s78 A N A C C O U N T O F
1783. th e world could afford him.— He ran with eagernefs to Cap^-
3ECEMBER. W l LSONj to fhew him his riches, and, en raptured with
the-idea that Ms family fhoul'd fhare them with him, he, in
the utmoft agitation, intreated Captain Wilson would immediately
get him a ' Chinefe veffel, to carry his trealures to
Pelew, and deliver them to the King, that he might difi-
tribute them as he thought beft, and thereby f^what a
country the E nglifhhad conveyed him to ; adding, that
the people who carried them fhould tell the King, that
L e e Boo would foon fend him other prefents. He alfo
told Captain Wilson, that if the people faithfully exe-
cuted their charge, he would (independant of what Abba
T h u l l e would give them) prefent them at their.return
with one or two beads, as a reward for their fidelity,—-
Happy ffate of fimplicity and innocence, whofe pleafures
can be purchafed on fuch eafy terms, and whole felicity,
arifes from an ignorance of thole objects which difqui.£t the
human race, and agitate their paffions ! But one. gpievis to
think this fentiment cannot be indulged, without reflecting
how foon a knowledge o f the world deftroys the illufion of
this enviable enchantment!
In a few days. Captain Wilson received letters from the
fupra-cargoes, expreffing their concern for his misfortunes,
and the fatisfa&ion they received in his fafe return, with
his fhip’s company, after fo many perils; accompanying the
letters with a variety of neceffaries, and warm clothes, and
advifing
THE P E L EW ISLANDS. 279
advifing the difpofal of the veflel and ftores, as the Chinefe *783-
government would not adroit j of her coming up to Whampoa,
without paying duty and port charges to a confiderable
amount.
received letters, defiling him to fur-
nilh them with money* arid‘every thing elfe they might be
in'want of.—They alfo receivédcongratulatoryletters from
their particular friends, on their arrival at Macao, after the
hardftnps they had fiiftained; and thefe were accompanied
by other letters, from the commanders of feveral of the Company’s
fhips, kindly offering to accommodate them with a
palege4' tb. ENGLANDVr-And it would be anifeqtïfiieë to the
gratiftpde ;and feelings of Captain Wilson and his officers*'
ftipuld, tfle, recorder of thefe events-omit to mention .the
kind treatment they experienced from the Compahy’s/w^ra-
cargwsi from feveral Portuguefegzhxkxaen, inhabitants of
Macao.; and alfo from the Commodore of their fhips* who
being, almoft ready to fail for Europe, offered Captain Wilson,,'
with many kind expreffions, a paffage in his fhip, for'
himfelf, and fuch other perfons as he might-wilh to take
with him.
Whilft L ee Boo remained at Macao, he had frequent
opportunities of feeing people Of different nations-; and alfo
was fhewn three Englifh women, who having loft their hui
hands in India, had been fent from Madras thither, andwere