248 BENEFITS OF INSTRUCTION. 
circle round their beloved father, while he 
communicated to them some knowledge of the 
manners and history of his native country, its 
connections with other nations, and the arts, 
inventions, and customs of the European world. 
Adams’s knowledge is probably not very exten- 
sive, but it has sufficed to enable him to train 
up his numerous family in habits and informa- 
tion which fit them for the easy acquisition of 
all the arts of civilization. 
His attentive auditory have accurately re- 
tained his instructions, and converse with won- 
derful facility on the characteristics and ‘cus- 
toms of different nations. . 
Abusive words are strictly prohibited; and 
some of the islanders, perfectly astonished at 
hearing a sailor on board the American vessel 
which visited them swear at another, enquired 
of the Captain whether such expressions were 
permitted in his country. 
The Captain was enchanted with the conduct 
and character of this amiable people; and 
ascribed their virtues to the instructions and 
example of their patriarch. This good old 
man, however, expressed much anxiety con- 
