufinefs with
out the advice of his Chiefs. In council there
was a particular ftone on which the King fat ;
the other Rupacks did not always take the fame
place, feating themfelves fometimes on his right-
hand and fometimes on his left. , Every

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 315
Every day in the afternoon the King, whether
he- was at Pelew, or with the Englifh at Oroo
long, went to fit in public, for the purpofe pf
heating any requefts, or of adjufting any differ
ence or difpute which might have arifen among
his fubjects,
As thefe people had but little property to
create diffenfion, and no lawyers to foment anw
mofity, it is probable that the immutable boun
daries of right and wrong were perfectly iiriderv
ftood, and not often violated r whenever they
were, the offending party received the King's
cenfure, which expofed them to general- fhame ;
a fentence, to uncorrupted minds, far more fe-
vere than any penal inpitution. — They could1
not recur to the dubious conftruct-ion of five'
hundred laws, vaguely conceived, and worfe un-
derftood; under the obfcurity of whiph, in civi
lized countries, the artful villain too often takes
Shelter, and the injured fit down more oppreffed.
— Happy for them, they were ignorant of that
eafuiftry and refinement which can argue vice
into virtue ! nor were acquainted with the Lau
danum of rhetoric, whofe property will occafion
ally benumb and lay dormant the power of com
mon underftandings !— They had no conception
that there exifted polifhed nations, where it was
infinitely more expenfive to foe for juftice than
to fubmjt to fraud and oppreffion ! — nations where .

316 ,f AN ACCOUNT OF
where men's oaths only, not men's words, were
credited ! and where there were found wretches
who dared attack the properties and lives of
their fellow-citizens, by affertions of falfheod,
whilft they folemnly and impioufly invoked the
God of Heaven to atteft their truth !— rBorn
the children of Nature, and fecluded from the
corruption of the world, hen law3 were their ge
neral guide. — Their real wants were few, and.
they faw nothing to excite artificial ones. — Every
one feemed to . be occupied by their own hum
ble purfuits ; and, as far as our people, in a ftay
of three months with the natives, could decide,
appeared to conduct themfelves toward each
other1 with great civility and benevolence; for
they never obferved any wrangling or open paf-.
fion. — Even when children were difputing, or
fighting, they ftrongly marked their difpleafure,
by flifling with rebuke their little impetuofities.

THE GENERAL.
The next in power was the King's brother,
Raa Kook, officially General of all his forces.
— It was his duty to fummon the Rupacks to at
tend the King, on whatever expedition or pur
pofe they were called ; but though Raa Kook
acted as Commander in Chief, yet all the exe
cutive

THE PELEW ISLANDS. jiy
cutive orders came from the King, whenever he
attended in perfon, as fully appeared when they
went on the fecond expedition to Artingall,
where the canoes attendant on the King convey
ed to the General all the refolutions which he
thought advifeabfe to adopt. — The General, as
the King's next brother, was his prefumptive
heir ; the fucceffion of Pelew not going to the
King's children, till it had paffed through the
King's brothers ; fo that after the demife of
Abba Thulle, the fovereignty would have de-
fcended to Raa Kook, on his demife to Arra
Kooker, and, on the death of this laft brother,
it would '¦ have reverted to the eldeft fon of
Abba Thulle ; on which contingency, Qui
Bill being the prefumptive- heir, would, during
the reign of his laft furviving uncle, have be
come 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 Rupack, . who. did not appear to poffefs
any hereditary office, but only a delegated au
thority. — He was always near the King's perfon,
and the Chief who was firft confulted : but whe ther

3i8 AN ACCOUNT OF ;
ther his office was religious, or civil, or bo:th?J
our people could not learn 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 Englifh were never.
invited to his houfe, or introduced into it, al
though they were conducted to almoft all thofe
of the other Chiefs.

THE RUPACKS.
This clafs, though confiderable in number,-
could only be regarded as Chiefs, or, to defcribe ,
them by European notions,- might be denomi
nated the nobles : they were not all of the fame
degree, as was diftinguifhable by a difference in ¦
the Bone they wore ; fome- were created whilft
our people were there, after the fecond engage-,
ment at Artingall. — Thefe marks of honour ;
were conferred folely by the King, in the man
ner already defcribed, when Captain Wilson
was inverted with the higheft Order of the Bone *.
The principal Rupacks generally attended the
King, and were always ready .at his command,
* Our people never knew what animal this was a bone
of ; but, by fubmitting the infpe&ion of it to the ' left au.
tbority in this country, it is fuppofed-to be part of the bonff
of a whale, or fome animal of that fpecies. • -
to

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
to accompany him on any expedition, with a
number of canoes, properly manned, and arm
ed with darts and fpears, who were to remain
with him till they had his permiffion to return
home with their dependants. — Though in this
part of their government we trace an outline of
thefeudal fyftem, yet, from the very few oppor
tunities our people could have of inveftigating
points of internal government, it appeared to
them that the titles of Rupacks were perfonal
badges of rank and diftinction ; nor did they
apprehend they were hereditary honours, unlets
in the reigning family, who muft of neceffity be
of this clafs ; therefore, as to the extent of the
power or privileges of the Rupacks, I conceive
it far better to leave thefe matters to future dis
coveries (fhould any hereafter be made) than to
obtrude opinions on a fubject that might turn
out to be fallacious.— Thus much feemed cer
tain, that all thofe of the firft order were fum-
moned to Abba Thulle's councils, paid him
on every occafion a vifible obedience, and were
themfelves much refpected by the reft of the
people.
PROPERTY.
Confidering that during the time our people
remained on thefe iflands, their minds were prin
cipally

319

320 AN ACCOUNT OF
cipally engaged by their own concerns, , it will
hardly be fuppofed they had much leifure to in-
veftigate a fubject of this nature. — As far as they
could obtain intelligence on this point, they un-
dqrftood that the natives only poffeffed a proper
ty in their work and labour, but no abfolute one
in the foil, of which the King appeared to be
general proprietor. — A man's houfe, furniture,
or canoe, was confidered as his private property ;
as was alfo the land allotted him, as long as he
occupied and Cultivated it ; but whenever he re
moved 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 felicited
to cultivate it. Every family occupied fome
land for their maintenance ; neceffity impofed
this labour on them ; and the portion of time
which they could fpare from providing for - their
natural wants, paffed in the exercife of fuch little
arts, as; while they kept them induftrious and ac
tive, adminiftered to their convenience and com
fort.

CHAPTER

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 321'

CHAPTER XXIV.
Of tbe Produce of Pelew, and ofthe Way of Life
cf tbe Natives.
PRODUCE.
EVERY part of the ifland called Cooroo
raa, of which Pelew was the Capital (as
far as our people had opportunities of making
obfervations) feemed to bear the marks of in-
duftry and good cultivation. — All the iflands
which our people faw were well covered with
trees of various kinds and fizes, fome of them
being very large, as may eafily be conceived by
their canoes made out of trunks, which, when
ofthe largeft dimenfions, were capable of carry
ing 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 gimblet, there ran from it a
thick white liquid, of the confiftence of cream.
— They had alfo a fpecies of the Manchineel
tree, in cutting 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 the natives reckoned 'among the un-
Y lucky

332 AN ACCOUNT OF
lucky trees, and advifed our people againft the*
ufe of it. — But the moft fingular tree noticed at
Pelew, was one, in fize and in its manner of*
branching, not unlike Our Cherry-tree, but in its
leaves refembling the Myrtle. Its peculiarity
was, that it had ho bark, having only an out-
' ward coat of about the thicknefs of a card, dark
er than the infide; though equally clofe in tex-< .
ture ; the colour of the interior part being near
ly that of mahogany," and fo extremely hafd;
that few of the tools which the Englifh had could,
work it, the wood breaking their edges almoft. ,
every moment ; a circumftance which, very early
in the cOnftruction of their veflel, determined.
our people againft the ufe of it. — They had alfo
the Cabbage-tree ; and a tree whofe fruit nearly
refembletl an almond * ; the Carambola ; and
the wild Bread-fruit, called by the natives Ria~.
mall. — Yams -j- and cocoa-nuts being the chief
article of fuflenance, were attended' to with the
utmoft care ; the former were of the grey
mottled kind ; the latter were in large planta
tions, affording both food and fhade. — The bee*
tie-nut they had in abundance, and made great
ufe of it, though only when green ; contrary to
the practice ofthe people of India, who never.
ufe it but when dry. They poffeffed Plantains
• Termi nalia calappa ofLiNNTEUS.
\ Arum efcu hntum of L I n n & u s . and

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 323
land Bananas, Seville oranges, and lemons;
neither of thefe were in any confiderable quan
tity; therefore only produced on vifits, or occa-
fj|ons of . more than comnnon ceremony. — To
thefe may be added, the .jamboo-apple, men
tioned in page 275, as brought when Lee Boo
firft appeared.— -This country produced fome
fugar-cane, and great abundance of the bam
boo ; likewife the Turmeric, which the natives
ufed as a dye, and with which the women, ftained
their fkins. — They have ochre, both red and
yellow, with which they paint their houfes and
canoes. None ofthe iflands the Englifh vifited had any
kind of grain; nor any quadruped whatever;
'except fome brownifo grey rats, which ran wild
in the woods, and three or four meagre cats,
which were feen in fome houfes at Pelew, pro
bably brought On fome drift, or part of a canoe
of other iflands, wrecked on the reef. — This
might excite them to admire fo much the two .
dogs our people left with them, which unluc-
. kily 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, yer.
loved to get near their houfes and plantations ;
and, what will appear fingular (confidering their
little variety of food) they had never made any
Y 2 ufe

3H AN ACCOUNT OF
ufe cf them, till our people faw them, and told
the natives they were excellent to eat. — The
Englifh, at the defire of Abba Thulle, killed
fome, and boiled them ; the King was the firft
who tafted them ; he thought them good, and
frequently partook bf them afterwards, fo that our,
people put them in poffeffion of a new difh ; the
men appeared pleafed at feeing them killed, and'
would go out on purpofe to drive them in their
way. — Though the natives had not till now
made thefe birds an article of food, yet, when
they went into 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 fwallow an imperfect chicken in the
bargain. — Pigeons they had alfo In the woods.
— At the time of breeding, they took the young
from the neft, and brought them up near their
houfes, keeping them on a perch tied by one
leg, and feeding them on yams ; this bird was
accounted a great dainty, as we have had occafion
to fee, *byits being fo fparingly ufed, and none,
but thofe of a certain dignity, permitted to eat
thereof. — The people of Pelew were wonder
fully active and expert in .climbing up trees in
queft of thefe nefts< or.any thing elfe that was an
object, of their purfu it.— Thefe which I have
mentioned, were the only birds they ufed to eat.
—Our

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 325
—Our people left them two geefe, the laft re
mains of their live flock.
Several bird's 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 feveral fmall
birds, whofe notes were very melodious, par
ticularly one which ufed to fing every morn
ing and evening, and had a pipe fweet as a
flagelet; our people ofteh thought they were
under the 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 fifh, befide the fort I
have already defcribed (page 132); and feveral
fmaller kinds, of very beautiful colours and. va
riety of fhapes, particularly one to which the
Englifh gave the name of the Unicorn, from a
horn growing out of its forehead ; its fkin was
rough, like a fmall fhark or dog-fifh, which it
alfo refembled in foape and colour. They had
the grey mullet, which they crimped, and fre
quently eat raw. They , kill the fhark, when
they chance to come within the coral reef; this
they do by fpearing them, and afterwards getting
tropes round them, then dragging them on fhore;
the flefh of the fhark was efteemed by them, as
very delicate. They had alfo feveral kinds of
Yj foell-fifh;

326 AN ACCOUNT OF
fhell-fifh; fuch as the fea cray-fifo, ofthe fame;
fort as in the Mediterranean and on other Eu
ropean coafts : — and turtle, which the natives
boiled, and feemed to admire. They had befide
oyfters, mufcles, and a variety of cockles, particu
larly 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 iflands of Pelew, when viewed from the
fea, exhibited high rugged land, well covered
with wood. The interior part was in many
places mountainous, but the vallies were exten-
five and beautiful, fpreading before the eye
many delicious profpects. The foil was in ge
neral rich ; they had a great deal of grafs,
which, having ^no cattle whatever to eat down,
grew high, and was fcorched and burnt up by
the heat of the fun. Our people faw no river
at Pelew; their fupplies of frefh water being
from fmall ftreams and ponds, of which there
were many. The chief fource at Oroolong,
was the well at the back of the ifland, which
afforded the Englifh fufficient for their ufe whilft '
• Chama Gigas of L i n n je u s. they

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
they remained there, and enough to water their
veffel for their voyage, by collecting k daily in
cafks, till they had obtained as much as they
flood in need of.

OF THEIR WAY OF LIVING,
- From the above account of the foanty pro
duce of thefe iflands, it muft be evident that no
luxury reigned in them. To their ufoal mode
of living, on particular occafions they added
fome fweetmeats, which they obtained by the
aid of a fyrup extracted either from the
palm-tree, or the fugar-cane (which grows
foontaneous) and with which alfo they made
their fweet-drink. Their fweetmeats were of
three forts; — thefirfh and the one that was
moft plentiful, was made of the kernels of old
cocoa-nuts, fcraped into a eoarfe kind of flour,
then mixed with the fyrup, and fimmered over
a flow fire till it became of a proper confidence,
and whilft warm was put up in leaves; it ac
quired fuch hardnefs by keeping, that a knife
would hardly cut it : the natives, call it Woolell,
and it was the fame our failors denominated
Choak-Dog. — The fecond fort was made of the
fruit already mentioned as refembling the al
mond, not bruifed, but whole, boiled in the fame
• Y 4 manner,

3*7

328 AN ACCOUNT OF
manner, and put in leaves, — The third was a
wet fweetmeat, clear and tranfparent ; this was
uncommon, but was made at Captain Wilson's
coming away, and prefented to him in the fame
large tureen of wood which was brought out oh
his firft vifit to the King. Abba Thulle, when
he prefented it, faid, that he gave him the
tureen *, but that his wives had prepared the
fweetmeat on purpofe for him. On the Cap
tain's noticing that it appeared different from
any ofthe forts he had feen before, and wifhing
to know of what it was made, Raa Kook dif-
patched a man, who in an hour returned with
two frefh-gathered plants ; from the root of
them this fweetmeat was made, which in fhape,
fize, and colour, refembled a common turnip ;
its leaves were three feet or upwards in length,
but narrow and green j- ; Captain Wilson was
going to tafte a bit of the root raw, but they
would not fuffer him, fignifying that it was not
good, hy fpitting, as if they had fomething
unpleafant in their mouth. This fweetmeat did
not keep fo well as the other two forts, growing
foon four. — They had alfo a method of feraping
the kernel of the cocoa-nut into a pulp, , which,
* Our people could never learn the name by which the
natives, called this veffel, of which one only was feen, and,
fherefore have termed it a tureen, as refembling it in form.
+ It was probably the Tacca fmnatifida of Linnjeus.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 329
when mixed with fome of their fweet drink, and
the juice of the four orange, had the appearance
of curds and whey.
Their mode of preferving fifh, when there
was plenty, fo that it would keep a day or
two, has been fully explained in page 203.
Some of the other forts of fifh they boiled in falt-
water, and eat without any kind of fauce ; they
alfo boiled the fea cray-fifo; but the fmaller fort
of fhell-fifh, and the Kima cockle, they ufually
eat raw, fqueezing only a little orange or lemon-
juice over it; and the grey mullet (though they
fometimes boiled it) yet 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 fully 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 Ample as their diet: at their meals,
the milk of the cocoa-nut was their ufual bever
age ; they very feldom drank water, and indeed
fo very little of any thing, that it was a matter
of furprize to our people, who conftantly ob
ferved it ; yet on vifits, or occafional rejoicings,
they appeared to relifh their fweet drink, and
fherbet, which latter had only the' addition of
fome juice of orange.
They rofe in general at day-light, apd as foon

as

330 ",* • , AN ACCOUNT OF
as they were up, both men and women went ta
bathe in frefh water: they had feparate bathing-,
places; and every man, whofe bufinefs led him
near thofe appropriated to the women, was obli
ged 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 eight o'clock was their hour of break-?
falling ; after which, if there, was any council to
be held,, the King met his Chiefs, and the com
mon people went to their different occupations;
at noon they dined; and flipped foon after fon-
fet, ufuaily retiring to reft two. hours after.
Though this was their common way of living,
yet on occafions of public rejoicing, or feftivity^
they would dance the greateft part ofthe night.
They had no method, that was obferved, of
meafuriijg time but by the height of the fun.—
Their feafon? were divided, into the wet and dry,
as in other tropical countries. They had fome
knowledge of the ftars, having names for fe
veral of them, which they pointed out to our
people. Every part of the. Pelew iflands, that the
Englifh vifited, appeared populous, though to
what extent of population they could never af
certain ; but probable conjecture might be
formed, from Abba Thulle and his ajlies
having

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 33?
having fent out, in the laft expedition againft ^
Pelelew, near four thoufand men; nor had
our people reafon to fopppfe , but that there
were many more left behind equally fit for fer-
yice: even had the occafion required it, per
haps their number of canoes might not have
been adequate to carry to battle near their full
ftrength.

CHAPTER

332 AN ACCOUNT OF

CHAPTER XXV.
Of their Houfes. — Their domeftic Implements.—^
Their Weapons of War. — Their Canoes.

THEIR HOUSES.
THEIR houfes were raifed about three feet
from the ground, placed on large ftones,
which appeared as if cut from the quarry, being
thick and oblong; on thefe pedeftals the founda
tion beams were laid, from whence fprang the
upright fopports of their fides, which were croffed
by other timbers grooved together, and fattened
by wooden pins ; the intermediate fpaces clofely
filled up with bamboos and palm-leaves, which
they platted fo clofely and artificially as to keep
their habitations warm and exclude all wet; and
their being raifed from the ground preferved
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 fome of the houfes they were compofed of
large bamboos fplit, which being perpetually
trodden over, rendered them very flippery.—
The interior part of the houfe was without any
divifion,

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
divifion, the whole forming one gteat room. 
In general, the fire-place ftood about the middle
of it, funk lower than the floor, with no timber
below it, the whole fpace beneath being filled up
With hard rubbifh ; but in the larger buildings,
where they held their public meetings, they had
a fire-place at each end. — Their fires were in
common but fmall, being moftly ufed to boil
their yams, and to keep up a little flame at
night to clear away the dews, and fmoke the
rnofquitoes. — Their windows came to the level
of the floor, and ferved both for* doors and win
dows, having ftepping-ftones at all of them to
enter by. To prevent any inconvenience from
wind or rain, which fo many apertures might
©ccafion, each of them had a bamboo frame or
fhutter, interwoven as the fides of the houfes
were, which Aiding on bamboo rods, were' eafily
flipt on one fide when any body wanted to go in
or out. — On the top of the upright fides beams
were laid acrofs, from whence fprang the roof,
which was pointed like our barns, the whole
infide being clear ; this made their houfes within
very lofty and airy ; 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 appropria
ted to public ufes, fuch as meetings of bufinefs, or

333

334 AN ACCOUNT OF
orfeftivity; at other times they ferved the nai
tives to affemblq in and chat together, where.
the women, ufually . brought their work; and
joined in the converfation. Thofe which were
more properly, dbmeftic habitations, were the
fame both in fhape and texture, though left iri
dimenfion. — It. was remarked, that the family^
kept on one fide of the central fire-placei and
the fervahts on the other!
OF THEIR DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTS;
In a country where no aid could be obtained
from the affiftance of iron tools; and where.
every thing which Was convenient and ufeful _
could only be produced by much time, labour,
and patience-, and at laft fafhioned by fuch poor
means as neceffity; ftimulating invention, by flow
degrees brought about, it will not be expected
that their domeftic implements would be nu
merous. Among the things moft effential to their idea
of comfort, were little bafkets, which they al
ways carried about with them ; they had differ
ent forts, fome of them were of very nice
texture, woven from flips of the plantain-leaf;
In thefe they ufually carried their beetle-nut>
their comb, and their knife ; nor did they omiE
having a little twine in it, to tie up cny thing
8 they

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 331
they might want to keep together. They had
alfo wooden bafkets with covers, very nicely
carved; and inlaid with fhells. Thefe they hung
up in their houfes* for ufe and decoration.
Their beft knives were formed, of a piece, of
the large mother of pearl oyfter-fhell, ground
narrow, and the outward fide a little polifhed.-^
The fort more common was made of a piece.of,
fome mufcle-fhell, or of a fplit bamboo, which
they fharpen to an edge, and render exceedingly
ferviceable. Their combs were formed of the orange-tree i
the handle and teeth fafhioned from the folid
wood, and not in feparate pieces clofely con
nected together, like thofe brought from moft of
the late-difcovered iflands.
No man ftirred abroad without his bafket of
beetle-nut. — The common order of people had
. a fhort piece of bamboo, in which they carried
the powdered chinam, to ftrew over the beetle-
nut before they put it in their mouths. The Ru
packs or great people had their chinam in a long
Hender bamboo, nicely polifhed, and inlaid with
pieces of fhells at each end ; and thefe were often
not inelegantly fancied.
Their fifhing-hooks were of tortpife-fhell.
Their twines, their cords, and all their fifhing-
nets, were well manufactured, and made from the
hufks of the cocoa-nut. The mats on which they
fleptj

336 AN ACCOUN.T OF
flept, and threw over them when at reft, were
formed ofthe plantain-leaf.
At their meals they generally ufed a plantain-
leaf inftead of a plate ; the fhell ofthe cocoa-nut
ferving as a cup to drink out of, which they fome
times polifhed very nicely. They made alfo vef
fels of a kind of earthen -ware, of a reddifh brown
colour, and moftly of an oval foape. In thefe
they heated their water, and boiled their fifh,
yams, &c. — Our people obferved the natives
were particularly careful of this pottery, never
permitting any of it to approach the fire unlefs
gradually, and always moving it with great cau
tion; from which circumftances it is probable
they have not yet difcovered a method of burninc
it fufficiently. A bundle of cocoa-nut hulks, tied together,
formed a broom, to duft or fweep their habita-1'
tions. — The only conveniency they had for keep
ing water in their houfes, or bringing it from
their fprings, was thick bamboos, 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 ftrongeft part of the large Kima Cockle,
6 ground

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 337
ground to a fharp 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 act longitudinally,
• or tranfverfely, by which it would ferve as a
ii.--. - . - ¦ , ~- - - - * * '
hatchet, or an adze, as occafion required. — Un
couth as their hatchets might appear to our
people, it'was a matter of furprize, to obferve 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 mentioned
were fuch as their natural wants required; when
thefe had been provided for, ingenuity foperad-
ded a few articles, which might in thefe iflands be
deemed luxuries. The fhell of the tortoife was
there remarkably beautiful, and the natives of
Pelew had difcovered the art of moulding it into .
litde trays ordifhes, and into fpoons, with which, _,
on particular occafions, they eat their fifh and, ,
yams. — Sonne of the great ladies had alfo brace7 ti
lets ofthe fame manufacture, and ear-rings inlaid
with fhells.
How they conceived this art of working the
tortoife-fhell, or the idea of improving on a na
tural advantage, or what procefs they made ufe
of to effect it, our people had no opportunity of
difcovering.
Z On

338 ANACCOUNTOF
On days of public feftivity, there was ufual
ly- brought out the veffel mentioned in page
103, as reprefenting a bird, the top of which
lifted off, forming its back. It contained
about thirty-fix Englifh quarts ; and was filled
with fweet drink for the King and his Rupakcs.
This was Abba Thulle's property ; and when
one confiders it as the work of fo much time and
patience (and the more eftimable, as being the
' only veffel ofthe kind in their country) the King's
giving it to Captain Wilson at his departure, as
already mentioned, was an additional proof of the
liberality of thefe people, who were ready to diveft
themfelves even of what they moft 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 point
ed end made of fome wood exceedingly hard; they
were barbed tranfverfely, fo that, having once
entered the body, it was difficult to draw them
out without lacerating the flefh, and widening to
a great degree the wound.
Another war-weapon was the dart and fling.
—The fling was a piece of wood about two feet
in- length, with a notch made in it, wherein the
j- „ head

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 239
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 com-
preffed with their hand, till the elaftic'tty of the
bamboo had formed fuch a cUrve as experience
told them would reach the object aimed at; died
letting it flip from the notch, it flew forth, and
fell by its "gravitation with the point downward,
fo as to effect the purpofe of being deftructive if
it fell upon the enemy. — It is hardly to be con-.
ceived with what addrefs they directed this wea
pon, or the diftance at which it would prove
mortal. Their fpears were only calculated for a
certain diftance, not being in general miflible be
yond fifty or fixty feet. — They had other fpear S
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 Ru
packs carried in their canoes a kind of fword;
made of very hard wood, and inlaid with parts of
fhells ; this they Only made ufe of in perfonal
engagement; they were of fuflicient weight td
cleave 3 man's fkull.
Our people faw a very few daggers, rriade' of
the fting of the Ray-fifh, which is jagged all up
wards from the point ; they fheathed them in a
bamboo; and their handles were of wood; formed
2 2 into

340 AN ACCOUNT OF
into fome grotefque fhape^ the whole length of
the weapon not exceeding thirteen inches.
THEIR r.CANOES,
As their battles were generally fought, in ca
noes, thefe may with propriety follow the account
of their warlike 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 Pelew furpaf-
fed in neatnefs and beauty any they had ever met
with elfewhere ; the tree out of which they were
formed grew to a very confiderable height, and
refembled much the Englifh Afo. — They were
painted red, both within and without *, and in
laid with fhells ih different forms. — When they
went, out in ftate, the heads and fterns were
* As their mode of applying their paint was uncommon,,
it may merit being particularly defcribed : — The colours are
crumbled with the hand into water, whilft it is warming over
a gentle fire in earthen pots ; they. carefully fkim from the '
furface whatever '. dry leaves , pr 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 oil ; and, with the dry hufk ofthe cocoa-nut,
give it, ,by repeated rubbing, a poliih and liability that the
waves cannot warn oft". adorned

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 341
adorned with a variety of fhells fining on a cord,
and hung in feftoons. — The fmalleft veffel that
they built cOuld hold four or five people, the
largeft 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 refift a very
rough fea, they rarely went without the coral reefi
and feldom, within it, had any violent fea to en
counter ; whenever it blew hard the natives al
ways kept clofe under fhore. — In vifits of cere
mony, when the King, or the great Rupacks ap
proached the place where they intended to land,
the rowers flourifhed their paddles with wonder
ful addrefs, and the canoes advanced with a ftate-
ly movement ; at other times they got on with an
amazing velocity. — When they went againft Ar
tingall-, the little canoes, which our people
termed Frigates, as carrying orders from the King
to his officers, flew about like arrows, and fcarce-
ly feemed to touch the water.— In the grand ex
pedition to Pelelew, where a fleet of upwards of
three hundred canoes, of different fizes, were
collected together, they formed a moft beautiful
and fplendid appearance.

Z 3 CHAPTER

34a AN ACCOUNT OB

CHAPTER XXVI.
Of the People and their Cuftoms. — Of their Mar*
riages. — Of their Funerals. — Oftbeir Religion*.
— General Char alter of the Natives.
TH E natives of thefe iflands are a flout,
well-made people, rather above the mid
dling ftature ; their complexions are of a far
deeper colour than what is underftood by the In
dian copper, but not black. — Their hair is long
and flowing, rather difpofed to curl, which they
moftly form into one large loofe curl round their
heads ; fome of the women, who have remark
ably long hair, let it hang loofe down their backs.
—It has already been obferved, that the men
were .entirely naked ; the women wore only two
little aprons, or rather thick fringes, one before
and one behind, about ten inches deep and feven
wide ; thefe were made of the hufks of the cocoa-
nut ftripped into narrow flips, which they dyed
with different fhades of yellow : this, their only
drefs, they tied round their waifls, commonly
with a piece of line, though fuch as were of
higher rank ufed a ftring of fome kind of beads;
one of this kind, of a coarfe fort of cornelian, was
worn by Erre Bess ; who, underftanding that
Captain

THE PELEW ISLANDS, 343
Captain Wilson had a daughter, gave it to
Mr. H. Wilson, before his departure, as a prer
fent 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
firft wore beads in the perforated ear, the latter '
put either fome leaf through, or an ear-ring of
tortoife-fhell inlaid, The cartilage between the
noftrils was alfo bored, in both fexes, through
which they frequently put a little fprig or bloff
fom of fome. plant or fhrub that accidentally
caught their fancy *,
When the men and women grew up, their /
teeth were blacked ; this was done by the means
of fome dye ; our people, whilft they remaine'd at
Pelew, had no opportunity of feeing how the
effect was produced, underftanding only it was
an operation that was both tedious and painful j
* Perhaps ifcis owing to the defire of haying the fcent of
flowers, without the inconvenience of holding them, that the
Eaflern people bore the cartilage between the noftrils. The
common people 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
wajking.
£ 4 but

344 AN ACCOUNT OF
but it was afterwards fully explained by Lee- Boo
to Captain Wilson, on his paffage to England.
<— At Saint Helena, Lee Boo appeared much
delighted at finding fome groundfel, and chew
ing it, rubbed his teeth with it, — Captain Wil
son telling him it was not good to eat, he gave
him to underftand that they had it at Pelew, and
ufed it, With four other herbs, bruifed together,
and mixed with a little chinam into a paftS,
which was applied to the teeth every morning, iii
order 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
pafte was taken away, and they were permitted to
eat a little, — The fame prqcefs was repeated the
day following, and five: days were neceffary to
complete the operation,— Lee Boo defcribed it as
a thing which gave them a great deal of trouble,
and made them extremely fick.
-i Both fexes were very expert at fwimming, and
appeared to be as perfectly 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 inftantly and bring it up.

THEIR

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 345

.THEIR MARRIAGES.
Thefe were probably no more than* eiril con
tract, but at the fame time that kind of Contract
which was regarded as inviolable. — They allow
ed a plurality of wives, but in general had not
.' ' - «p . -i
more than two; Raa Kook had three/} the
King five, though not living together. — They
did not appear to be in any degree jealous of '
them, permitting them to partake of all their di
verfions. When a woman was pregnant, although fhe
accompanied her hufband, yet fhe never flept
with him, but always feparated at night; and
this was uniformly practifed by all the fox, even
among the loweft clafs of the inhabitants ; and it
was remarked, that the utmoft attention was
obferved to women in that fituation. — When
any Chief appeared with his two wives, they
ufually fat ori either fide of the hufhand, /and the
people feemed to pay them no other attention,
but what is ufoal in an intercourfe of the fexes,
where the greateft good manners prevail. — One
of our people, endeavouring to make himfelf
•agreeable to a lady belonging to one of the Ru
packs, by what we fhould term a marked affi
duity, Arra Kooker, with the greateft civi lity,

346 AN ACCOUNT OF
lity, 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 Abba Thulle's wives
lay-in of a fon, at Pelew, during the time our
people were at Oroolong ; the King, out of his
regard for Captain Wilson, named the little
boy Captain, and afterwards informed Captain
Wii,spN ofthe circumftance,
t t
THETR FUNERALS.
In the foregoing narrative an account hath
been given of the ceremony obferved by Mr.
Sharp, at the interment of Raa Kqok's fon, in .
the ifland of Pethoulle. Mr. M. Wilson, at
that time at Pelew, was prefent at another fu
neral, 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

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
brought from a houfe not far diftant. The pro-
Jceffion flopped as it paffed before the King, who,
without rifing frorn his feat, fpoke very audibly,
for a IhOrt time, and then the proceffion went
on.— Whether what he faid was an eulogium on
the departed youth, who had fallen in his coun
try's fervice, neither of the linguifts being pre
fent, could not be afcertained ,- but from the fo
lemn manner in which the King delivered his
fpeech, and the refpectful filence with which the
people liftened tahim, it is by no means impro4
bable but that this was the purport of it.
Mr. M. Wilson followed the body to the
| place of interment; he obferved an'elderly wo
man getting out of the new-made grave, whom
he conceived might be the mother, or fome near
relation, whom affection had drawn to the me-'
lancholy fcene, to be fatisfied that every thing-
was duly prepared. — When the corpfe was laid
in the earth, the lamentation of the women at
tending was very great. — It appeared, on this
pccafion, 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 tendernefs of the weaker fex : the
men only affembled round the body, before it
was carried to the grave, where they preferved a
folemn filence ; their minds, from principles of
fortitude or philofophy, being armed to meet the
events

347

348 AN ACCOUNT OF
events of mortality -with manly fubmiffior|, di
vefted from the external teftimony of human
weaknefs. They had places appropriated to fepultufe.
Their graves were made as ours are in country
church-yards ; having the mould raifed up in a
ridge, over where the body was depofited. —
Some had ftones raifed above them, with a flat
one laid horizontally .over, and furrounded by a
kind of hurdferwork, 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 have not fhewn, in fome
inftance or other, a fenfe of fomething like reli
gion, however it might be mixed with idolatry,
or foperftition ; and yet our people, during their
continuance with the natives of Pelew, never
faw any particular ceremonies, or obferved any
thing that had the appearance of public worfhip.
—Indeed, circumftanced as the Englifh were,
they had not enough of the language to enter on
topics of this nature ; and it would alfo have
been indifcreet to have done it, as fuch inquiries
might have been mifconceived, or mifconftrued
by the natives. Added to this, their thoughts were

TITE PELEW ISLANDS. 34*
were naturally bent on getting away, and pre-
ferving, whilft tHey remained there, the happy
ihtercourfe that fubfifted between them and theJ
inhabitants. 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 of Pelew had abfo
lutely no idea of religion. Independant of ex
ternal ceremony, there may be fuch a thing as
the religion of the heart, by which the mindJ
may, in awful filence, be turned to contemplate
the God of Nature j and though unbleffed by
, thofe lights which have pointed to the Chriflian
world an unerring path to happinefs and peace,
yet they might, from the light of reafon only,
have difcovered the efficacy of virtue, and the
temporal advantages arifing from moral recti
tude. — The reader will, by this time, have met
with fufficient occurrences to convince him, that
the inhabitants of thefe new-difcovered regions
had a fixed and rooted fenfe of the great moral
duties ; this appeared to govern their conduct,
glow in all their actions, and grace their lives.
~Actuated by fuch principles, we fee them la
borious, induftrious, and benevolent. In mo
ments of danger firm, and prodigal of life ; in
misfortunes patient ; in death refigned. — And
if, under all thefe circumftances, he can cbn-
5 ceive

zs° an Account o&
ceive that the natives of Pelew paffed their lives
without fome degree of Confidence, fome de->
gree of Hope, I have only to fay, his idea of*
mankind muft widely differ from my own.
Superftition is a word of great latitude, ancj
vaguely defined ; though it hath, in enlightened
ages, been called the offspring of ignorance, yet
in no times hath it exifted without having fome
connection with religion. — Now that the people,
of Pelew had, beyond all doubt, fome portion
of it, appears from the wifh expreffed by the
King, when he faw the fhip building, that the
Englifh would take out of it fome particular
wood, which he perceived they had made ufe of,
and which he obferved to them was deemed to be
of ill omen, or .unpropitious.
They had alfo an idea of an evil fpirit, that
often counteracted human affairs ; a very parti^
cular inftapce of this was feen when Mr. Bar-'
. ker (a moft valuable member in the Englifh fo-
ciety) fell backward from the fide ofthe veffei;
then on the flocks ; Raa Kook, who happened.,
to be prefent, obferved thereupon, that it was
owing to the unlucky wood our people had fuffer
ed to remain in the veffel, that the evil, fpirit had '
Occafioned this mifchief to Mr. Barker;
In the paffage from Pelew to China, fome-*
What was difcovered in Prince Lee Boo, pretty
fimilar to what is commonly ca\\ed fecond fight;— ;
at

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 351
at the time when he was (as before mentioned)
very fea-fick, he faid how much he was concerned ,
at the diftrefs his father and friends were feeling,
who knew what he was then fuffering. — The fame
anxiety operated on him, on their account, when
he perceived his diffolution drawing near, as we
fhall have occafion to mention hereafter.
They certainly entertained fo ftrong an idea of
Divination, that whenever any matter of mo
ment was going to be undertaken, they conceiv
ed they could, by fplitting the leaves of a parti
cular plant that was not unlike our bull-rufb,
-and meafuring the ftrips of this long narrow leaf
on the back of their middle finger, form a judg
ment whether it would or would not turn out
profoerous : this was obferved by Mr. M. Wil
son, in-his firft vifit to the King at Pelew ; and
on inquiry, was afterwards explained to the Eng
lifh, by the linguift, as being done to difcover if
their arrival foreboded good or ill fortune. — It
was noticed by feveral 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 againft Artingall,
when he appeared to be very unwilling to go
aboard his cartOe, and kept all his attendants
waiting, till he had tumbled and twilled his leaves
into a form that fatisfied his mind, and predicted fuccefs.
%

35*

AN ACCOUNT OF
f \ . , -. '. . .•
fuccefs.— Our people never obferved any perfon
but the King apply to this Divination.
It is hardly probable but the fond anxiety of.
a parent, on giving up a fon into the hands of
ftrangers, who were to ' convey him to remote
regions, of which he could form to himfelf but
very imperfect notions, would, on fo interefting
a point, induce him to examine his oracle with
uncommon attention ; and it is as little to be
doubted but that every thing wore, to his imagi
nation, a profperous appearance.— Yet, to evince
the fallacy of his prophetic leaves, they certainly
augured not the truth, nor prefented to the fa
ther's mind even a fufpicion, that the fon he
parted with he fhould fee no more !
On thisTubjectj I would further wifh to bring
back to the reader's recollection a few occurren
ces already noticed : — As Raa Kook, and others
of the natives, were two or three times prefent
when Captain Wilson, on a Sunday evening,
affembled his'' people to read prayers to them,
they expreffed no furprize at what was doing,
but appeared clearly to underftand that it' was
the mode in which the Englifh addreffed that in-
vifible God, whom they looked up to for pro*
tection; and, however different their own no
tions might be, they attended the Englifh on
thefe occafions with great refpect, feeming de-
> firous

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 35:
firous to join in it, and coriftantly preferving
the moft profound filence — the General' never al
lowing the natives to fpeak a fingle word, and
refufing even to receive a meffage from the
King, which arrived at the tents during divine
fervice. The ceremony ufed by Raa Kook, after the
funeral of his fon, when he repeated fofnethirig
to himfelf whilft he was marking the cocoa-nuts,
and the bundle of beetle-leaves, which the old
woman was to place on the young man's grave,"
had every appearance of a pious office; — and
when he planted the cocoa-nuts, and fome other
fruit-trees, on the ifland of Oroolong, what he
uttered in a low voice, as each feed was depo-
fited in the earth, impreffed 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
folemnity they were delivered with, and the re-
fpectful manner in which Lee Boo received
them, induced all our countrymen to conceive it
was a kind of bleffing.
I muft, in this place, add a circumftance that
paffed in converfation with Captain Wilson
and Lee Boo, after he had been fome time in
England ; the former tellirig him, that faying
prayers at church was to make men good, that
when they died, and were buried, they might
A a live

354 AN ACCOUNT Of
live again above (pointing to the fky); LeB-
Boo, with great earneftnefs, replied — All fame.
Pelew — Bad men ftay in earth — good men go into
fey — become very beautiful, holding his hand in
the air, and giving a fluttering motion to his.
fingers. — This forely conveyed a ftrong idea, that
they believed the fpirit exifted when the body
was no more.
After combining all thefe facts, and uniting
them with the moral characters of the people, the
reader is left in a fituation to judge for himfelf
(independent of Lee Boo's declaration) whether
it is prqbable that their lives could be conducted
with that decency we have feen, and their minds
trained to fo ftrong a fenfe of juftice, propriety,
and delicacy, without having fome guiding prin
ciple of religion. — Thus much, at leaft, I think
we may be authorized to affert — If all this was
effected without it, it proves that the natiyes of
Pelew had been happy enough not only to difc
cover, but to be perfectly convinced, that Vir
tue was its own reward.
i
GENERAL CHARACTER OF
THE NATIVES.
I fhall clofe this account ofthe Pelew iflands
with a few general remarks on the difpofition
and character of the natives. ,
9 The

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
The conduct of thefe people towards the Eng
lifh was, from the firft to the laft, uniformly
courteous and attentive, accompanied with a po-
litenefs that furprized thofe on whom it was be
llowed. At all times they feemed fo cautious of
intruding, that on many occaflons they facrifi
ced their natural Curiofity to that refpect, which
natural good manners appeared to them to ex
act. Their liberality to the Englifh at their de
parture, when individuals poured in all the beft
they had to give, and that of articles too of
which they had far from plenty themfelves,
ftrongly demonftrated, that thefe teftimonies of
friendfhip were the effufiort of hearts that glowed
with the flame of philanthropy ; and when our
countrymen, from want of ftowage, were com
pelled to refufe the further marks of kindnefs
which were offered them, the intreating eyes and
fopplicating geftures with which they folicited
their acceptance of what they had brought, moft
forcibly expreffed how much their minds were
wounded, to think they had not arrived early
enough to have their little tributes of affection
received. Nor was this conduct of theirs an oftentatious
civility exercifed towards ftrangers. — Separated
as they were from the reft of the world, the cha
racter of a ftranger had never entered their ima
gination. — They felt our people were diftreffed,
A a a and

355

3S& AN ACCOUNT OF,
and in confequence wifhed they, fhould fhare*
whatever they had to give. It was not that
worldly munificence, that beftows and fpreads its
favours with a diftant eye to retribution — Their
bofoms had never harboured fo contaminating a
thought — -No; it was the pure emotions of na
tive benevolence — It was the love of man to
man.— It was a fcene that pictured human na
ture in triumphant colouring— And, whilft their
liberality gratified the fenfe, their virtue ftruck
the heart !
Our people had alfo many occafions to ob-
ferve, that this fpirit of urbanity operated in all
the intercourfe the natives had among them
felves. The attention and tendernefs fhewn to
the women was remarkable, and the deportment
of the men to each other mild and affable ; in
fomuch that, in the various fcenes of which they
Were fpectators, during their ftay on thefe
iflands, the Englifh never faw any thing that had
the appearance of conteft, or paffion : every one
feemed to attend to his own concerns, without-
interfering with the bufinefs of their neighbour.
— The men were occupied in their plantations,
or in cutting wood, making hatchets, line, or1
fmall cords : fome in building houfes or canoes ;
others in making nets and fiihing-tackle. The
forming of darts, fpears, and other warlike wea
pons, engroffed the attention of many more ; as
alfo

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 357
alfo the making of paddles for their boats, the
fafoioning of domeftic utenfils, and the prepa
ring and burning the chinam. — Such as had abi
lities to conduct any ufeful employment were
called by the natives Tackelbys; of this clafs
were reckoned the people who built, or inlaid
the canoes ; fuch alfo were thofe who manufac
tured the tortoife-fhell, or made the pottery.
Although induftry, however zealous, muft be
flow in producing its purpofe, unaided by proper
implements, and labour rendered extremely te
dious from this deficiency, yet, in regions where
fuch advantages are denied, we do not find that
the ardour of attempting is abated. A fteady
perfeverance, to a certain degree, accomplifoes
the end aimed at; and Europe hath, not without
reafon, been aftonifhed at the many lingular pro
ductions imported from the fouthern difcoveries,
'fo neatly and curioufly wrought by artlefs hands,
unaflifted but by fuch fimple tools as ferve only
fo increafe our furprize, when we fee how much
they have effected. — Every man, by his daily
.labour, gained his daily fuftenance : neceffity
. impofing this exertion, no idle or indolent people
were feen, not even among thofe whom fuperior
rank might have exempted: on the contrary,
thefe excited their inferiors to toil and activity
by their own examples. The King himfelf was
the beft maker of hatchets in the ifland, and
A a 3 was.

358 AN ACCOUNT OF
was ufually at work whenever difengaged from
matters of importance. — Even the women foared
in the common toil; they laboured in the plan
tations of yams, and it was their province to
pluck out all the weeds that foot up from be
tween the ftones of the paved caufeways. They
manufactured the mats and bafkets, as well as
attended to their domeftic concerns. The bufi
nefs of tatooing was alfo carried on by them ;
thofe who entered on this employment were de
nominated Tackelbys artheil, or female artifts. —
v Their manners were courteous, though they
were far from being of loofe, or vicious difpofiT
tions; — they in general rejected connections with
our people, and. refented any indelicate, or un
becoming freedom with a proper fenfe of rno-
defty. In fuch fcenes of patient induftry, the years of
fleeting life paffed on ; and the cheerful difpofi
tion of the natives fully authorized our people tq
fuppofe, that there were few hours of it either
irkfome or oppreffiye. They were ftrangers tq
thofe paflions which ambition exptes-r-Hio thofe
cares which affluence awakens.-— -Their exiftence
appeared to glide along like a fmooth undifturbed
ftream; and when tlie natural occurrences of life
ruffled the furface, they poffeffed a fufficient
portion of fortitude to reftore to it foon its
wonted calm, — Their happinefs feemed to be
fecured.

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 359
fecured to them on the firmeft bafis; for the
little which Nature and Providence fpread be
fore them, they enjoyed with a contented cheer-
fulnefs ; nor were their bofoms habituated to
cherifh wifhes which they had not the power of
gratifying. And it will not furely be denied,
that in civilized nations the error of a contrary
conduct exhibits, among the inactive, many
melancholy repining countenances ; whilft it
prompts more daring and uncontrouled fpirits
to aim at com paffing their views by injuftice, or
rapine, and to break down -the facred barrier of
fociety. From the general character of thefe people,
the reader, I fhould conceive, will be difpofed
to allow, that their lives do credit to human
nature ; and that, however untutored, however
uninformed, their manners prefent an interefting
picture to mankind. — We fee a defpotic govern
ment without one fhade of tyranny, and power
only exercifed for general happinefs, the fubjects
looking up with filial reverence to their King. —
And, whilft a mild government, and an affec
tionate confidence, linked their little ftate in
bonds of harmony, gentlenefs of manners was the
natural refult, and fixed a brotherly and difinter-
efted intercourfe among one another.
I am well aware, that in the expedition
againft Pelelew, the deftroying the houfes and
A a 4 plantations

360 AN ACCOUNT OF
plantations of the little ifland 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 circumftances which
will appear to militate againft that humanity
which, throughout this work, I have attributed
to the people of Pelew.— Reflecting the firft,
though the landing in an enemy's country, and
fpreading devaftation and diftrefs, is by no means
a practice new in the annals of hiftory, political ne
ceffity qualifying the meafure ; yet in thefe regions
jt feemed alfo to militate fo much againft their
accuftomed maxim, never to take an enemy by
furprize, but. to give previous notice of a meditated
attack, that I am ftrongly inclined to think this
might have been a new art of war fuggefted to
the King by the Malay favourite, as it totally
contradicted that open generofity with which they
at all times conducted hoftilities.
As to their putting their prifoners to death,
Raa Kook, on being cenfured for it by Captain ,
Wilson, faid, it had not' always been fo ; and,
in affigning reafons for being compelled to do it,
feemed to fheker the proceeding under the plea of
political neceffity.
The number captured in any of their battled
muft, from their mode of engaging, be at a]l
times very trifling. In the moft confiderable
engagement our people witnefied at Artin
gall,

THE PELEW ISLANDS, 361
galL, no more than nine were made prifoners,
which the natives accounted a great many; nor
were thefe puc to death in cold blood, it rather
might be called the clofe of the battle. It was
generally the effect of unfubfided paflion or re
venge, the terminating blow being, in 'moft
cafes, given by fome one who had loft a near
relation, or friend, in the battle, or was himfelf
fuffering under the pain of a wound. Befides,
as thefe iflands were fituated fo near to each
other, it was next to impoffible to detain their
captives ; they had no prifons to confine them;
no cartel canoes to negociate an exchange; and,
going about the ifland freely, the lives of the
Sovereign, or his Chiefs, were at all times
aflailable by any vindictive fpirit. They had,
as the General told Captain Wilson, ineffec
tually ftrove to detain them as menial fervants.
Therefore, revolting as the idea is, if they have,
in this refpect, adopted a maxim which prevails
among the Indian tribes in America, and in the
numerous ftates of Africa (though the number
of lives facrificed can never here be many) one
hath only to lament that political neceffity hath
(in common with a multitude of other uncivili
zed countries) thrown a foade over thefe new-
difcovered iflands.
It fhould be the caution of every writer, to
tndeavour to difarm criticifm, by meeting ob
jections

362 ANACCOUNTOF
jeflions that may be made. — After the good dif*
pofitions which the people of Pelew have been
feen to poffefs, it may poffibly be faid, they were
addicted to pilfering, when opportunity offered ;
a cenfure which many, I believe,- think has been
too feverely paffed on the poor inhabitants of the
fouthern ocean. — In the Pelew iflands, it was ne
ver done but by thofe of the loweft clafs ; and when
ever complaint was made of any thing having been
taken clandeftinely away, the King, as well as his
Chiefs, confidered it as a breach of hofpitality,
nor could their indignant fpirits reft till the arti
cle purloined was fearched for, and if found,
reftored. — Should fome Eaftern Prince, magni
ficently decorated, accidentally, as he paffed
along, drop a diamond from his robe, and were
a poor peafant (knowing how great an acquifi-
tion it was) to fee it fparkling in the duft,
where is that refiftance, 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 allu-
ringdiamond. — They had no penal ftatute againft
petty larceny. They fought only the means of
rendering eafier the daily toils of life, or of cbm-
pafling with facility what they imperfectly accom
plifoed by unwearied perfeverance ! And, I am
confident, the voice of reafon will unite with me
in afferting, that they muft have been more than
men, had they acted lefs like men, Virtuous ih
the

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 36:
the extreme would be deemed that country,
where the confcience of no individual, in the
cool moments of reflection, 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 rigour our fellow- creatures; and, fhould
any one be difpofed, for fuch trivial failings, 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 civi
lized and enlightened nations — for Such muft be
too well convinced of the inefficacy of the beft-
digefted laws, and the inability of their own
internal police to reftrain the vices of mankind,
by obferving, that all which Prudence can re
volve, Wifdom plan, or Power enforce, is fre
quently unable to protect their Property by night,
or their Perfons, at all times, even under meri
dian funs. — They will reflect, that every bolt
and bar is a fatire on fociety ; and painfully
recollect, that it is not the daring plunderer alone
they have to guard againft ; they are affailable
under the fmile of diffembled friendfhip, by which
the Generous and the Confiding are too often
betrayed into a fituation beyond the foelter of
any protecting law ; a wound which, perhaps,
more than any other, hath tortured the feelings
pf fenfibility ! Waiting,

364 ANACCOUNTOF
Waiting, therefore, that long-expedled aera^
when civilization, fcience, and philofophy, fhall
bring us to a more confirmed practice of real
virtue, it becomes us to view with charity thofe
errors in others, which we have not as yet been
able to correct in ourfelves:
Jf the enlightened fons of Europe; enjoying
the full blaze of advantages unknown in lefs far
voured regions, have hitherto made fo flow an
advance toward moral perfellion, they are furely
paffing the fevereft cenfure on thenfelves, if
they expect to find it in a happier manner ap
proached by the dark and unfriended children of
the Southern World !

CHAPTER

k><

///rr ZEE -BOO,

7'7
jrc/f//r) > ''rms (>/

.IBB A THULUE.

Ti.Mi/)i'{/ as M.A.f Jir/.t, J^uiie i-Sfl.ty /7.j\7,W/, fi'rCifil ttXVilflr

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 365

CHAPTER XXVII.
Anecdotes, of Lee Boo, fecond Son of Abba
Thulle, from the Time of leaving Canton
to his Death.
HA V I N p given a faithful narrative of all
the material occurrences which happened
to our people during the time they remained in
the Pelew Islands, with fuch information con-
¦ <- - ' - ¦'
cerning their produce; the manners, difpofition,
way; of life, and character of the natives, as
could be collected in that fpace of time, from
the intercourfe our countrymen had with them ;
I fhall clofe this Work with fuch anecdotes of
Prince -Lee Boo, as I have received from fome
of. my particular friends who. often faw , him,
added to thofe I have myfelf been witnefs of: —
infignificant as the amount of the whole may be,
yet I think them worth recording; — from a
trifling fketch, or a mere outline, enough may
be gained of character, to convey to the mind
no fallacious idea of the object aimed at. — In
the prefent cafe, no more than an outline can be
delineated. — Had not this youth, who came
here almoft a ftranger to our language, and
who lived little more than five months with us,
1 been

366 AN ACCOUNT OF
been foatched away fo foon to fill an early grave,
I might have been enabled to offer the public a
more finifhed picture of him.
In the flight acquaintance made With him at
Macao and Canton, he hath, I truft, in-
K/ terefted the reader by that ingenuous opennefs,
\, which was the refult of native fimplicity; heis
there feen in the character of a new-born crea
ture, juft entering a world he was quite a
ftranger to, darting his bewildered eyes on every
fide, and folicited by fuch a variety of novelty,
that he knew not where to fix his attention.
However beautiful, however ftupendous the ob
jects may be which furround us, when they have '
been within our view through all the progreffive
advance of early years, they infenfibly ceafe to
engage our notice. — The peafant, bred at the
foot of jEtna, or the Andes, fees with indif
ference thofe wonderful 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 allowed the
expreflion, he was born at the ftate of manhood,
with his mind in full vigour, and inftantly found
himfelf encompaffed by fcenes not only totally
new, but totally beyond his conceptions — fcenes
which to him were fo bordering on enchantment,
that they were fufficient to have half overfet the.
inexperienced faculties of our young traveller, had

THE PELEW. ISLANDS. 367
had he not conftantly had his Mentor at his elbow
to clear up all his difficulties, point his judgment
properly, and give him a juft explanation of
whatever became an object of his notice and
furprize. We left them together, as the reader will re
collect, on board the Morse Indiaman, purfuino-
their paffage to Europe ; he was treated with
much kindnefs and attention by the Commander,
Captain Elliot, and Lee Boo was fo courteous
and pleafant during the whole voyage, that every
one was ready to render him any fervice in their
power. He was extremely defirous of knowing the
name and country of every fhip he met at fea,
and would repeat 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 refrefh his memory,
and often to recur to Captain Wilson, or
others, when he had forgot what any particular
knot referred to. The officers in the Morse,
with whom only he affociated, when they faw
him thus bufied with his Line, ufed , to fa,y
he was reading his journal. He frequently
afked after all the people of the Oroolong,
who had gone aboard different fhips at China,
particularly

An account o£
particularly after the Captain's fon, and Mr;
Sharp. He had not been long on the voyage before
he folicit'ed Captain Wilson to get him a book,
and point out to him the letters, that he might;
when he knew them, be inftructed in reading ;
all convenient opportunities were allotted to
gratify this wifh of his young pupil, who difco
vered great readinefs in comprehending every
information given him.
On arriving at Saint Helena, he was
much ftruck with the foldiers and cannon on the
fortifications; and the coming in foon after of
four Englifh men of war, afforded him a fight
highly delighting, particularly thofe which had
two tier of guns. It was explained to him
that thefe kind of fhips were intended only for
fighting, and that the other veffels which he then
faw in the Bay were deftined for commerce, to
tranfport and exchange from one country to ano
ther its produce and Manufactures. — Captain
Buller, the Commander of his Majefty's fhip
The Chaser, had the goodnefs to take him on
board his own, and another fhip, to let him fee
the men exercifed at the great guns and fmall
arms, which exceedingly impreffed his imagi
nation. On being carried to fee a fchool, he expreffed a wifh

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 369
& wifh that he could learn as the boysMid, feel
ing his own deficiency in knowledge.
He defired to ride on horfeback into the coun
try, which he was permitted to do ; he fa!t well,
and galloped, fhewed ho fear of falling, and
appeared highly pleafed both with the novelty
and pleafure of the exercife.
Vifiting the Company's garden^ he noticed
fome fhady walks formed with bamboos arching
overhead on lattice-work. He was ftruck with
the refrefhing coolnefs they afforded; and obferv
ed, that his own countrymen were ignorant of
the advantages they might enjoy, faying, that
On this ifland they had but little wood, yet ap
plied it to a good purpofe ; that at Pelew they
had great abundance, and knew not how to ufe
it. — Adding, that when he went back, he Would
fpeak to the King, tell him how defective they
were, and have men employed to make fuch
bowers as he had feen.
Such were the dawnings of a mind that felt its
own darknefs — and had the good-fenfe to cateh
at every ray of light that might lead him for
ward to information and improvement !
Before the Morse quitted Saint Helena,
the Lascelles arrived, by which occurrence
Lee-Boo had an interview with his firft friend;
Mr. Sharp ; he had a fight of him from a win
dow, and ran out with the utmoft. impatience to
B b take

370 AN ACCOUNT OF
take him by the hand ; happy, after fo long a
feparation, to meet him again, and evincing by
his ardour the grateful fentiments he retained of
the attention that gentleman had fhewn him.
As he drew near the Britifh channel, the num
ber of veffels that he obferved purfuing their dif
ferent courfes, increafing fo much, he was ob
liged to give up the keeping of his journal ; but
was ftill very inquifitive to know whither they
were failing. — When the Morse got to the Isle
of Wight, Captain Wilson, his brother, the
Prince, with feveral other paffengers, quitted
her, and coming in a boat between the Nee"
dies, arrived fafe at Portsmouth the fourteenth
of July 1784. — On landing, the number and
fize ofthe men of war then in harbour; the va
riety of houfes, and the ramparts, were all ob
jects of attraction ; he feemed fo totally abforbed
in fllent furprize, that he had no leifure to afk
any queftions. — The officer of the Morse char
ged with the difpatches fetting off immediately for
London, Captain Wilson, impatient to fee his
family, accompanied him, leaving his young
traveller under the'rare of his brother, to follow
him by a coach, which was to fet off in the even
ing. As foon' as he reached town, he was con-
, veyed to the Captain's houfe at Rotherhithe,
where he was not a little happy to rejoin his
adopted

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 371
adopted father, and in being introduced to his
family. Though part of his journey had paffed during
the riight; yet; with returning day, his eyes had
full employment on every fide ; and when he had
got to what was now to be, for fome time, his
deftined home, he arrived in all the natural glow
of his youthful fpirits. Whatever he had ob
ferved in filence, was now eagerly difclofed. He
defcribed all the circumftances of his journey ;
faid it was very pleafant — that he had been put
into a little houfe, which was run away with by
horfes — that he flept, but ftill was going on j
and, whilft he went one way, the fields, houfes,
and trees, a]l went another — every thing, from
the quicknefs of travelling, appearing to him to
be in motion.
At the hour of reft he was fhewn by Mr. M.
Wilson up to his chamber, where, for the firft
time, he faw a four-poft bed ; he could fcarce
conceive what it meant — he jumped in, and
jumped out again ; felt and pulled afide the cur
tains-; got into bed, and then got out a fecond
time, to admire its exterior form. At length,
having become acquainted with its ufe and con
venience, he laid himfelf down to fleep, faying,
that in England there was a houfe for every

B b a It

3fi AN ACCOUNT OF
It was not, I believe, more than a week a&
ter his arrival, when 1 was invited, by my late
valued friend Robert Rashleigh, Efq. to din
ner, where Captain Wilson, and his young
charge, were expected,— Lee Boo then poffeffed
but very little Englifh, yet, between words and
action, made himfelf tolerably uriderftood, 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 dreft as an Englifhman,
excepting that he wore his hair in the fafhion of
his own country ; appeared to be between nine
teen and twenty years of age, was of a middling.
ftature, and had /a countenance fo ftrongly
marked with fenfibility and good- humour,) that
it inftantly prejudiced every one in his favour ¦,
and this countenance was enlivened by eyes fo
quick and intelligent, that they might really be
faid to announce his thoughts and conceptions
without the aid of language.
Though the accounts I had previoufly receive
ed of this new man (as he was called at Macao)
had greatly raifed my expectations, yet when I
had been: a little time in his company, I was per
fectly -aftoniilied at the eafe and gentlenefs of his
manners ; he was lively and- pleafant, and had a
politenefs without form, or reftraint, which ap*
peared

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 373
peared 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 fenfibleof. — Manyqueftions were of courfe
put to Captain Wilson by the company, con
cerning this perfonage, and the country he had
brought him from, which no European had ever
yifited before; he obligingly entered, on many
particular circumftances which were highly inte
refting, fpoke of the battles in which ifis people
had aflifted the King of Pelew, and of the pecu
liar manner the natives had of tying up their hair
when going to war ; Lee 'Boo, who fully under-
ftood what his friend was explaining, very obli
gingly, and unafked, untied his own, and threw
it into the form Captain Wilson had been de-
fcribing. — I might tire the reader were Ito enu
merate the trivial occurrences of a few hours,
rendered only of confequence from the Angula
rity of this young man's fituation ; fuffice it to
fay, there was in all his deportment fuch affabi
lity and propriety of behaviour, that when he
took leave of the company, there was hardly any
one prefent who did not feel a fatisfaction in hav
ing had an interview with him.'
I went to Rotherhithe, a few days after, to
fee Captain Wilson ; Lee Boo was reading at
a window, he recollected me inftantly, and flew
With eagernefs to the door to meet me, looked
B b 3 oh

374 ANACCOUNTOF
on me as a friend, and ever after attached him-*
felf to me, appearing to be happy whenever we
met together. — In this vifit I had a good deal of
converfation with him, and we mutually mana
ged to be pretty well underftood by each other;
he feemed to be pleafed with every thing about
him, faid, All fine country, fine 'ftreet, fine coach,
and houfe upon houfe up to fky, putting alternately
one hand above another, by which I found (their
own habitations being all on the ground) that
every feparate ftqry of our buildings he at that
time confidered as a diftinct houfe.
He was introduced to feveral of the Directors
of the India Company, taken to vifit many of
the Captain's friends, and gradually fhewn moft
of the public buildings in the different quarters
of the town ; but his prudent conductor had the
caution to avoid taking him to any places of
public entertainment, left he might accidentally,
in thofe heated reforts, catch the fmall-pox, z,
difeafe which he purpofed to inoculate the young
Prince with, as foon as he had acquired enough
of our language to be reafoned into the neceffity
of fubmitting to the operation; judging, and
furely npt without gpqd reafon, that by giving
him fo offenfive and troublefome a diftemper,
without firft explaining its nature, and preparing
his mind to yield to it, it might weaken that un^
bounded]

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 375
bounded confidence which this youth placed in
his adopted father.
After he had been awhile fettled, and a little
habituated to the manners of this country, he
was fent every day to an Academy at Rother
hithe, to be inftructed in reading and writing,
which he was himfelf eager to attain, and moft
affiduous in learning; his whole deportment,
whilft there, was fo engaging, that it not only
gained him the efteem of the gentleman underx
whofe tuition he was placed, but alfo tiie affec
tion of his yoqng companions ; — in the hours ©f
recefs, when he returned to the Captain's houfe,
he amufed the whole family by his vivacity, no
ticing every particularity he faw in any of his
fchool-fellows, with great good-humour mi
micking their different manners, fometimes fay?
ing he would haye a fchool of his own when he
returned to Pelew, and fhould be thought very
wife when he taught the great people their let
ters, He always addreffed Mr. Wilson by the
appellation of Captain; but never would call
Mrs. Wilson (to whom he behaved with the
warmeft affection) by any other name than that
of Mother, looking on that as a mark of the
greateft refpect. — Being often told he fhould fay
Mrs. Wilson, his conftant reply was, No, no
— Mother, Mother.
B b 4 Captain

37$ AN ACCOUNT OF
Captain Wilson, when invited to dine with,
his particular friends, was generally accompa
nied by Lee Boo ; on which occafions, there
was fo much cafe and politenefs in his behaviour,
as if he had been always habituated to good
company; he adapted himfelf very readily to
whatever he faw were the cuftoms ofthe coun
try, and fully confirmed me in an opinion which
I have ever entertained, that natural gooid man
ners is the natural refult of natural good fenfe.
Wherever this young man went, nothing ef-
, caped his obfervation ; he had an ardent defire
of information, and thankfully received it, al
ways expreffing a wifh to know by what means
effects which he noticed, were produced. I was
one day in company with him, where a young
lady fat down to : the harpficord, to fee how he"
was affected with mufic ; he appeared greatly
furprized that the inftrument could throw out fo
much found ; it was opened, to let him fee its
interior conftruction, he pored over it with great
attention, watching how the jacks were moved,
and feemed far more difpofed to puzzle out the
means which produced the founds, than to at
tend to the mufic that was playing. He was af
terwards requefted to give us a Pelew fong ; he
did not wait for thofe repeated' intreaties which
fingers ufually require, but obligingly began one
as foon as afked ; the tones, however, were fo
harfh

THE PELEW ISLANDS, 377
harfh, and difcorda.nt, and his breaft feemed to
labour with fo much exertion, that his whole
countenance was changed by it, and every one's
ears ftunned with the horrid notes. From thi§
fample of Pelew : Tinging, it is not to be won
dered, that a chorus of fuch performers had the
effect (as hath been related.) of making our coun
trymen at Oroolong fly to their arms ; — it.
might, in truth, have alarmed a whole garnfon.
— Though when he had been fome time here, he
readily caught two or three Englifh fongs, in
which his voice appeared by no means inharmb*
nious. Lee Boo's temper was very mild and compaf-
fionate, difcovering, in various inftances, that
he had brought from his father's territories that
ipirit of philanthropy, which we have feen reigned
there ; yet he at all times governed it by difcre-
tion and judgment. — If he faw the young afking
relief, he would rebuke them with what little
Englifh he was mailer of, telling them, it was a
Ibame to beg when they were able to work ; but
ihe intreaties of old age he could never withftand,
faying, muft give poor old man — old man no able
to work. I am perfectly convinced, that Captain Wil<>
son, from the confidence which the King had
rep'ofed in him, would have held himfelf invio
lably -bound to protect and ferve this young crea ture

37S AN ACCOUNT OF
ture to the utmoft extent of his abihties; but,
independant of what he felt was due to the noble
« character of Abba Thulle, there was fo much
gentlenefs, and fo much gratitude lodged at Lee;
Boo's heart, t.hat nqt only the Captain, but eve
ry part of his family, viewed him with the warm
eft fentiments pf difinterefted affection. — Mr. H.
Wilson, the Captain's fon, being a youth of a
very amiable character, and a few years younger
$han Lee Boo, they had, during their voyage
to, and ftay in China, become mutually at
tached to each other, and meeting again under
the father's roof, their friendfhip was ftill more
cemented ; the young Prince looked on him as
51 brother, and, in his leifure hours from the
Academy, was happy to find in him a compa
nion to converfe with, to exercife the throwing
of the fpear, or partake in any innocent recrea
tion. Boyam, the Malay, whom the King had fent
to attend on his fon, proving an unprincipled,
clifhoneft fellow, Lee Boo was fodifgufted with
his conduct, that he intreated Captain Wilson
%q fend him back to Sumatra (which he had
learned was the Malay's own country); and
TqM Rose, a man of tried fidelity, and who
had picked up a great deal of the Pelew lan
guage, being at this time in England, was en-.
gaged

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 379
gaged to fupply his place ; an exchange which
gave great fatisfadtion to all parties.
Captain Wilson being now and then incom
moded with fevere head-achs, which were fome
times relieved by lying down on the bed ; on
thefe occafions the feelings of Lee Boo were
ever alarmed. He appeared always unhappy,
would creep up foftly to his protector's chamber,
and fit filent by his bedfide for a long time to
gether, without moving, peeping gently from
time to time between the curtains, to fee if he
flept, or lay eafy.
As the anecdotes of this fingular youth are but
fcanty, being all unfortunately limited to a very
fhort period, I would unwillingly, in this place,
withhold one, where his own heart defended itT
felf. The Captain haying been all the morning
jn London, after dinner afked his fon if he had
been at fome place, he had, before he went tq
town, directed him to call at, with a particular
meffage ? The fact was, the two young friends
had been amufing themfelves with throwing the
fpear, and the bufinefs had been totally forgotten.
•—Captain Wilson was hurt at the neglect, and
told his fon it was very idle and carelefs ; this
being fpoken in an impatient tone of voice,
which LEE ^00 conceiving was a mark of anger
jn th? father, flipt unobferved out of the p^rr
jour. The matter was inftantly forgotten, and
fomething

3§o AN ACCOUNT OF
fomething elfe talked of; when Lee Boo being*
¦ ... • miffed, Harry Wilson was fent to look after
him, who finding him in a back room quite de-.
jected, defired him to return to the family ; Lee
Boo took his young friend by the hand, and on
entering the parlour 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 his affection
ate heart could not on the occafion fupprefs.
Captain Wilson and the young Prince din-
iing with me early after his arrival, I was afking
how he was affected by painting ; on mentioning
the fubject, Dr. Carmichael Smyth, whom I
had requefted to meet this ftranger, wifhed me
to bring a miniature of myfelf; that we might all
thereby obferve if it ftruck him ; he took it in his
hand, and inftantly darting his eyes toward me,
called out, Miffer Keate — very nice, very gocdt
— The Captain then afking him, if he under-
ftood what it fignified ? he replied, Lee Boo un
derftand. well — that Miffer Keate die — this Miffer,
Keate live. — A treatife on the utility and intent
of portrait-painting could not have better defined
the art than this little fentence.
Mrs. Wilson defiring Lee Boo, who was on
the oppofite fide of the table, to fend her fome
cherries, perceiving that he was going to take
them, up with his fingers, jocofely noticed it to
him,,

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 381
him; he inftantly reforted to a fpoon ; but, fen-
fible that he had difcovered a little unpolitenefs,
his countenance was in a moment fuffufed with a
blufh, that vifibly forced itfelf through his dark
complexion. A lady* who Was of the party, being incom
moded by the violent heat of the day, was nearly
fainting, and obliged to leave the room; this ami
able youth feemed much diftreffed at the accident^
and feeing her appear again when we were fum-
moned to tea, his inquiries, and particular atten
tion to her, as ftrongly marked his tendernefs, as
it did his good-breeding.
He was fond of riding in a coach beyond any
other conveyance, becaufe, he faid, people could
be carried where they wanted to go, and at the
fame time fit and converfe together. He feemed
particularly pleafed at going to church, and,-
though he could not comprehend the fervice, yet
he perfectly underftood the intent of it, and always:
behaved there with remarkable propriety and at
tention. Captain Wilson kept him from going abroad,'
except to vifit friends, for the reafon already afc-
figned, as alfo from another prudential confidera
tion, that his mind might be. tranquil, nor too
much drawn off from the great object in view^
the attaining the language, which would enable
him to comprehend fully every purpofed infor
mation,

38a AN ACCOUNT OF
mation, and to enjoy better whatever he fhould
then be fhewn. The river, the fhipping, arid
the bridges he was forcibly ftruck with ; arid he
was feveral times taken to fee the guards exef-
cifed and march in St. James's Park, a fight
which gratified him much, every thing that was
military greatly engaging his attention. To a
young creature, fituated as he was, and whofe
eye and mind were ever in queft of information^
circumftances perpetually occurred, that at the
time interefted thofe who were about him, but
which at prefent would be trefpaffing too much
on the reader to mention.
I went to fee him the morning after Lunardi's
firft afoent in the balloon, not doubting but that
I fhould have found him to the greateft degree
aftonifhed at an exhibition which had excited fo
much curiofity even amongft ourfelves ; but, to
my great furprize, it did not appear to have en
gaged him in the leaft. He faid, he thought it a
very foolifh thing to ride in the air like a bird,
when a man could travel fo much more pleafantly on
horfeback, or in a coach.'— He was either not aware
of the difficulty, or hazard of the enterprize, 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 fpreading be
fore him fo many fubjects of furprize. J
Whenever

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 383
Whenever he had opportunities of feeing gar
dens, he was an attentive obferver of the plants
and fruit-trees, would afk many queftions about
them, and fay, when he returned home, he would
take feeds of fiich as would live and flourifh in
Pelew ; talked frequently of the things he fhould
then perfuade the King to alter, or adopt ; and
appeared in viewing moft objects to confider 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, that he would probably in a
fhort time have written a very fine hand, when he
was overtaken with that very difeafe, which with
fo much caution had been guarded againft. On
the 1 6th of December he felt himfelf much indif
pofed, and in a day or two after an eruption ap
peared all over him.— Captain Wilson called to
inform me of his uneafinefs, ^nd was then going
to Dr. Carmichael Smyth, to requeft he would
fee him, apprehending that it might be the fmall-
pox. Dr. Smyth, with whofe profeffional abilities
are united every accomplifhment of the fcholar
and the gentleman, and whofe friendfhip I feel a
pride in acknowledging myfelf long poffeffed of,
defired me to go with him to Rotherhithe.
When he defcended from Lee Boo's chamber
a (where

3&4 A** ACCOUNT OF
(where he rather wifhed me net - go) he tola
the family that there was nc a -/,.:¦ >bt with re-
fpect to the difeafe, and wai. for ^ to add (what
he thought it right to prepare t.^./n for) that the
appearances were fuch as almoft totally precluded
the hope of a favourable termination ; but that he
had ordered whatever the prefent moment re
quired. Captain Wilson earneftly folicited the
continuance, if poffible, of his vifits, and was
affured, that; however inconvenient the diftancei
he would daily attend the iffue of the dif-
tempef. When I went the fecoiid day, I found Mr;
Sharp there, a gentleman fo often mentioned iii
the foregoing narrative, who, hearing of his young
friend's illnefs; had come to affift Captain Wil
son, 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 Captain
Wilson complied with the requeft of his family
in not going into the chamber, yet he never ab-
fented himfelf from the houfe ; and Mr. Sharp
conftantly took care that every direction was duly
attended to> and from him I received the account of

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 385
of our unfortunate young ftranger during his 111—
nefs, which he bore with great firmnefs of mind,
neVer refufing to take any thing that was ordered
for him, when told that Dr. Smyth, (to whofe
opinion he paid the greateft deference) defired it.
— Mrs. Wilson happening to have fome indif-
pofition at this time, which confined her to her
bed, Lee Boo, on hearing of it, became impa
tient, faying, What, Mother ill ! Lee Boo get uf
to fee ber ; which he did, and would go to her
apartment, to be fatisfied how 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 disfi
gured) ; he fhook his head, and turned away, as
if difgufted at his own appearance, and told Mr.
Sharp, that his father and toother much grieve,
for they knew he was -very fick ; this he repeated
feveral times. — At night, growing worfe, he ap
peared to think himfelf in danger ; he took Mr.
Sharp by the hand, and, fixing his eyes ftedfaftly
on -him, with earneftnefs faid, Good friend, when
you go to Pelew, tell Abba Thulle that Lee
Boo take much. drink to make fmall-pox go away,
hut he die ; — that the Captain and Mather
(meaning Mrs. Wilson) very kind~-all Englifh
very good men ; — was muchforry he could not fpeak
to the King the number of fine things the Englifh
bad got. — Then he reckoned what had, been
C c given

3U AN ACCOUNT OF
given him as prefents, which he willed Mr.
Sharp would diftribute, when he went back,
among the Chiefs ; and requefted that very par
ticular care might be taken of the blue glafs bar
rels on pedeftals, which he directed fhould be
given to the King.
Poor Tom Rose, who flood at the foot of his
young mafter's bed, was foedding tears at hearing
all this, which Lee Boo obferving, rebuked him
for his weaknefs, afking, IVhy fhould he be crying
fo becaufe Lee Boo die ?
Whatever he felt, his fpirit was above com
plaining; and Mrs. Wilson's chamber being
adjoining to his own, he often called out to in
quire if fhe was better, always adding, left fhe
might fuffer any difquietude on his account, Lee
Boo do well, Mother. The fmall-pox, which
had been out eight or nine days, not riling, he
began to feel himfelf fink, and told Mr. Sharp
he was going away. His mind, however, re
mained perfectly clear and calm to the laft,
though what he fuffered in the latter part of his
exiftence was fevere indeed ; the ftrength of his
conftitution ftruggled long and hard againft the
venom of his diftemper, till exhaufted nature
yielded in the conteft.
Dr. Smyth had the goodnefs, every day on
his return from Rotherhithe, to inform me of
the ftate of his patient, but never gave me any
3 hope

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 387
hope of his recovery. Being under an engage
ment, with my family, to pafs a week at the houfe
of my friend, Mr. Brook Watson, at Sbeent
(who was equally anxious and alarmed as our-
felves for this amiable young man) I requefted
the Doctor would have the goodnefs to continue
to me his information. — The fecond day after I
left town, I received the intelligence of his death,
which deeply affected 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 DEAR SIR,
it is an unpleafant tafk for me to be the herald
of bad news, yet, according to my promife, I
muft inform yOu of the fate of poor Lee Boo,
who died this morning without a groan, the vi
gour of his mind and body refitting to the very
laft. — Yefterday, the fecondary fever coming on,
he was feized with a fhivering fit, fucceeded by
head-ach, violent palpitation of the heart, anxie
ty, and difficult breathing; he again ufed the
warm bath, which, as formerly, afforded him a
temporary relief; he had a blifter put on his
back, which was as ineffectual as thofe applied to
his legs. He expreffed all his feelings to me, in
C c 2 tbe

588 AN ACCOUNT OF
the moft forcible and pathetic manner, put my
hand upon his heart, leant his head on my arm,
and explained his uneafinefs- in breathing; but
when I was gone he complained no more, fhew-
ing that he complained with a view to be re
lieved, not to be pitied. — In fhort, living or dy
ing he has given me a leffon which I fhall never
forget ; and furely, for patience and fortitude, he
was an example worthy the imitation of a Stote I
— I did not fee Captain Wilson when I called
this morning, but the maid-fervant was in tears,
and every perfon in the family wore the face of
grief ; poor Lee Boo's affectionate temper made
every one look upon him as a brother or a child.
— Compliments to the ladies, and to Mr. Wat
son ; who, I make no. doubt, will all join in re
gretting the untimely end of our poor Prince. —
From you, my friend, fomething more will be
expected ; and, though you cannot bring him
back to life, you are called upon (particularly
confidering his great attachment to you) not to
let the memory .of fo much virtue pafs away un
recorded. — But I am interrupted in thefe melan
choly reflections, and have only time to affure -
you of (what will never pafs away but with/
myfelf) the fincere friendfhip of your affections-
ate, &c. JAS CARMICHAEL SMYTH,
<5 Captain

THE PELEW ISLANDS. -.389
Captain Wilson notified to the India Houfe
the unfortunate death of this young man ; and
received orders to conduct every thing with pro
per decency reflecting his funeral. He was in
terred in Rotherhithe church-yard,, the Cap
tain and his brother attending-. All the young
people of the Academy joined in this teftimony
of regard ; and the concourfe of people at the
church was fo great, that it appeared as if the
whole parifh had affembled to join in feeing the
laft ceremonies paid to one who was fo much be
loved by all who had known him in it.
The India Company, foon after, ordered a
tomb to be erected over his grave, with the fol
lowing infcription, which I have trainfcribed from

C«. T©

39°

AN ACCOUNT G£
To the Memory
of Prince Lee Boo,
A native ofthe Pelew, or Palos Iflands j
*nd Son to Abba Thulle, Rupack or King
ofthe Ifland Coorooraa;
who departed this Life on the 27th of December
1784,
aged 20 Years $
This Stone is infcribed,
by the Honourable United East India Company,
as a Teftimony of Efteem
• for the humane and kind Treatment afforded
\hy his Father to the Crew of their Ship
the Antelope, Captain Wilson,
which was wrecked off that Ifland
in the Night ofthe 9th of Auguft 1783.
Stop, Reader, flop ! — let Nature claim a Tear-*
A Prince of Mate, Lee Boo, lies bury'd here,
> Among

THE PELEW ISLANDS. 391
Among the little property which he left be
hind, befide what he; had particularly! requefted
Mr. Sharp to convey to his father and friends,
there were found, after his death, the ftones or
feeds of moft of the fruits he had tafted in Eng
land, carefully and feparately put up. — And
when one confiders that his ftay with us was but
five months and twelve days, we find, that in the
midft of the wild field of novelty that encompaf-
fed him, he had not been neglectful of that which,
before his departure from Pelew, had been pro
bably pointed out to him as a principal matter of
attention. From thefe trifling anecdotes of this amiable
youth, cut off in the moment that his character .
began to bloffom, what hopes might not have
been entertained of the future fruit fuch a plant
would have produced ! — He had both ardour
and talents for improvement, and every gentle
- ' quality of the heart to make himfelf beloved ;
fo that, as far as the dim fight of mortals is per
mitted to penetrate, he might, had his days been
lengthened, have carried back to his own coun-
try — not the vices of a new world — but thofe
folid advantages which his own good fenfe would
have fuggefted, -as likely to become moft ufeful
to it.
But— how carry back ?— That event depended
C c 4 not

392 .8 AN ACCOUNT OF'
not on himfelf ;—av naked, confiding ftranger—
he trufted implicitly to others, and left the pro-.
tecting arms of a father without apprehenfion-J*"
without ftipulation. — The evening before the
Oroolong failed, the King afked Captain Wil
son, how fong it might be before his return to
Pelew ? and being told, that it would probably
be about thirty moons, or might chance to ex
tend to fix more, Abba Thulle drew from his
bafket a piece of Line, and, after making thirty
knots on it, a little diftance from each other, left
a long fpace, and then adding fix others, careful
ly put it by.
As the flow but fore fteps of Time have been
moving onward, the. Reader's imagination will
figure, the anxious parent, referring to this che-
rifoed remembrancer, and with joy untying the
earlier records of each elapflng period ; — as he
fees him advancing on his Line, he will conceive
the joy redoubled ; — and, when nearly approachr
ingUo the thirtieth knot, almoft accufing the
planet ofthe night for paffing fo tardily away.
When verging towards the termination of his
lateft reckoning, he will then picture his mind
glowing with parental affection, occafionally
alarmed by doubt — yet ftill buoyed up by hope;
— he will fancy him pacing inquifitively the fea-
fhore, and often commanding his people to af-
cend,

THE PELEW ISLANDS.
cend every rocky height, and, glance their eyes
along the level line of the horizon which bounds
the furrounding ocean, to fee if haply it might
not in fome part be broken by the diftant ap
pearance of a returning fail.
Laftly, he will view the good Abba Thulle,
wearied out by that expeftation, which fo many
returning moons fince his reckoning teafed, have
by this time taught him he had nourifhed in vain.
— But the Reader will bring him back to his re
membrance, as armed with that unfoaken forti
tude that was equal to the trials of varying life.
— He will not in him, as in lefs manly fpirits, fee
the paflions rufhing into oppofite extremes—
Hope turned to Defpair — Afifetlion converted to
Hatred. — No — After fome allowance for their
natural fermentation, he will fuppofe them, all
placidly fubfiding into the Calm of Refigna-
tion! —
Should this not be abfolutely the cafe of our
friendly King — as the human mind is far more
pained by uncertainty than a knowledge of the
worft — every reader will lament, he fhould to this
moment remain ignorant, that his long-looked-
for Son can return no more.
At Rome, the life of one citizen faved, gave
a claim to the civic wreath — At Pelew, fo many
pf our countrymen refcued from diftrefs, and, by
Abba

393

394 AN ACCOUNT, &c.
Abba Thulle's protection and benevolence,
not only faved from inevitable deftruction, but
enabled to return in fafety to their families and
friends, hath fore a ftill ftronger claim to a wreath
from Britifh Gratitude I

A VOCA*

VOCABULARY

OF THE

PELEW LANGUAGE,

m

PELEW.

ENGLISH,

Arracat

A man.

Artheil

A woman.

Nalakell -

A child.

Rupack - -

A Chief, or title of rank.

Cattam -

A father.

Catheil

A mother.

fylorwakell

A wife.

Talacoy ' -

A male infant.

Sucalic

A friend.

Takelby -

A workman, or artificer.

Botbeluth - -

The head.

Vngelell -

The teeth.

?

Kimath

39$

A VOCAE

iULARY OF

PELEW,

ENGLISH.

Kimath

-

The arms,

Kalakalath -

-

The body.

Arraffack -

-

Blood.

Oroofock -

-

Bones.

Toot

-

A woman's breafts,

Cokeefh. - «

-

The thighs.

Playe

-

A dwelling-houfe.

Pye

™

A public hall, or large
houfe.

Morttbahvi

-

A town.

Poderay

-

Home, a man's dwelling.

Trir

-

A fpoon.

Oylefs

-

A knife,

Pewell

-

A cup.

9$uall '-

- '"

A bafon.

Tawr

-

Plates, or difhes.

Koluck -

- :

Oil.

Aleuifs

-

Cocoa-nuts.

Cqcow - «.

«

Yams.

Coffall

-

Turmeric.

Pook

-

Beetle-nut,

Curra Curra

-

Lemon.

Too

-

Plantains or bananas.

Caboo -

-

Cabbage ; i. e. the head of
the cabbage-tree.

Elouth

-

Moloffes.

Outh ' -

mt

A torch.

Katt

THE PELEW LANGUAGE.

PELEW.

ENGLISH.

Katt - _ -

-

Smoke.

Karr -' - -

-

Fire.

Pyaap - - -
Cokall - - -

'

A rat.
An ifland.

Paathe

-

A rock. ' <

Colocol -

-

A fand, or fhoal, in the
fea?

Ceotoem

-

Earth or land fit for culti
vation.

Arrall - - -

—

Frefh water.

GaragarAthagetl - -
Meyrooke -
Lills - - -
Allell - - -

-

Wood ; i. e. trees.
Bamboo.Rattans. Spears or darts.
Aleaf of a tree, feufh, o$

Mallaeye - -
Coybattle -
Yarfe - - -
Peeforfe
Difoma ¦¦ -

-

" plant.
A canoe, -or feoati
Amaft. A -fail.
A paddle; or oar.
The bottom piece of the

Beefakell -

-

out- rigger.
The foell ornaments of
the canoes.

GiU - - -
Cray -

-

A rope.
Small line, or cord.

Ouguth

-

A fifhing- net. Poop

397

598

A VOCABULARY OF

PELEW.

ENGLISH.

Poop - - -

Fifhing-pots, or bafketS;

made of fplit bamboo.

Thoup - - - -

The fea.

Neekell -

Fifh.

Cumathuck Neekell -

Fifh-fcales.

Arool - -

Skaite, or large flat-fifh*

Coffacurra - - -

The common cockle.

Kerthbugb - - -

Ditto; the flutings of this

cocklp-fhell are circu

lar, not radiated.

Kim -

Kimarcockle.

Kiffuruck - - -

The mother of pearl fhell:

Aawell -

Turtle.

Craabrutell

Cray-fifh, or lobfter.

Qockiyoou -

Birds.

Cyep - - - -

Pigeons.

Malk - - - -

A fowl.

Doothuck -

The tropic-bird.

Oleek - - - -

Large bat, or flying-fox*

jVi'g/* - - - • -

Eggs.

Bufhook -

Feathers, or quills.

Sweebuc -

To fly.

'Mungeegy - - -

To fwim. .

Cojy^A - - - -

The fun.

OV/j - - - -

To be fun-burnt, or blif-

tered.
IVcyw* - - - -
The moon.
Abbtbduk
THE PELE

W LANGUAGE.

PELEW.

ENGLISH.

Abbthduk - - -

Stars.

Meefixs ?

Seven ftars, or Pleiades.

Yangle -

Sky.

Yabbath - - -

Clouds.

Koyyoou - • -

Wind.

Katt akatt -

Fog, hazy or thick weather j

*. e. literally fmoky..

Kull - - - -

Rain.

Kull akoyyoou -

, Wind and rain, a. fquall.

Myoofook - - -

Little wind, or a calm.

Coreowe -

Lightning.

Thdrum -

Thunder.

Paffapaffoo

. Repeated claps of thunder.

Efaw - - - -

Rainbow.

Cocook - - - -

Day.

QffmetbeUqa

Mid-day, or noon.

Cotharaa triopok

Afternoon, or evening.

Cappafay - -, -

Night. .

Olongkalla allakatb -

Day- light, or dawn.

Melgull - - .-

Darknefs.

Peeleelurattle -

Morning, or fun-rife.

Coteookell acoyofs -

Sun-fet.

Coltho coyofs

Yefterday.

Mogall -

Burning hot. ;_>

Macraffem

Cold.

Mathrabith

Hunger.

Munga -

To eat.

399

Melim

.A VOCABULARY OF

PELEW.

ENGLISH.

Melim - - - -

To drink.

Meetbinggifs *-

To be fatisfied with eating.

Thomor acocook

Breakfaft.

Weetacallell acoyofs1-

Dinner. -

Comofoy -

! Supper.

Miffeeowe - ¦- -

To cook, to drefs victuals.

Moringough - * -

To broil victuals.

Meeake -

A fweetmeat-made of al

> :>,

monds arid moloffes.

Sopoffup - . - -

A fweetmeat made, of a

fmall root like a turnip.

Kalpatt - -

A fweet pudding made of

' ." ' -s- - —

boiled yams and mo

loffes.

#W*// - - -

A fweetmeat made of

fcraped cocoa-nuts and

moloffes.
Mathingaa
Mouldy.
Mokoot "- -
Rotten.
Riamall - «*•
Thcwild bread-fruit.
Kuthull -
The Jamboo apple.
Othough - - -
Beads.
Clootie -
To cough.
Ognofs - - -
To freeze.
£»<z»2 ^>£ptf£
To be pleafed, or glad*
Gurragur
To laugh.
Malill - - -
To play, to toy.
-
Puckafoogel
THE PELEW LANGUAGE.

401

PELEW.

ENGLISH.

Puckafoogel

- To deceive, to fpeak or act

in joke, or doubtully.

Cootbung

- Wife, or cunning — as

Cootbung arracat, a

Wife man.

Thingaringer

- Foolifh, or a fool — as

Thingaringer artheil, a
foolifh woman.
Moiur
- To be angry.
Merengell - -
- To be in pain.
Ellmangle - -
- To cry.
Adapat
- To lay down to fleep, /. e .
to go to reft.
Part
- A mat to fleep on.
Moopat
- To fleep.
Peekeeifs -
- To awake from fleep.
Moraile
- To walk.
Arramooroot
- To run, or make hafte.
Mooboo
- To fall down.
Cockamew - -
- To take care, i. e. not to
flip or fall in walking.
Bomthocar
- To arife from where you
are fitting, to move out
of that place.
Amuno
- Come in, /'. e. come into a
houfe, (an invitation or
requeft.)
D d Bomgeeaye
4Q2,

A VOCABULARY OF

PELEW.

ENGLISH.

Bomgeeaye - -

- Sit down. -

Por'eow'e

- To ftoop down.

Koomacarr , -

- To exchange, to barter,

to give one thing for

,

another.

Lolocoy i'i -. -r

- To talk.

Moraamaw

- To cheer, to huzza.

Arrah - - -

- To call to a perfon at a

diftance, as halloo 1

Mora mey t -

- Come to me.

Mathack -

- Don't- be afraid.

Ongeelattecoy . -

- Means that a thing or bu

.?.

finefs is well done.

Mungow

- To fetch, to bring fome

thing wanted.

Kiboteleck - -

- The right fide.

Kibotelem - -

- The left fide. •

Annabooke'eth

- To give any thing, to

make a prefent.
Ackmethack
- Thank you.
Atalell -
- What is the name ?
Aygaa - - -
- This thing, or that thing.
Kitra -
- ¦ What is it called ?
Swallow -
- A mat bafket.
Calas -
- A fmall ditto.
Kiffeem
- An adze or hatchet, made
of fhell.
*- Sows
THE PELEW LANGUAGE.

4°3

PE LEW.

E NGLI'S H.

Sous

Signifies- a file made of

fifh-fkin.

Carute

The drefs worn by. the

women.

Mulakow

To wafh any thing, or

themfelves.

Malapall

To wafh or wipe the hand

after eating.
Mooreollow
• To clean, to fweep a
room.
Mootteetur ' -
To work, or labour.
Meeleemoth
To throw water out of a
¦
boat or veffel.
Morofoock
To beat, as with a ham
mer, or to pound as in
a mortar.
Mafaketh -
To reduce, to make lefs.
Matheethy
To enlarge, to make big-
Marafam Bomgeetee
Meeleekotuck
Adaloo
Mokamat Theilmuck
To repair, to mend any
thing.
To throw any thing away.
To ftrike, to give a blow.
To pilfer,, to take any
thing flily.
War, to fight,
Peace. D d 2 Cocuatb
4°4

A VOCABULARY OF

PELEW.
Cocuath Umkarr Umkarra lills
MatheeMaathey Moraick Thoo
Meringell Macekathe.
Melgoth Prothothuck Clowe Owmuckellm,
Kickaray
Koomangle CathepMerow CrofeethIcmathe Peepack Sola, Sola

ENGLISH.
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 bor
dy and limbs.
Their wooden fword.

Large.

thing

of

middling

A fize.
Small.
Long. Short.
A meafore, anfwering to.
our fathom.
A great diftance.
A fhort diftance.
A great many, abundance.
Enough, plenty, gene
rally fpoke twice; as
Sola, Sola, enough,

enough,

Moofefs

THE PELEW LANGUAGE.

4°S

PELEW.
Moofefs Moofefs akoyyou
Aaa Deak
NaakKow
Arrabeeta OleeakeckOleeakem Mungeet Weel Weel atrecoy
Mogull Ompcarew Joomgthcotooath Joomgth
Debufs MorakethMacuth Ago mey

ENGLISH.
Too much of any thing.
Too high a wind.
Yes. No. Me, myfelf.
You.
The other fide of any
thing.
High, or above.
Low, or downwards.
Not good.
Good.
Very good.
Bad, or difplearing.
To turn or tack, as a fhip
or boat.
To caulk or flop a leak.
Their oakum, made of
cocoa-nut hufks.
To defert or for fake a
place or perfon.
Means for a perfon to go
before to fome place.
Means that you will fol
low and join them.
Means go away, or out
of my fight, being dif-
pleafed

A VOCABULARY OF

PELEW.

<u;. *<

Deakatick

ENGLISH.
pleafed with tlie perfon
to whom- it is fpoke.
A diflikeof what is offer-
. ed you, or declaration
that you will not ac
cept it.

Ongeell

It will do, it is very welU

Oul mey

- Give me that thing near

you, or in your hand.

Deegaa -

I have not what is afked

for.

Morakattow

Go away, ftand affde.

, keep at a diftance.

Mey -

Come.

Pomray

To go away.

Calakaa

Prefently.

Mayfackarangafh -

Give me that,

Ley mey

Bring me that.

Meemathiffa

Let me look at it.

Mififak -

To look out, to efpy."

Mereacrick

To fearch, to look for a

*

thing, loft.

Myyufs ¦

To paddle a canoe,

Lagooruth

To paddle faft. .....

Arree, Arree

Signifies to the men in the

canoes to exert them
felves.
Morru
The pelew language.
PELEW. ENGLISH.
Morru - To hinder work, to im
pede it.
Calem To give a portion of pro
vifion to each Chief or
family at a feaft.
Arrack - To flop.
Meefoos - To make obeifance, to
ftoop to a Chief.
Meethip - Broke like a ftick or piece
of wood, purpofely.
Moorookem - Broke like a piece of pot
tery or foell, falling to
the ground, accidental-
ly.
Melocketh - Broke like a rope by ten-
fion.
Arrafook - A white ftone.
Coreick - Red.
Kowfe - - White.
Kafs - - Black.
Coteetow - Blue.
Meelemow •"*¦ Green.
Koothoo - - Yellow.
Careereeack - Brown.
Tong - - One.
Oroo - - Two.
Othey - - Three. Oang

*%

A VOCABULARY, &c.
PELEW. ENGLISH*

Oan'g

Four.

Aeem

Five.

Malong

Six.

Qwetb

Seven.

Tei - ±

Eight.

Etew - <

Nine.

Mackoth

Ten.

Oloyuck -

Twenty.

Qckathey

Thirty.

Gckawaugh ' *•

Forty.

Qckeem

Fifty.

Ockgollom

Sixty.

Ockgweetb •»¦

Seventy.

Qckeye

Eighty.

Qckatuew

Ninety.

Mackoth adart -

A hundred,

FINIS.

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 08837 1159