University of Virginia Library

PREFACE.

More than three years have elapsed since the occurrence of the
events recorded in this volume. The interval, with the exception
of the last few months, has been chiefly spent by the author tossing
about on the wide ocean. Sailors are the only class of men who
now-a-days see anything like stirring adventure; and many things
which to fire-side people appear strange and romantic, to them
seem as common-place as a jacket out at elbows. Yet, notwithstanding
the familiarity of sailors with all sorts of curious adventure,
the incidents recorded in the following pages have
often served, when "spun as a yarn," not only to relieve the
weariness of many a night-watch at sea, but to excite the warmest
sympathies of the author's shipmates. He has been therefore
led to think that his story could scarcely fail to interest those
who are less familiar than the sailor with a life of adventure.

In his account of the singular and interesting people among
whom he was thrown, it will be observed that he chiefly treats
of their more obvious peculiarities; and, in describing their customs,
refrains in most cases from entering into explanations concerning
their origin and purposes. As writers of travels among
barbarous communities are generally very diffuse on these subjects,
he deems it right to advert to what may be considered a
culpable omission. No one can be more sensible than the author
of his deficiencies in this and many other respects; but when the

very peculiar circumstances in which he was placed are understood,
he feels assured that all these omissions will be excused.

In very many published narratives no little degree of attention
is bestowed upon dates; but as the author lost all knowledge of
the days of the week, during the occurrence of the scenes herein
related, he hopes that the reader will charitably pass over his
shortcomings in this particular.

In the Polynesian words used in this volume—except in those
cases where the spelling has been previously determined by
others—that form of orthography has been employed, which
might be supposed most easily to convey their sound to a
stranger. In several works descriptive of the islands in the
Pacific, many of the most beautiful combinations of vocal sounds
have been altogether lost to the ear of the reader by an over-attention
to the ordinary rules of spelling.

There are a few passages in the ensuing chapters which may
be thought to bear rather hard upon a reverend order of men,
the account of whose proceedings in different quarters of the
globe—transmitted to us through their own hands—very generally,
and often very deservedly, receives high commendation.
Such passages will be found, however, to be based upon facts
admitting of no contradiction, and which have come immediately
under the writer's cognizance. The conclusions deduced from
these facts are unavoidable, and in stating them the author has
been influenced by no feeling of animosity, either to the individuals
themselves or to that glorious cause which has not
always been served by the proceedings of some of its advocates.

The great interest with which the important events lately
occurring at the Sandwich, Marquesas, and Society Islands, have
been regarded in America and England, and indeed throughout
the world, will, he trusts, justify a few otherwise unwarrantable
digressions.

There are some things related in the narrative which will be
sure to appear strange, or perhaps entirely incomprehensible,
to the reader; but they cannot appear more so to him than they
did to the author at the time. He has stated such matters just
as they occurred, and leaves every one to form his own opinion
concerning them; trusting that his anxious desire to speak the
unvarnished truth will gain for him the confidence of his
readers.