108 
*¢ In about an hour he broke silence, and 
ealing his rupacks and priticipal people 
around him, made a long harangue, wherein 
the word dingleese was frequently repeated. 
He then distributed different articles, with 
his own hands, to several persons, appa- 
rently with a regard to their rank. 
«© Mr. Wedgeborough relates the account 
of this transaction, in the following words . 
*© I was present at the time when the pre+ 
sents were landed, and am sure it is impos- 
sible to describe the effect the sight of the 
different articles had upon the multitude, 
most of which they were strangers to, even 
in idea. When arranged beforé Abba Thulle, 
and he was told they were for him, he was 
perfectly at a loss for utterance, or how to 
express his gratitude to the English rupacks, 
as he styled the honourable company. He 
asked why they sent so many things, when 
they knew he had nothing to send in return; 
that his country, if he could send it, would 
be inadequate to the things now before him. 
At length, being made perfectly to under- 
stand that no return was expected; that 
these things were sent to him from England, 
in acknowledgment for his great humanity 
and kindness to owr countrymen, when the 
Antelope was shipwrecked on his cost: he 
vety modestly replied, that the services he 
had rendered ihose people were very trifling ; 
for their being situated at Oxoolong, put tt 
out of his power to give them the friendly 
assistance he so naturally wished to have 
done.” 
The king, ih return, made a present 
of one of the islands to the English, 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
which was taken possession of with the 
usual formalities. Captain M‘Cluer hav- 
ing left one of the ships behind to su- 
perintend the gardens and new planta. 
tions, and take care of the live stotk, 
proceeded with the other to Canton, 
some of the natives voluntarily accom. 
nying him. He returned to Pelew itr 
une, and had the satisfaction of com- 
stig all the differences between his 
new friends and the Artingall people, 
without having recourse to violence, and 
establishing Abba Thulle as acknow- 
ledged chief of all the Pelew Islands. 
Vhe commander thinking his benevolent 
mission not yet completed, sailed again 
with both ships to New Guinea and Ben- 
coolen, and returned in January, 1793, 
bringing two full cargoes of cattle and 
stores of every kind. During his ab- 
sence, Abba ‘ihulle had died, and his 
brother had sueceededtothe sovereignty. 
From the last intelligence received 
from these islands, it appears, that a 
small trade is now carried on oceaston~ 
ally by the English, between Pelew and 
China; and that the munificent gra- 
titude of the East India company has 
been attended with complete successs 
the live stock having greatly multiplied, 
aud the rice producing two abundant 
crops every year. ; 
