they look like a different race It requires a more than
ordinary quantity of food to fatisfy floraachs of unufual di-
menfions. Accordingly we find, that the mighty men at the
fiege of Troy, and the chiefs of Taheitee, are both famous
for-eating ; and it appears that pork was a diet no lefs admired
by the Greeks, than it is by the Taheitians at this day.
Simplicity of manners is obfervable in both nations; and
their domeftic character alike is hofpitable, affetflionate, and
humane. There is even a fimilarity in their political con-
ftitution. The chiefs of dill riels at Taheitee are powerful
princes, who have not, more refpedt for O-Too, than the
Greek heroes had for the “ King of me n a n d the common
people are fo little noticed in the Iliad, that they appear
to have had no greater confequence, than the towtows
in the South Sea. In Abort, I believe the fimilitude might
he traced in many other inftances ; but it was my intention
only to hint at it, and not to abufe the patience of my readers.
What I have here faid is fufficient to prove, that men
in a fimilar flate of civilization refemble each other more
than we are aware of, even in the moft oppofite extremes of
the world.- I fhould be forry to have made thefe flight
remarks, if they fhould unfortunately lead fome learned
fchemer on a wrong fcent. The itch of tracing the pedigree
» M. de Bougainville -has been led by this difference o f appearance to affert,
that they were really two different races. See his Voyage round the World,
p. 249.
of
of nations has lately made fuch havock in hiftory, by en-
deavouring to combine the Egyptians and Chinefe, that the
learned muft fmcerely wifli, it m a y .never become a contagious
diftemper. :
O-Too came on board, and dined with ns for the laft
time. He propofed to my father and Mr. Hodges to flay
at Taheitee, and promifed very ferioufly to make them arees
or chiefs of the rich diftricls of Parre and Matavai. Whether
he had any interefted motives for this propofal, or
whether it came merely from the fullnefs of his heart, I
cannot determine.' As foon as the dinner was over we.
weighed our anchor, and fet fail. O-Too requefted the captain
to fire fome cannon, and was. the hft Taheitian who
ftepped into his canoe, after cordially embracing us all.
The noife of the cannon, by Running; our ears in fome
meafure, diverted our thoughts from taking that melancholy
turn which is natural on thefe occafions. It prevented
our giving a loofe to the foft feelings with which
the worth of this Ample and beneficent nation had infpired
us; but it was a favourable opportunity for one of our fea-
men to make his efcape to the ifland. He was obferved
fwimming towards the fhore, and fome canoes were feen
paddling to his affiftance, when we difpatched a boat which
brought him back, much againft his inclinations. His frolic
coft him a fortnight’ s confinement in irons. There is great
reafon to fuppofe that a plan was concerted between him and
p a the