C H A P . ''®'T substitute for bread, as well as the bananas, plantains, and
*' ■ appai. Their common beverage is pure water, but they made for us a
Dec.
182.1.
tea, extracted from the tee-plant, flavoured with ginger, and sweetened
with the juice of the sugar-cane. When alone, this beverage and
fowl soup are used only for such as are ill. They seldom kill a
pig, but live mostly upon fruit and vegetables. The duty of saying
grace was performed by John Buffet, a recent settler among them,
and their clergyman; but if he was not present, it fell npon the eldest
of the company. Tliey have all a great dislike to spirits, in consequence
of M‘Coy having killed himself by too free an indulgence in i t ; but
wine in moderation is never refused. YYTth this simple diet, and being
in the daily habit of rising early, and taking a great deal of exercise in
the cultivation of their grounds, it was not surprising that we found
them so athletic and free from complaints. YYhen illness does occur,
their remedies are as simple as their manner of living, and are limited
to salt water, hot ginger tea, or abstinence, according to the nature of
the complaint. They have no medicines, nor do they appear to require
any, as these remedies have hitherto been found sufficient.
iVfter their noontide meal, if their grounds do not require their
attention, and the weather be fine, they go a little way out to sea
in their canoes, and catch fish, of which they have several kinds,
large, and sometimes in abundance; but it seldom happens that they
have this time to spare ; for the cultivation of the ground, repairing
their boats, houses, and making fishing.lines, with other employments,
generally occupy the whole of each day. At sunset they assemble at
prayers as before, first offering their orison and thanksgiving, and then
chaunling hymns. After this follows their evening meal, and at an
early hour, having again said their prayers, and chaunted the evening
hymn, they retire to re st; but before they sleep, each person again
offers up a short prayer upon his bed.
Such is the distribution of time among the grown people; the
younger part attend at school at regular hours, and are instructed iu
reading, na'iting, and arithmetic. They have very fortunately found
an able and willing master in John Buffet, who belonged to a ship
which visited the island, and was so infatuated with their behaviour,
being himself naturally of a devout and serious turn of mind, that he
resolved to remain among them ; and in addition to the instruction of
the children, has taken upon himself the duty of clergyman, and is the
oracle of the community *. During the whole time I w'as with them,
I never heard them indulge in a joke, or other levity, and the practice
of it is apt to give offence: they are so accustomed to take what is said
in its literal meaning, that irony was always considered a falsehood,
in spite of explanation. They could not see the propriety of uttering
what was not strictly true, for any purpose whatever.
The Sabbath-day is devoted entirely to prayer, reading, and serious
meditation. N o boat is allowed to quit the shore, nor any work whatever
to be done, cooking excepted, for which preparation is made the
preceding evening. I attended their church on this day, and found
the service well conducted; the prayers were read by Adams, and the
lessons by Buffet, the service being preceded by hymns. The greatest
devotion was apparent in every individual, and in the children tliere
was a seriousness unknown iu the younger part of our communities at
home. In the course of the Litany they prayed for their sovereign and
all the royal family with much apparent loyalty and sincerity. Some
family prayers, which were thought appropriate to their particular case,
were added to the usual service ; and Adams, fearful of leaving out any
essential part, read in addition all those prayers which are intended
only as substitutes for others. A sermon followed, which was very well
delivered by Buffet; and lest any part of it should be forgotten or
escape attention, it was read three times. The whole concluded with
hymns, which were first sung by the grown people, and afterwards
by the children. The service thus performed was very long; but the
neat and cleanly appearance of the congregation, the devotion that
animated every countenance, and the innocence and simplicity of the
little children, prevented the attendance from becoming wearisome.
In about half an hour afterwards we again assembled to prayers,
and at sunset service was repeated; so that, with their morning
CHAB.
IV.
Dec.
1823.
* A n o th e r s e am a n h a s s e ttle d am o n g s t th em , a n d is m a r r ie d to o ne o f A d am s ’s d a u g h te r s ;
b u t h e is n o t lik e d .