1773-
©CT.OBER.
ferved in little fqqare cups made of banana-leaves curioufly
folded. At his defire, we were very politely prefented with-
this dainty beverage, and in pure civility tailed of it. It
had a naufeous iofipid tafte, which was afterwards followed
by a ftrong pungency, and its colour was fomewhat milky.
Th.e holy man took fuch large and frequent draughts of.,
this Huff every evening, as to become perfectly intoxicated.
No wonder then that his memory failed him, when he was-
at prayer Tee p. 4 £4.) that his whole habit of body was
lean and fcabby, his face wrinkled, and his eyes red, and
“ purging thick amber He had great authority among
all the people, and a number of fervants attended to fupply
him with replenilhed cups, The prefents which he received
from us,, he retained in his own cuftody, whereas
Attagha and feveral other chiefs, gave up to their fuperiors-
whatever the captains had prefented to them. The pneli
had,a daughter, who received many prefents from our people.
She was extremely well featured, and fairer than moll
of the women of this country, who feemed to pay her fome
degree of deference; A fairer complexion, and fofter features-
than thofe of the common people, are the natural effeHs of
an eafy inactive life, unexpoled to the blaze of a tropical fun;
and pampered with a profufion of the bell productions of the
country. Mull we not conclude therefore that the beginnings
of luxury will be introduced even here under the cloak of
Shakjefgeane.
4 6 9'
religion, and that another nation will be added to the many 0c'">;
dupes of voluptuous prieft-craft ? So fmall a fpark as the
cunning of a fingle man may in time kindle a dreadful
and irrefiftible fire!' The obedience and fubmiffion with
which thefe people revere their chiefs, are evident proofs
that their government, though perhaps not perfedlly def-
potic, is yet far from being democratical; and this kind of
political conftitution feems likely to facilitate the introduction
of luxury. This feems to hold good likewife in regard'
to many iflands in the weftern part of the Pacific Ocean,,
fince the faithful deferiptions of Schouten; Le Maire, and
Tafman, who vifited them, correfpond in every material
particular with our own obfervations. The general difpo-
fition for trading, and the kind and friendly reception.'
which flrangers have almoft conftantly met with in every-
ifland belonging to this group, prevailed upon us to give-
thefe difcoveries of Schouten and Tafman the name of the-
F riendly Islands. Schouten’s boats were indeed attacked
at Cocos, Traitors, Hope, and Horne Iflands ; but thefe-
atttacks were inconfiderable, though feverely punifhed on-
the part of the Dutch navigator, who, after the firft diftur-
bance at Horne Ifland, lay there nine days in perfedl good:
underftanding with the natives. Tafman, who twenty-
feven years afterwards faw feveral iflands near fix degrees-
to the fouthward of thofe which Schouten had vifited, was-
ueceived with every demonftration. of peace and friendlhip,.
though;