They Had Not The Least Knowledge Of Any Other
European Nation, Nor Probably Will They, Unless Some Of Those Men Should
Return Who Had Lately Gone From The Isle, Of Which Mention Shall Be Made
Bye And Bye.
We told several of them, that M. de Bougainville came from
France, a name they could by no means
Pronounce; nor could they pronounce
that of Paris much better; so that it is not likely that they will remember
either the one or the other long; whereas Pretane is in every
child's mouth, and will hardly ever be forgotten. It was not till the
evening of this day that we arrived in Matavai bay.
[1] Perhaps few descriptions of natural scenery excel the following,
in real poetic effect: - "It was one of those beautiful mornings which
the poets of all nations have attempted to describe, when we saw the
isle of Otaheite, within two miles before us. The east-wind which had
carried us so far, was entirely vanished, and a faint breeze only
wafted a delicious perfume from the land, and curled the surface of
the sea. The mountains, clothed with forests, rose majestic in various
spiry forms, on which we already perceived the light of the rising
sun: Nearer to the eye a lower range of hills, easier of ascent,
appeared, wooded like the former, and coloured with several pleasing
hues of green, soberly mixed with autumnal browns. At their foot lay
the plain, crowned with its fertile bread-fruit trees, over which rose
innumerable palms, the princes of the grove.
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