PACIFIC AND BEERING'S STRAIT. 305 



they had neglected many which then existed. We c ^ p * 

 were sorry to find that none of those in operation v-^y^ 

 could be materially useful to the state ; that there fge! 

 were no dawnings of art, nor did there appear to be 

 any desire on the part of the people to improve 

 their condition ; but so far from it, we noticed a 

 feeling of composure and indifference which will be 

 the bane of their future prosperity. 



The island is nevertheless imperceptibly entering 

 into notice : it is advantageously situated for various 

 purposes of commerce, and, consequently, in the event 

 of a war between England and other powers, it might 

 be subjected to many annoyances from the most insig- 

 nificant force — from any armed vessel indeed which 

 might think it her duty to annoy the island on the 

 ground of its reputed alliance with England. There 

 are no works of defence to obviate such a possibi- 

 lity : the natives have not yet thought of the pre- 

 caution, much less have they commenced any pre- 

 paration, and the island throughout is in a perfectly 

 defenceless condition. The weapons with which 

 their battles were formerly fought are now in dis- 

 use, and the inhabitants have lost the skill necessary 

 to employ them to advantage. A number of mus- 

 kets distributed amongst the population creates an 

 imaginary security, but the bad condition of the 

 arms, and the want of powder, would render them 

 unavailable. At all events they are deficient in an 

 organised body of men ; a species of defence which 

 seems necessary for the security of every country 

 that does not wish her shores to be invaded, or to 

 have her internal tranquillity disturbed by feuds ; 

 which in Otaheite have frequently occurred, and are 

 very likely to do so again, either from the differ- 



vol. i. • x 



