Dec. 



1825 



92 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, their attempt to make syrup from the tee-plant 

 {draccena terminal-is) and sugar-cane ; and the third, 

 a serious accident that happened to M'Coy, who fell 

 from a cocoa-nut tree and hurt his right thigh, 

 sprained both his ancles and wounded his side. The 

 occupations of the men continued similar to those 

 already related, occasionally enlivened by visits to 

 the opposite side of the island. They appear to have 

 been more sociable ; dining frequently at each other's 

 houses, and contributing more to the comfort of the 

 women, who, on their part, gave no ground for un- 

 easiness. There was also a mutual accommodation 

 amongst them in regard to provisions, of which a 

 regular account was taken. If one person was suc- 

 cessful in hunting, he lent the others as much meat 

 as they required, to be repaid at leisure ; and the 

 same occurred with yams, taros, &c, so that they 

 lived in a very domestic and tranquil state. 



It unfortunately happened that M'Coy had been 

 employed in a distillery in Scotland ; and being 

 very much addicted to liquor, he tried an experi- 

 ment with the tee-root, and on the 20th April, 1798, 

 succeeded in producing a bottle of ardent spirit. 

 This success induced his companion, Mathew Quin- 

 tal, to " alter his kettle into a still," a contrivance 

 which unfortunately succeeded too well, as frequent 

 intoxication was the consequence, with M'Coy in 

 particular, upon whom at length it produced fits of 

 delirium, in one of which, he threw himself from a 

 cliff and was killed. The melancholy fate of this 

 man created so forcible an impression on the re- 

 maining few, that they resolved never again to touch 

 spirits ; and Adams, I have every reason to believe, 

 to the day of his death kept his vow. 



