ments, and nothing in return to sweeten the cup oflife. I cannot avoid
repeating my conviction that had the advisers of Pomarree limited the
penal code at first, and extended it as it became familiar to the people ;
had they restricted instead of suppressed the amusements of the
people, and taught them such parts of the Christian religion as were
intelligible to their simple understandings, and were most conducive
to their moral improvement and domestic comfort, these zealous and
really praiseworthy men would have made greater advances towards
the attainment of their object.
If in offering these remarks it should be thought 1 have been
severe upon the failings of the people, or upon the conduct of the
missionary gentlemen, I have only to say, that I have felt myself called
upon to declare the truth, which I trust has been done without any
invidious feeling to either ; indeed, I experienced nothing during my
stay that could create such a feeling, but very much to the contrary, as
both my officers and myself received every possible kindness from
them. And if I have pourtrayed their errors more minutely than their
virtues, it has been done with a view to show, that although the condition
of the people is much improved, they are not yet blessed with
that state of innocence and domestic comfort of which we have read. It
would have been far more agreeable to have dwelt on the fair side of
their character only, but that has already been done, and by following
the same course I should only have increased the general misconception.
At the time of our arrival, the rainy season, which had been somewhat
protracted, was scarcely over. Its proper period is December,
.lanuary, and February. So much wet weather in the height of summer
is always the occasion of fevers, and together with the abundance
of vee-apples (spondias dulcis), which ripen about that period, produce
dysentery and sickness among the poorer class of inhabitants, several of
whom were labouring under these and other complaints during our
stay. Miserable indeed was the condition of many of them. They
retired from their usual abode and the society of their friends, and
erected huts for themselves in the woods, in which they dwelt, until
death terminated their sufferings. The missionaries and resident
Europeans strove as much as was in their power to alleviate these distresses
; but the natives were so improvident and careless that the
medicine often did them harm rather than good, and many preferred
their ow'n simple pharmacopoeia, and thus fell victims to their ignorance.
Our own ship’s company improved upon the abundance offish and
vegetable diet ; but from what afterwards occurred, I am disposed to
think the change from their former food, to so much vegetable substance
was very injurious. Eegard to this subject ought not to be overlooked
in vessels circumstanced as the Blossom was.
The winds during our stay were principally from the eastward,
freshening in the forenoon and moderating toward sun-set to a calm,
or giving place to a light breeze off the land, which sometimes prevailed
through the night. This effect upon the trade-wind, by comparatively
so small a tract of coast, shows the powerful influence of the land upon
the atmosphere.
In the height of summer, or during the rainy season, the winds fly
round to the YY". and N. YY". and blow in gales or hard squalls, which it
is necessary to guard against in anchoring upon the north-western coast,
particularly at Matavai Bay, which is quite open to those quarters. The
mean temperature of the atmosphere during our stay was 79° 98', the
minimum 75°, and maximum 87°.
The many excellent ports in Otaheite have been enumerated by
Captain Cook, though he only made use of one, Matavai Bay, and that
which was most exposed ; in consequence, probably, of the facility of putting
to sea. Those on the north-western coast are the most frequented,
as some difficulty of getting out and in attends most of the others, particularly
those in the south-western side of the island, which are subject
to a constant heavy swell from the higher latitudes, and in the
long calms that prevail under the lee of the island, are apt to endanger
vessels approaching the reefs. Of the four on the north-western coast,
viz. Matavai, Papawa, Toanoa, and Papiété, the last is the most
common anchorage, and were it not that it is subject to long calms
and very hot weather, in consequence of being more to leeward than
the others, it would certainly be the best. Toanoa is very small, but
conveniently adapted to the refit of one or two ships. The best port
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