102 REMARKS AND OPINIONS. 



about the islands which he had visited, or respect- 

 ing which he had some knowledge, he merely an- 

 swered the questions which we put to him ; and 

 unwillingly the same question a second time, refer- 

 ring to what he had previously said. When, in the 

 course of conversation, new particulars were men- 

 tioned, which we reproached him for having con- 

 cealed, he coolly answered, "You did not ask me 

 that before ;" and besides this, his memory was not 

 correct. His recollections revived by degrees, as 

 occasion called them forth, and it appeared to us 

 also, that the multitude and diversity of the objects 

 which drew his attention effaced earlier impres- 

 sions. The songs, in different languages, which 

 he sung, and which he learnt from the people 

 among whom he had resided, served him, as it 

 were, as a book, in which he sought explanation 

 or confirmation of his assertions. 



Kadu kept his journal by moons, for which he 

 inade a knot m a string j this journal appeared to 

 us to be very irregularly kept, and we could not 

 understand his reckoning. He was not unapt at 

 learning, nor without curiosity. He seemed to 

 comprehend what we endeavoured to explain to 

 him, respecting the figure of the earth, and the art 

 of navigation ; but he had no perseverance, was 

 soon tired, and went back to his songs. He took 

 some trouble to learn writing, the secret of which 

 he comprehended, but was not able to succeed in 

 this difficult task. What we said to encourage him, 

 perhaps, had a contrary effect. He interrupted his 



