3 ^ 4
bark, compiled by Dr. Hawkefworth (vol. II. from page
i 84 to page 248). All the merit of the preceding pages
concerning the ifle of Taheitee, muft therefore confift in a
few gleanings and elucidations on feveral fubjedts. However,
I am in hopes that the particular point of view in
which I have beheld, and confequently reprefented circum-
fiances already familiar to the reader from former accounts,
will not prove uninterefting, and may in lèverai inffances
fuggefi new and valuable refledlions.
The breeze with which we failed was fo moderate, that
we continued near the fliore the whole evening, and were
able to difiinguifh the exuberant fcenery of the plain, beautiful
enough, even at this dead feafon of winter, to vie
with the richeff landfcapes, which nature has laviflied on
different parts of the globe. Its fertile foil, and genial
climate, which produces all forts of nutritive vegetables
almoft fpontaneoufly, infures the felicity of its inhabitants.
Allowing for the imperfeft Rate Of fublunary happinefs,
which is comparative at beffi, there are not, I believe,
many nations exifling whofe fituation is fo defirable.
Where the means of fubfifience are fo eafy, and the wants
of the people fo few, it is natural that the great purpofe
of human life, that of multiplying the number of rational
beings, is not loaded with that multitude of miferies
which are attendant upon the married Rate in civilized
countries. The'impulfes of nature are therefore followed
without
without reflraint, and the confeqiaence is a great popula- September.
tion, in proportion to the fmall part of the ifland which is
cultivated. The plains and narrow vallies- are now the
only inhabited parts, though many of the hills are very fit
for culture, and capable of fupporting an infinite number
of people. Perhaps, in eourfe of time, if the population
fhould encreafe confiderably, the natives may have re-
courfe to thefe parts, which are now in a manner ufelefs
and fuperfluous. The evident diflindtion of ranks which
fubfifis at Taheitee, does not fo materially affect the felicity
of the nation, as we might have fuppofed. Under one
general fovereign, the people are diflinguilhed into the
clafles of aree, manahouna, and towtow, which bear fome
diflant relation to thofe of the feudal fyffems of Europe.
The fimplicity of their whole life contributes to foften
thefe difiindtions, and to reduce them to a level. Where
the climate and the cuflom of the country do not abfolute-
ly require a perfect garment *, where it i_s eafy at every Rep
to gather as many plants as form not only a decent, but
likewife a cufiomary covering ; and where all the necelfa-
ries of life are within the reach of every individual, at the
expence of a trifling labour, ambition and envy muff in a
great meafure be unknown. It is true, the higher claffes
of people pofiefs fome dainty articles, fuch as pork, fifh,
fowl, and doth almoR exclufively ; but the defire of indulging
the appetite in a few trifling luxuries, can at moft
render