On These Plantations Men, Women, And Children Were Employed.
In the afternoon I went on shore, and, on a large tree, which stood close
to the shore, near
The watering-place, had an inscription cut, setting
forth the ship's name, date, &c. as a testimony of our being the first
discoverers of this country, as I had done at all others, at which we had
touched, where this ceremony was necessary. This being done, we took leave
of our friends, and returned on board; when I ordered all the boats to be
hoisted in, in order to be ready to put to sea in the morning.
[1] "The land, when discovered, appeared to be very high, and its
distance from us was about eight leagues, being seen through a haze,
which made it appear farther off than it really was. M. de
Bougainville takes notice of meeting with a part of the sea which was
entirely smooth, and where several pieces of wood and fruits floated
past his ship. This was nearly to the N.W. of the land which we now
discovered, and which, as an able and intelligent navigator, he had
conjectured to be in that direction." - G.F.
[2] A very striking proof of this is mentioned by Mr G.F. These
people, he says, laid some of their canoes on both sides of the
channel, in a place where it was narrow, and then beckoned to the
boats to keep in the middle between them. According to this gentleman,
the face of the country had a barren appearance, and was covered with
a sort of whitish grass, and trees somewhat resembling willows were
thinly spread on the mountains. - E.
[3] Mr. G.F. who shot the duck, tells us, that the natives expressed
some admiration, but not the smallest fear, at the report and effects
of the firearms. - E.
[4] "The whole plantation we saw, had a very scanty appearance, and
seemed to be insufficient to afford nourishment to the inhabitants
throughout the year. We entirely missed that variety of fruits, which
we had hitherto met with in the tropical islands, and naturally
recollected the poverty of the inhabitants of Easter Island, above
whom it appeared, that the people before us enjoyed but few
advantages. Towards the hills, of which the first risings were at the
distance of about two miles, the country looked extremely dreary; here
and there, indeed, we saw a few trees, and small uncultivated spots,
but they appeared to be lost on the great extent of barren and
unprofitable country, which resembled our moors more than any thing
else." - G.F.
[5] Mr G.F., who seems to have accompanied the watering-party, gives
the following account of the appearance of the country. - "We walked
along the beach which was sandy, and bounded by a fine wild shrubbery;
we soon came to a hut, from whence a number of plantations extended to
the back of the bank and wild wood. We rambled into the country, and
came to a canal that watered this plantation, but of which the water
was very brackish.
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