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50 ANNUAL REGISTER
himself from her, and went on board the frigate.

By M. De B.'s chart, the island of Taiti (or Otahitee) is in latitude 17d. 10m. S. and on longitude 147 d. 32m. W. from London. —— He ascribes to our countrymen the introduction of a certain disease, which, it seems, has been naturalized in this island*; whose females being as beautiful, and also as compliant, as the Grecian Venus, occasioned the French at first to style it, New Cythera. Its latest European visitors have been Mr. Bankes and Dr. Solander; and of their researches in their last voyage, as well as in that which they are now undertaking, the highest expectations are justly formed.

In Taiti there are two races of men. The first, which is the most numerous, produces men of the greatest size, six feet high and upwards, perfectly well made and proportioned. Their hair, in general, is black; and, if they were less exposed to the sun and air, they would be as white as Europeans. Those of the second race are of a middle size; their hair is frizzled and as hard as bristles; and, in colour and features, they much resemble Mulattoes. Aotourou is of the second race, though his father is chief of a district, his mother being a captive from Oopoa, an island near Taiti, which is often at war with it. The difference of these races is ascribed by the author to this mixture. 

Aotourou, while he was among the French, knew and named several of their fruits and greens, and a considerable number of hot-house plants. He informed them, also, that his countrymen are, in general, very superstitious; that the priests have the highest authority among them; that, besides a superior being, name Eri-t'-Era, King of the Sun or of Light, and whom they do not represent by any material image, they have several divinities, some beneficent, others mischievous; that they suppose (like the ancient Manichees) that, at each important action of life, a good and evil genius preside, and that they determine its good or bad success; and that, when the moon has a certain aspect, which they call Moon in State of war, they sacrifice human victims. 

During the voyage, this islander pronounced every thing that struck him, in rhythmatic stanzas, a kind of blank verse, which he spoke extempore. — These were his annals, and it seems as if his language furnished him with expressions sufficient to describe many objects unknown to him. The third night after their leaving Taiti, being very starry, Aotourou, pointing at the bright star in Orion's shoulder, made them understand, that "they should direct their course upon it, and that, in two days time, they would find a fruitful country, well known to him, and where he had friends, and a child; that it abounded with fowls, hogs, plantains, cocoa-trees, and, above all, kind a handsome women:" and, being vexed at M. de B's not altering his course, he ran to the wheel of the helm, the use of which

*The injury which the crew of the Endeavour received there, is, in like manner, ascribed by one of them to the French; but for this, we doubt, the first discoverers are accountable.
he

For the YEAR 1772.  51

he had already learned, and endeavoured, in spite of the helmsman, to change it, and steer directly on the abovementioned star. He could scarce be quieted, and was greatly chagrined. Next morning, at day break, he climbed up the mast, and staid there all morning, always looking towards the desired land. — Some islands, which they saw May 3, being out of his knowledge, he imagined them to be France; their inhabitants did not understand his language. A sailor being bit by a water-snake on the coast  of New Britain, the Taiti-man was very attentive to his sickness and cure, as at Taiti every one who was thus bit died (he said) of the wound; and he was a surprised to see the sailor return to his work in four or five days. When he examined the productions of art, and the various methods by which they augment our faculties, and increase our strength, he would often fall into an extacy, and blush for his own country, saying with grief, "Aouaou Taiti, Fye upon Taiti." However, he did not like to express that he felt this superiority, being proud and haughty, though supple....

At the island of Boero, great was the surprize which Aotourou expressed at  seeing men dressed like the French; houses, gardens, domestic animals, &c. he was never tired with looking at those new objects: above all, he was charmed with that hospitality, which was there exercised with an air of sincerity and acquaintance. As he did not see any exchanges made, he supposed that the Dutch gave every thing without being paid for it. He told them, very sensibly, that in his country he was a chief, and that he had undertaken this voyage, with his friends, for this own pleasure. In his visits, at table, and in walking, he endeavoured exactly to imitate the French, As M. de Bouganville did not take him on the first visit to the chief, he imagined it was because his knees are distorted, and would have had some sailors get upon them, to set them right. He often asked, whether Paris was as fine as Boero. 

At Batavia, the Taiti-man, though secured for some time from the influence of the climate by the extasy into which every thing that he saw threw him, fell sick during the last days, and his illness was of a long duration, though his docility in taking physic, was equal to that of a Parisian. However, when he afterwards spoke of Batavia, he always called it, "the land which kills; enoua maté*."... On his arrival Paris, in March 1769, M. de Bouganville spared neither money nor trouble to make Aotourou's stay there agreeable and useful to him. He resided there eleven months, all which time he seemed not in the least tired of his stay. All ranks of people were curious to see him. Some conceived a mean idea of him, because, after living two years with Frenchmen, he could scarce speak a few words of the language, not considering, that, besides a physical defect in his organs of speech, discovered on examination by M. Periere †, which prevented this islander from pro-

* The two natives of Taiti, who embarked on board the Endeavour, died at Batavia.

† Celebrated for teaching persons born deaf and dumb, to speak. 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-12 14:12:53 substituted 's' for '⌠' for legibility