lxii
p. 228.
p. 232.
P- 233.
P- 233.
P- 237.
F* 238.
P- 235-
I have frequently, fays Monfieur Bougainville, been in the interior parts of
the ifland, and thought myfelf tranfported into the Garden of Eden. A numerous
people there enjoy the bleflings which nature ihowers liberally down upon
them. Every where we found hofpitality, eafe, and every appearance of
h.appinefs, among them.
On the i2th, the wind blowingt violently from the fouth, the Boudeufe
parted from fome of her anchors, and was in danger of driving 00
the ihore. And while Monfieur Bougainville was bufily occupied with,
a piece of work on which the fafety of his people depended, he was
informed that three of the natives had been killed or wounded with bayonets,
in their huts; that the alarm was fpread in the country; that the old men,
women, and children, were fled towards the mountains with their goods, and
even with the bodies of the dead; and that he ihould perhaps be attacked by
an army of thefe enraged men. This gave him room to fear a war on ihore,
at the very moment when both ihips were upon the point of being ftranded.
He therefore went immediately to the camp, and, in the prefence o f the Chief,
put four foldiers in irons, who were fufpedted to be the authors of the crime.
Thefe proceedings feemed to content the natives,: and happily the night palled
very quietly in the camp, excepting fome alarms, occafioned by thieves..
From ten o’clock in the evening the wind freihened very much from the
eaft, attended with a heavy fwell, rain, tempeil, and every fad appearance that
could augment the horror of-their fituation. After combating great difficulties,
and running the moil imminent hazard qf ihipwreck, for two days, on
the 14th the Etoile got without the reef; apd on the 15th having toiled all
day and part of the night to complete their water, and to remove the hofpital
and camp, the Boudeufe joined her.
When the day had' appeared, on the 13th, no Indian came near the camp,
not a fingle periagua was feen failing, all the neighbPuring houfes were abandoned,
and the whole country appeared as a defert. But the Prince of Naflau,
who was on ihore, found means to renew the confidence of the~ nativesLsand
they brought more refreihments to the camp than ever.
Before
Before Monfieur Bougainville was thus forced away by the weather, he buried, p* 238.
near the ihed that had been their hofpital, an adl of taking pofleffion of the
country infcribed on an oak plank, and a bottle well corked and glued, containing
the names of the officers of both ihips; and he followed the fame
method in regard to all the lands difcovered during this voyage.
When Ereti perceived the ihips were under fail, at day break, he leaped alone P* 240»
into the firil periagua he could find at the ihore, and came on board. He
there embraced them all, held them fome moments in his armsy- ihedding tears
and appearing much affedted at their departure. Soon after, his great periagua
came on board, laden with refreihments of all kindsv In it.were his wives,
and with them an iilander, who had lodged on board the Etoile on their firil
arrival. Ereti prefented this man, whofe name was Aotourou, to Monfieur Bou- P*'24r.
gainville, giving him lo underiland that he defired to go with him, and begging
him to confent to it. He then prefented him to each of the officers, telling
them that he was one of his-friends, whom he entrufied with thofe who were
likewife his friends, and recommending, him to them with the greateil fighs of
concern. They now made Ereti more prefents; of all forts; after which he
took leave of them, and returned to his wives, who did not ceafe to weep all
the time of the periagua’s being along-fide of them.
This ifland, which Monfieur Bougainville at firil called New Cythera, and P- 242.
fays, it is known by the name of Taiti among its inhabitants, is known
to the Engliih navigators by the name of Otaheite; and was difcovered,
as already obferved, by Captain Wallis, in June 1767; and who, on taking pof-
feffion of it for his Majeily, named it King George the Third’s Ifland. As
this place is fo particularly defcribed in the following pages, and the account-
given of its inhabitants by Monfieur Bougainville, according to his tranflator,*
abounds with miftakes; the reader is referre4 to the defcription hereafter given,
Monfieur Bougainville here informs us, that he learnt from Aotourou, the native p. 273.
he brought away with him, .that about eight months before Ms arrival at this
place an Engliih ihip had touched there. It is, he continues, the fame which
was commanded by Mr. Wallis. The fame chance by which we'have difcovered
* Vide Forfter’s Tranflatioh, note, page 221.
this
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