as well as to several other of their powerful
chiefs, respecting the erection of a small fort
with a British garrison, and of permanently
hoisting the English flag. They always expressed
the utmost delight at the idea; and,
from all I have seen of them, I feel convinced
it would prove a most politic measure.
George (who had visited Port Jackson) said,
“ This country is finer than Port Jackson;
yet the English go and settle there. Our
people are much better than the black natives
of New South Wales; and yet you English
live amongst them in preference to us.”
The ship “ Anne,” Captain Gray, was out
three years, and during that period she never
entered a civilised port. She had touched
twice at this bay, and had cruized four
months on the coast of Japan, oft' Timor,
through the Sandwich and Friendly Islands,
and passed several times over the Pacific
Ocean, in order to obtain a cargo of sperm
oil, which she at length accomplished; and
wras at this time here to refit for her voyage
home to England round Cape Horn, having
picked up most of her cargo off this port.
For twelve years past, notwithstanding all
the disadvantages, this has been the favourite
resort for ships in the above-mentioned trade.
Here, surrounded with savages and cannibals,
they heave down their vessels, land the
cargoes and stores, and carry on work, both
on board and on shore, in tolerable security.
The safety of the harbour, the facility of
wooding and watering, the supplies of pigs
and potatoes, tempt them to run the risk of
placing themselves in the power of capricious
and barbarous people.
It has been imagined that the residence of
missionaries would have the effect of civilising
the natives, and adding to the safety of ships
touching here; but experience fully proves
the fallacy of such an expectation. These
people, abstracted by their own gloomy reflections,
look with contempt on all who are
in the pursuit of “ worldly wealth;” and
regard the arrival of a whaler as an enemy
coming to interfere with the spiritual interests
of “ their flock,” as they term the inhabitants;
though I never yet saw one proselyte of their
converting.