In This
Map We Found All The Names Now Mentioned, Except Two; But If His
Drawing Had Been Exact, Our Ships Must Have Sailed Over A Number Of
The Islands Which He Had Laid Down.
It is therefore very probable,
that the vanity of appearing more intelligent than he really was, had
prompted him to produce this fancied chart of the South Sea, and
perhaps to invent many of the names of islands in it, which amounted
to more than fifty." - G.F.
[2] Some of our readers might be profited, perhaps, by considering the
moral of the following incident, which occurred at this play. - "Among
the spectators we observed several of the prettiest women of this
country; and one of them was remarkable for the whitest complexion we
had ever seen on all these islands. Her colour resembled that of white
wax a little sullied, without having the least appearance of sickness,
which that hue commonly conveys; and her fine black eyes and hair
contrasted so well with it, that she was admired by us all. She
received at first a number of little presents, which were so many
marks of homage paid at the shrine of beauty; but her success, instead
of gratifying, only sharpened her love of trinkets, and she
incessantly importuned every one of us, as long as she suspected we
had a single bead left. One of the gentlemen fortunately happened to
have a little padlock in his hand, which she begged for as soon as she
had perceived it. After denying it for some time, he consented to give
it her, and locked it in her ear, assuring her that was its proper
place. She was pleased for some time; but finding it too heavy,
desired him to unlock it. He flung away the key, giving her to
understand, at the same time, that he had made her the present at her
own desire, and that if she found it encumbered her, she should bear
it as a punishment for importuning us with her petitions. She was
disconsolate upon this refusal, and weeping bitterly, applied to us
all to open the padlock; but if we had been willing, we were not able
to comply with her request, for want of the key. She applied to the
chief, and he as well as his wife, son, and daughter, joined in
praying for the release of her ear: They offered cloth, perfume-wood,
and hogs, but all in vain. At last a small key was found to open the
padlock, which put an end to the poor girl's lamentation, and restored
peace and tranquillity among all her friends. Her adventure had,
however, this good effect, that it cured her, and some of her forward
country-women, of this idle habit of begging." - G.F.
SECTION XIV.
An Account of a Spanish Ship visiting Otaheite; the present State of the
Islands; with some Observations on the Diseases and Customs of the
Inhabitants; and some Mistakes concerning the Women corrected.
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