134 A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
exhibition. Thefe, in particular, complained much of their difappoint-
1 ment! to which I replied, their concern was by no means unpleafant to
me, as it gave me reafon to hope it would operate to prevent the caufe
of it in future; and that, if thefts, and other breaches o f confidence had
not been committed, and fanftioned, as I was confident they had been
by the chiefs themfelves, I fhould not have been under the painful ne-
ceffity of denying them the promifed entertainment, and we fhould have
parted much better friends. On the arrival o f another fhip, I trufted,
from this difappointment, they would all be taught to conduH them-
felves with more fidelity.
Pomurrey and his wives remained on board all night. The next
morning brought no tidings of the linen. On refleaing that, without
ufing rigorous meafures, which, in all probability, would fall more on
the innocent who were in our power, than on the guilty, who were at a
diftance, there did not appear the moft remote profpea, o f regaining
this property ; and as we had now a favorable breeze from the eaftward,
Tuefday z4. and could ill afford a longer detention, about ten in tire .forenoon we
failed out of the bay. Pomurrey and his wives were our guefts until we
were beyond the reefs : they were now prefen ted with an affortment of
valuables, which afforded them the highefl fatisfaHion; and Pomurrey
requefting as a particular favor that they might be faluted on leaving the
lhip, they took a very friendly and affeftionate leave, and were complimented
agreeably to his wifhes. Whytooa had alfo accompanied Mr.
Broughton in the Chatham; who, after we were out, brought him
on board the Difcovery, with an affortment o f filch articles, as he
conceived Whytooa. intitled to, for his hofpitable attention, and the
Jarge quantity of provifions, See. &c. which he had fupplied, without
having as yet received the leaft return: but as I had repeatedly declared
Whytooa fhould receive no prefent, unlefs the linen was reftored, my ultimate
decifion was now requefled. On confidefing, that, poffibly, it
might not have been in his power to recover the linen, and that, equity
demanded he fhould be paid for the fupplies which he had furnifhed, I
confented to his receiving in return, fuch articles as were deemed fairly
equal in point of value; but he was not prefented with any thing from
me,
R O U N D T H E W O R L D . 1 or
me, although I had promifed him feveral valuable implements. Thefe
were again enumerated, the reafon of their being with-held fully explained,
and fhewn to have arifen from his not having aided towards Mr.
Broughton with that propriety which had been obferved in the conduft
of his royal brothers towards me.
I am well aware that our vifit to this country will fill the mquifitive
mind with the expeftation of acquiring much additional information,
relative to a people whofe fituation and condition have been long the
fubjefts of curious inveftigation; but the fhortnefs of our flay, and various
concurring circumftances afforded little opportunity to gratify fuch
defires.
The veneration thefe people entertain for the names of their fövéreigns,
has been already very juftly related by Mr. Anderfon. But no example,
I believe, had then appeared to that judicious obferver, o f the extent to
which this refpebl is carried. On Otoo’s acceflion to the Ma.ro*, a very
confiderable alteration took place in their language, particularly in the
proper names of all the chiefs, to which however it was not folely confined,
but extended to no lefs than forty of fifty of the moft common
words which ocGur in converfation, and bearing not the leaft affinity
whatever to the former expreffions.
This new language every inhabitant is under the neeeflity of adopting.
as any negligence or contempt of it is punifhed with the greateft feve-
rity. Their former expreffions- were, however, retained in their recol-
leftion; and, for our better communication, were, I believe, permitted to
be ufed in converfation with us, without incurring difpleafure. Pomurrey
however would frequently correft me on my accidentally ufing the former
mode of expreffion, faying, I knew it was wrong, and ought not to
praftife it. Were fuch a pernicious innovation to take place, generally;
at the arbitrary will o f the fovereigns throughout the South-Sea iflands, it
would be attended with infurmountable difficulties to ftrangers; but it appears
to be a new regulation, and, as yet, confined to thefe iflands, or it
would be impoffible to reconcile the affinity which has been hitherto found
to fubfift in the language of different parts of the Great South-Sea
nation. The new-fafhioned words produce a very material difference in
thofe
* Or girdle
of royalty;
f
im