Mons. Bougainville now proceeds to a description of the beauties of the
interior parts of the island. He has often walked out, with only a few
attendants, and arrived at places enchanting beyond the power of pen or
pencil to paint. Trees abounding with fruit of the most delicious kinds,
were frequently found on meadows intersected by rivulets, which gave an
agreeable coolness to the air. On these enchanting spots numbers of the
natives revel in the profusive gifts of nature, unincumbered with the
cares of the busy world. Our author met with many little societies,
reposing at their ease, under the shade of trees, who welcomed the
strangers in the most friendly manner. Those he saw on his way made room
for his passage, with a degree of civility that would have done honour
to the most polished European; and in every place he found evident marks
of the content and happiness of the people; while he was treated with
the utmost hospitality.
Mons. Bougainville gave Ereti some ducks and geese, and a couple of
turkies, that he might raise a breed of those birds. He likewise
presented him with some garden seeds, and advised him to cultivate some
ground in the European manner; and a spot being fixed on by the French,
it was enclosed, and several of the crew employed in digging it. The
natives were much pleased with the implements of gardening, and happy in
having wheat, barley, oats, rice, &c. put into the ground; as were
likewise onions, and a variety of pot-herbs. The Commodore is of
opinion, that his generosity in this particular will not be thrown away,
as the people of Otaheite seem to have a taste for agriculture; and he
thinks they might soon be brought to cultivate, in a proper manner the
finest soil in the world: they have indeed a sort of kitchen gardens
near their huts, which produce yams, potatoes, and other edible roots.
Soon after the camp was formed, the Commodore was visited on board the
ship by _Toutaa_, the Chief of a district near that of Ereti, who was a
very tall man, and most admirably well made, he was attended by several
gentlemen, hardly one of whom was less than six feet in height. Toutaa
brought with him cloth, hogs, fowls and fruit, which he presented to
Mons. Bougainville, who complimented him with some silk stuffs,
trinkets, nails, &c.
Toutaa invited Mons. Bougainville to his house, where, in the midst of a
large assembly, he presented him with a fine young girl, whom the
Commodore conjectures to have been one of his wives; and the musicians
instantly began the bridal hymn:--but our author does not say what
farther passed on the occasion.
One of the Indians happening to be killed, his countrymen complained to
Mons. Bougainville of this violation of the rights of hospitality. The
dead body being conveyed to one of the huts, some persons were sent to
examine it, when it appeared, that he had fell by a gun-shot wound; on
which all possible enquiry was made after the offender, but he could not
be discovered; and how he came to be shot remained a mystery; for Mons.
Bougainville says, that none of the crew had that day left the ship with
fire-arms, nor had any of those on shore been permitted to leave the
camp. It was evident, however, that the natives in general conceived
their countryman to have been the aggressor; for their dealings with the
Europeans were not intermitted; but some few of them moved off their
furniture to the mountains, and even the house of Ereti was stripped;
but a few presents from the Commodore regained his friendship and
esteem.
Early in the morning of the 12th the cable of the Boudeuse parting, that
ship ran foul of the Etoile, but the vessels were happily got clear of
each other, before any damage had been sustained. A boat was now sent to
sound for some convenient passage, as the ships were in evident danger
of being driven on shore: and at this unfortunate juncture news arrived,
that three of the Indians had been either murdered or wounded in their
huts; and that, in consequence of this unhappy circumstance, a general
terror had seized the inhabitants. The women, children, and old men, had
fled up the country, taking their effects with them, and even carrying
off the bodies of the deceased. The Commodore, on receiving this
intelligence, went on shore, and selecting four marines, on whom rested
the suspicion of having perpetrated this foul deed, he ordered them to
be put into irons in the presence of Ereti, a circumstance that
re-conciliated the affection of the Indians.
Mons. Bougainville, apprehensive that the natives might revenge the
injury they had sustained in the persons of their countrymen, spent a
considerable part of the night at the camp, and gave orders for a
reinforcement of the guards. It is true, that the situation of the
French was every way so advantageous, that, in all probability, they
might have been an over-match for the united forces of the natives. The
night, however, was spent in perfect repose, except some slight alarms,
occasioned by thieving interlopers.
The Commodore’s concern arose more from the apprehended loss of his
ships, than from any hostile efforts that might be made by the Indians.
After ten at night the wind blew violently; the sea swelled to an
enormous height; the rain descended in torrents, and the whole scene was
tempestuous in a high degree.
Mons. Bougainville went on board soon after midnight, when a violent
squall of wind was driving the ships towards the shore. Providentially
the storm was soon over, and a breeze from the shore prevented the
vessels being stranded.
About day-break another cable, and the hawser of the Boudeuse parted,
when she was almost close on the shore, on which the surges beat with
unremitting fury. At this time too, as an aggravation of their
misfortunes, the buoys of the anchors were missing; but it is doubtful
whether the natives had stolen them, or whether they had sunk.
Some little time before noon another cable parted, and the Boudeuse
drove towards the shore. They now let go their sheet anchor, but it
could be of no service to them, as they were so near the breakers, that
the ship must have stranded before a sufficient length of cable could
have been veered out, to have given the anchor time to reach the bottom.
Thus situated, within a moment of despair, a wind off shore operated in
their favour; yet this wind soon changed, though not till it had enabled
them to get at a distance from the shore, by the help of a hawser, from
a stream-anchor of the Etoile, which ship happening to be anchored in
firmer ground than the Boudeuse, was, under providence, the great means
of saving that vessel and her crew from destruction. On occasion of this
singular escape, Mons. Bougainville pays a grateful compliment to Mons.
de la Giraudais, the Commander of the Etoile, to whose friendship and
abilities he deems himself greatly indebted for the preservation of the
Boudeuse.
Soon after day-light it was observed, that the camp was totally
destitute of its usual visitors: not an Indian was to be seen near it,
nor even a single boat sailing on the river. The natives had quitted
their houses, and the whole country appeared to be depopulated. The
prince of Nassau now went on shore with a small party, and, at about
three miles from the camp, found Ereti, with a considerable number of
his subjects. When the Chief recollected the Prince, he advanced towards
him with a mixed countenance, expressive of hope and terror.
Many women were now with Ereti, who dropping on their knees at the feet
of the Prince kissed his hands, and, bathed in tears, exclaimed, _Tayo,
maté_?