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taught them how to apply her gifts to their own particular uses. Still they have before them the prospect of an increasing population, with limited means of supporting it. Almost every part of the island capable of cultivation, has been turned to account; but what would have been the consequences of this increase, had not an accident discovered their situation, it is not difficult to foresee; and a reflecting mind will naturally trace in that disclosure the benign interference of the same hand which has raised such a virtuous colony from so guilty a stock. Adams, having contemplated the situation which the islanders would have been reduced to, begged, at our first interview, that I would communicate with the government upon the subject, which was done; and I am happy to say that, through the interference of the Admiralty and Colonial office, means have been taken for removing them to any place they may choose for themselves; and a liberal supply of useful articles has recently been sent to them."

A very interesting sketch of Adams, whose patriarchal look harmonizes well with his patriarchal name, and his patriarchal character, accompanies Captain Beechey's book, and renders it altogether the most complete and amusing account which has ever been given of a spot, where the past, and present, and future, are all linked together by a chain of the most singular interest. After leaving Pitcairn Island, and steering through an archipelago, which in every day's sail offered something new and curious, the Blossom made an unknown island, where, to the surprise of all, a colony of Christians from Otaheite was discovered. In many respects, a degree of mystery seemed to hang over these people, but the very fact of their having found their way thither in an open canoe, when it is considered that their native country lay at six hundred miles distance in the direction of the trade-wind, is in itself a matter of no slight importance to science. The question of how these scattered dwelling-places first received their inhabitants, has been one that has excited many an ingenious investigation, and sometimes shaken faith in the historical truths of the Mosaic account. The positive certainty, however, though the known instance be singular, of a large body of men and women having

been driven six hundred miles from their native country, against the prevailing wind, is sufficient to render the explanation easy, and to sweep away a thousand vain hypotheses.

The reasoning of Captain Beechey is simple and conclusive. The similarity of language, customs, and traditions, between the islanders of the Pacific and the Malays, the people of Sumatra, Borneo, and others of the ed. The navigation between the difsame general class, is clearly establishferent islands of the Pacific in canoes is well known, as well as the custom of warriors, after a defeat, trusting them. selves to the mercy of the waves, rather than yielding to the cruelty of their conquerors. The only strong objection to the belief that these islands were originally peopled from Asia, and that the inhabitants were spread gradually from one insula ted spot to another, has ever been the distance between the different points, which was contended to be impracticable in canoes, especially when the trade-wind and the general current were against the attempt. But Captain Beechey demonstrates, that the interruption of the tradewinds by the monsoon, and the effect of those sudden and violent gales, in driving any wandering canoe far out of its course amongst the thronged groups of the Pacific, must in many instances bring about the peopling of far distant islands, which before were destitute of inhabitants: while the clear fact of six hundred miles having thus been past in an opposite direction to the trade-wind, gives the lie to the impossibility, and leaves the solution of the problem perfectly admissible, if not irrefragably proved. Whatever has been done, may be done again, and we may suppose, in the absence of proof to the contrary, that it has been done often. Nor is it an absolute conclusion, that the precise distance of six hundred miles, which this canoe reached, must have been the extreme limit of such adven tures. But the story of Tuwarri and his companions, is the best elucida tion which can be given of the manner in which the seeds of future nations have been carried from island to island; and in which, while the industrious little insects of the coral are grain by grain raising up new lands and continents out of the broad

bosom of that distant sea, nature-or rather nature's God-is leading, by the path of accident, new denizens to inhabit and enjoy the new-born countries.

"Two days afterwards, we discovered a small island in lat. 19° 40' S. and long. 140° 29′ W., which, as it was not before known, I named Byam Martin Island, in compliment to Sir Thomas Byam Martin, G. C. B., the comptroller of the navy. As we neared the shore, the natives made several fires. Shortly afterwards, three of them launched a canoe, and paddled fearlessly to the barge, which brought them to the ship. Instead of the deep-coloured uncivilized Indians inhabiting the Coral Islands in general, a tall, well-made person, comparatively fair, and handsomely tatooed, ascended the side, and, to our surprise, familiarly accosted us in the Otaheitan manner. The second had a hog and a cock tatooed upon his breast-animals almost unknown among the islands of Eastern Polynesia; and the third wore a turban of blue nankeen. Either of these

were distinctions sufficient to excite considerable interest, as they convinced us they were not natives of the island before us, but had either been left there, or had drifted away from some other island; the latter supposition was the most probable, as they described themselves to have undergone great privation and suffering, by which many of their companions had lost their lives, and their canoe to have been wrecked upon the island; and that they and their friends on shore were anxious to embark in the ship, and return to Otaheite. A little suspicion was at first attached to this account, as it seemed impossible for a canoe to reach their present asylum without purposely paddling towards it; as Byam Martin Island, unlike Wateo, upon which Omai found his countrymen, is situated six hundred miles from Otaheite, in the direction of the tradewinds. We could not doubt, however, that they were natives of that place, as they mentioned the names of the missionaries residing there, and proved that they could both read and write. To their solicitations to return in the ship to Otaheite, as their number on shore amounted to forty persons, I could not yield; and I pointed out to them the impossibility of doing so. But that we might learn the real history of their adventures, I offered a passage to the man who first ascended the side, as he appeared the most intelligent of the party. The poor fellow was at first quite delighted, but suddenly became grave, and enquired if his wife and

children might accompany him, as he could on no account consent to a separation. Our compliance with this request appeared to render him completely happy; but, still fearful of disappointment, before quitting the ship he sent to ask if I was in earnest. "The next morning, on landing, we found him, his wife, and family, with their goods and chattels, ready to embark; and all the islanders assembled to take leave of them. But as we wished to examine the island first, we postponed the ceremony until the evening. The little colony gave us a very friendly reception, and conducted us to their village, which consisted of a few low huts, similar to those at Barrow Island; but they had no fruit to offer us excepting pandanus-nuts, which they disliked almost as much as ourselves, and told us they had been accustomed to better fare."

After an account of the island, and some remarks upon its inhabitants, who were all Christians from the Society group, Captain Beechey proceeds to describe the parting of Tu warri and his companions, and then details the farther particulars of his voyage. After visiting Gloucester Island, the Blossom proceeded onward to Bow Island, and a boat was dispatched to ascertain whether it was possible for the ship itself to enter the lagoon. In this boat, Tuwarri was sent on shore for the purpose of communicating with the natives, should any be found; and inhabitants were soon observed upon the beach. Tuwarri's horror of cannibals was great, and his courage small, so that the appearance of the men on the shore, together with the loading of the muskets in the boat (in case of necessity), gave him no very pleasant sensations. His fears, however, were speedily removed, when the first man he met upon the beach was his own brother. The meeting was singular and affecting, and as it happened that a brig, which had brought Tuwarri's brother thither as a diver, and belonged to the English Pearl Company, was then at the island, with an interpreter on board, the story of the wanderers they had found at Byam Island, was soon made clear to Captain Beechey and his

crew.

"Tuwarri was a native of one of the low coral formations discovered by Captain Cook in his first voyage, called Anaa by the natives, but by him named Chain

Island, situated about 300 miles to the eastward of Otaheite, to which it is tributary. About the period of the commencement of his misfortunes, old Pomarree, the King of Otaheite, died, and was succeeded by his son, then a child. On the accession of this boy, several chiefs and commoners of Chain Island, among whom was Tuwarri, planned a voyage to Otaheite, to pay a visit of ceremony and of homage to their new sovereign. The only conveyance these people could command was double canoes, three of which, of the largest class, were prepared for the occasion.

The ca

"To us, accustomed to navigate the seas in ships of many tons burden, provided with a compass and the necessary instruments to determine our position, a canoe, with only the stars for her guidance, and destined to a place whose situation could be at the best but approximately known, appears so uncertain and frail a conveyance, that we may wonder how any persons could be found sufficiently resolute to hazard the undertaking. They knew, however, that similar voyages had been successfully performed, not only to mountainous islands to leeward, but to some that were scarcely six feet above the water, and were situated in the opposite direction; and as no ill omens attended the present undertaking, no unusual fears were entertained. noes being accordingly prepared, and duly furnished with all that was considered necessary, the persons intending to proceed on this expedition were embarked, amounting in all to 150 souls. What was the arrangement of the other two canoes is unknown to us; but in Tuwarri's there were 23 men, 15 women, and 10 children, and a supply of water and provisions calculated to last three weeks. On the day of departure, all the natives assembled on the beach to take leave of our adventurers. The canoes were placed with scrupulous exactness in the supposed direction, which was indicated by certain marks upon the land, and then launched into the sea amidst the good wishes and adieus of their countrymen. With a fair wind and full sail they glided rapidly over the space, without a thought of the possibility of the miseries to which they were afterwards exposed.

"It happened, unfortunately, that the monsoon that year began earlier than was expected, and blew with great violence; two days were, notwithstanding, passed under favourable circumstances, and the adventurers began to look for the high land of Maitea, an island between Chain

Island and Otaheite, and to anticipate

the pleasures which the successful termination of their voyage would afford them, when their progress was delayed by a calm, the precursor of a storm which rose suddenly from an unfavourable quarter, dispersed the canoes, and drove them away before it. In this manner they drifted for several days; but, on the return of fine weather, having a fortnight's provisions remaining, they again resolutely sought their destination; but a second gale drove them still farther back than the first, and lasted so long, that they became exhausted. Thus many days were passed; their distance from home hourly increasing; the sea continually washing over the canoes, to the great discomfiture of the women and children; and their store of provision dwindled to the last extremity. A long calm, and what was to them even worse, hot, dry weather succeeded the tempest, and drove them to a state of despair. From the description, we may imagine their canoe alone, and becalmed on the ocean; the crew, perishing with thirst beneath the fierce glare of a tropical sun, hanging exhausted over their paddles; children looking to their parents for support, and mothers deploring their inability to afford them assistance. Every means of quenching their thirst were resorted to; some drank the sea water, and others bathed in it, or poured it over their heads; but the absence of fresh water in the torrid zone cannot be compensated by such substitutes.

Day after day those who were able extended their gourds to Heaven, in supplication for rain, and repeated their prayers, but in vain; the fleecy cloud, floating high in the air, indicated only an extension of their suffering; distress, in its most aggravated form, had at length reached its height, and seventeen persons fell victims to its horrors.

"The situation of those who remained may readily be imagined, though their fate would never have been known to us, had not Providence, at this critical moment, wrought a change in their favour. The sky, which for some time had been perfectly serene, assumed an aspect which, at any other period, would have filled our sufferers with apprehension; but, on the present occasion, the tropical storm, as it approached, was hailed with thankfulness, and welcomed as their deliverer. who were able came upon deck with blankets, gourds, and cocoa-nut shells, and extended them towards the black cloud, as it approached, pouring down torrents of rain, of which every drop was of incalculable value to the sufferers; they drank copiously and thankfully, and filled every vessel with the precious element.

All

Thus recruited, hope revived; but the absence of food again plunged them into the deepest despair. We need not relate the dreadful alternative to which they had recourse, until several large sharks rose to the surface, and followed the canoe ; Tuwarri, by breaking off the head of an iron scraper, formed it into a hook, and succeeded in catching one of them, which was instantly substituted for the revolting banquet which had hitherto sustained life.

." Thus refreshed, they again worked at their paddles, or spread their sail, and were not long before their exertions were repaid with the joyful sight of land, on which clusters of cocoa-nuts crowned the heads of several tufts of palm-trees; they hurried through the surf, and soon reached the much-wished for spot, but being too feeble to ascend the lofty trees, were obliged to fell one of them with an axe.

"On traversing the island, to which Providence had thus conducted them, they discovered by several canoes in the lagoon, and pathways intersecting the woods, that it had been previously inhabited; and knowing the greater part of the natives of the low islands to be cannibals, they determined to remain no longer upon it than was absolutely necessary to recruit their strength, imagining that the islanders, when they did return, would not rest satisfied with merely dispossessing them of their asylum. It was necessary while they were allowed to remain, to seek shelter from the weather, and to exert themselves in procuring a supply of provisions for their farther voy

age; huts were consequently built, pools dug for water, and three canoes added to those which were found in the lake.

"Their situation by these means was rendered tolerably comfortable, and they not only provided themselves with necessaries sufficient for daily consumption, but were able to lay by a considerable quantity of fish for sea stock. time, finding themselves undisturbed, they gained confidence, and deferred their departure till thirteen months had elapsed from the time of their landing. At the

After a

expiration of which period, being in good

bodily health, and supplied with necessaries for their voyage, they again launched upon the ocean in quest of home. They steered two days and nights to the north-west, and then fell in with a small island, upon which, as it appeared to be uninhabited, they landed, and remained three days, and then resumed their voyage. After a run of a day and a night, they came in sight of another uninhabited island. In their attempt to land upon it, their canoe was unfortunately stove;

but all the party got safe on shore. The damage which the vessel had sustained requiring several weeks to repair, they established themselves upon this island, and again commenced storing up provi sions for their voyage. Eight months had already passed in these occupations, when we unexpectedly found them thus encamped upon Byam Martin's Island, with their canoe repaired, and all the ne, cessary stores provided for their next ex pedition.

"The other two canoes were never heard of."

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Tuwarri was, after this, safely restored to his native island, and shewed feelings of gratitude and attachment to those who thus brought him back from his long and painful exile, which raised him highly in their opinion.

With great judgment, Captain Beechey does not dwell farther on Otaheite-which has been so often and so well described-than is absolutely necessary to point out the changes which have lately taken place, and to detail the events of his own stay. His observations, however, on the efforts of the missionaries, and the consequences of the present system of biblical instruction, are conceived in a spirit of kindness and liberality, guided by strong good sense, which does high honour to himself, and may do infinite good, if those engaged in the propagation of the gospel will but attend to the remonstrances of one who evidently wishes them the most complete success. Nothing requires more care in examining, and more cool judgment in deciding, than the choice of persons to be sent out amongst an uncivilized people for the purpose of communicating to them a new religion, in which the spirit is all, and the forms are really nothing. It is much to be feared, that amongst the islanders of the South Sea, forms and words have been, not perhaps more taught, but certainly more learnt, than the essence or spirit. This Captain Beechey's observations tend to shew, but still more the simple facts which he narrates. The great care of all engaged in sending missionaries to the South Scas, should be against fanaticism; because it is the natural, and unhap pily too frequent, disease of that no ble and self-devoting zeal which first prompts the missionary to his

arduous task-because it is the bane of all his efforts-and because, instead of implanting good in the savage mind he goes to teach, it invariably produces evil. Zeal will never be wanting in men who abandon home, and all home's ties, for the purpose of diffusing light and civilisation amongst the dark and barbarous; the great requisite in those that send and those that go, is good sense.

From the group of which Otaheite forms the chief, the Blossom proceeded to the Sandwich Islands; and the comparison between the two is treated by Captain Beechey in a most able and masterly manner. The rapid advances of the Sandwich islanders towards civilisation, and the causes, are displayed, while the narrative of the ship's proceedings goes on uninterrupted, without the least pretence of deep views or fine reasoning. All is simple, natural, and easy; and the mind of the reader is gradually led on from facts to conclusions, without being whipped into conviction by logic, or insulted by dogmatism. The details, too, of manners, customs, and scenes (which Captain Beechey gives wherever any thing new was to be portrayed) are always vivid, clear, and interesting, and fill the whole pages with spirit and activity.

The time now began to approach appointed for his presence in Kotzebue Sound; and, sailing onwards towards the Pole, he left behind him the happy climate and smiling islands of the south, and in a wonderfully short time plunged into the midst of snows and everlasting ice. On the eve of the first of June, the Blossom left the Tropic, and, on the 27th of the same month, she was at Kamschatka. How her crew must have felt such a change can only be imagined from the bare fact. Captain Beechey wisely gives no description; but the sudden transition, within three pages, from the sunny valleys and groves of palm, the smile and the light, the lovely scenes and rich productions of the south, to icebergs and frozen cliffs, skin-covered Esquimaux, and fossil elephants, is the most extraordinary that can be conceived, and really reminds one of the Icelandic idea of the punishment of sinful souls, which are supposed to be made red hot in Hecla, and then

plunged into the snows which surround that mountain. Here, how ever, some of the most interesting parts of Captain Beechey's voyage commenced; and the tracking up the western coast of America, as far as latitude 71° 23′ 31" north, longitude 145° 21' 30" west, will make the expedition memorable for ever as one which has added immensely to our knowledge of this earth that we inhabit. Only 146 miles of the coast of America now remain to be exploredthe probabilities of a north-west passage are greatly increased-the by, pothesis is plausible of a gradual diminution of the ice of the polar re gions, which would render that passage available; and surely all these circumstances may well encourage the hope, that an enterprise which has called forth the energies of so many distinguished men, and obtain. ed many important results even in the attempt, will not be abandoned at a moment when success is likely, and certainty may, at all events, be ensured. Had the Blossom been or dered to Kotzebue Sound one fortnight earlier in the year, had she possessed any means of equipping a land expedition, even for a short journey, Captain Franklin might have been met, and the great geographical problem would have been solved. Let us hope that such a plan may still be adopted, and that, by combined efforts on both sides of the continent, the end may still be obtained. In regard to this part of the voyage, no extracts can be made. The whole is interesting in the highest degree, but it must be read as a whole.

After waiting as long as his instructions permitted, Captain Beechey gave up the hope of meeting Captain Franklin, and once more turned towards the south. Pursuing his survey through many parts of the northern Pacific, he at length reached Cali fornia; where, during his stay for the purpose of procuring supplies, he obtained an immense mass of information concerning a country very little known. The extraordinary neglect of the Spanish government, in regard to an extensive and fertile dependency, blessed with a delightful climate and a rich productive soil, first calls Captain Beechey's at tention; and, indeed, it is a curious

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