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[Page 7]
513 T H E G O S P E L M A G A Z I N E.
dently as a part of the crew : among his countrymen he was of the lowest rank ; and when the first Missionaries were landed on the Island in 1797, he had a wife and a female child; he was not then a youth of eighteen, but much older, as his present appearance will prove; he attached himself to a worthy Missionary, Mr. Henry Bicknell, by trade a house carpenter, I believe became his tayo, or friend; and from him learned to saw planks, used in improving the house given to the Missionaries on their landing. Mr. Kelso is not acquainted with the native language of Tapeoee, nor do I believe him a judge of the progress made by the latter in that of Tongaraboo. On my visiting the Missionaries at Otaheite, four years after their landing, it was found that Mr. Nott only had mastered that language, which at first appeared so easy to attain, but of which I am certain no man in England, the Otaheitans excepted, know any thing worth speaking of. On Tapeoee's leaving Otaheite the Betsey proceeded on her voyage, and put into Port Jackson, that same season, for refreshments. It was then Mr. Cover saw Tapeoee; and, with respect to the testimonials spoken of, "good fidelity" means, in the South Seas, that he stole nothing from them; but, though I always esteemed Mr. Cover for his abilities, I must observe that the words support, protection, and good character, are of difficult meaning (as here expressed) to those who have been on the Island. In Otaheite the bringing a pig may be named support - baking it, comfort - and prevention of disappointment, at the dinner hour by vigilance, may with propriety be called protection. Any higher definition of these words the Missionaries completely commanded when the state of the district they lived in afforded it.
But, if the Chief of Otaheite had been so wrought upon by the efforts of the Missionaries, or a higher cause, within' less than a year from their landing, to dispatch a select person to be educated at the fountain head in the knowledge of Christianity, would not this have been a matter of joy to the Missionaries, who remained in the face of danger, realized only by precipitate departure of their brethren? Would they not have advised the Society of this event; have recorded it on their journals? Undoubtedly they would, with pleasure to themselves, and as satisfaction to their friends, who have, to this hour, without blaming looked for this desirable accomplishment. Would not Mr. Cover, (I am sure he would) have called a meeting of the Brethren, who, for personal safety, were then with him in Port Jackson, and said "Our brethren have wrought a great change in Otaheite, it is our duty to return to them" But no: there was no ground for any thing of this kind. All the facts relative to that mission are before the public ; and we may be satisfied that one so important as this in question would not be withheld. A few months after the Betsey left Port Jackson (observe he did not take a direct passage to England in his Majesty's ship Reliance, in company with the returning Missionaries) they were navigating among the Fegee [Fiji] Islands, where the ship was wrecked. Some of the crew never reached England ; but the similarities in Tapeoee to those natives served as passport to him. This shipwreck happened in our summer of 1799. The Fegee [Fiji] Islands have intercourse with the Friendly