A R T S
AND
SCIENCES
opinion we often were confirmed, when they pointed out to us,
the differences in the ipecies o f plants; by the variety o f flowers,
the fhape o f the leaves, & c. & c . *
From the above oblervations we learn, that on account of
wounds and difeafes, mankind was firft led to fe.ek after remedies,
by the examination o f plants; and by attending moreaccurately to
the parts affedted by pain, to enquire into the interior' ftrudture o f
the human body. T h e want o f happinefs and enjoyment, prompted
man to exert his induftry and talents, in order to find out the means
o f reftoring the lofs o f health and ftrength. Th e confcioufnefs
o f his own weaknefs, rouzed him from his original: indolence,
and fpurred him on to the exertion o f induftry, to the examination
and ftudy ofhimfelf, and the objedts furrounding him, and to feek
for afliftance in that very nature, o f which he himfelf conftitutes lb
confiderable a part.
T h e prefervation o f the memory o f tranfaftions and men is
not quite negledted in Taheitee, . for they are able, to give a good
account o f the things which happened in their ifle j but this can
only be faid o f the moft recent tranfadtions for as they take no
care to number their own years, they likewife are unable to %
h ow lo n g i t is f in c e an accident happened, all that they can do
is to fay that fuch a thing happened in my grand-father’s, or
great
They are likwifc acquainted with (he
lexual fylUm, cfpecialiy in the coco-palm.
great grand-father’s time. The remarkable events; and the names a r t s
a n d
o f perfons whole memory is deemed worth: preferving, are s c i e n c e s
recorded in verfes o f their own making,, and occafionally fung,
which form the rude annals o f their h i s t o r y . In this refpedt,
the Taheiteans are fimilar to all other'nations, who have not the
art o f writing, or of' perpetuating their ideas, the deeds o f their
great men, and the remarkable, events which happen among
them.
T h e . next branches o ff fcience, o f which the inhabitants o f
Taheitee and its neighbourhood have dome knowledge, are a s t r o n
o m y , g e o g r a p h y , and n a v i g a t i o n '. I, mention thele
three fciencqs p.urpplely, together,, as they are clofely connedted,,
and as the knowledge o f the two firft has been made. fubferyient
to the laft j and I believe likewife,. that by their navigation they
learnt fo. much of: geography as they are acquainted with, and-
perhaps would not have attempted to ob'ferve the heavens, had, i t
not been for the Angle purpofe of diredting them in th e ir navigations
to remote parts. So that neceffity, notVmere curiofity
only, led them to thaobfervation of the heavens, . For as they are.
obliged to go now and then to the neighbouring, illes, it oftem,
happens that a ftorm,furprizes thematfea, and drives them far from-
their intended courfe, and feparates them from their home, which*
they never would fee again, had they not acquired fome knowledge;
o f .