320 THE DISCOVERY OF AUSTRALIA 



never known the way so much as to the- East Indies. . . . 

 What care was formerly taken to get us a trade with the 

 East Indian and other countries ! . . . But now, as if cloyed 

 with trade, we sit still contented, saying with Cato, ' Non 

 minor est virtus quam quserere parta tueri.' ' Had, for 

 example, the chief of the English factory at Tonquin been 

 " a man of spirit," he might have got " a trade with 

 Japan ; and to China as much as they pleased." 

 Dampier At last Dampier began to long for his native land. He 

 England, nac ^ acquired a half -share in a " painted prince," whose 

 1691. tattooings he describes in enthusiastic detail. No small 

 advantage, he thought, would be gained by showing 

 him in England. Then, with bags of gate-money in pocket, 

 the showman would return to the prince's island, and 

 engage in lucrative trade, under the prince's patronage. 

 Dampier reached England in 1691. But he "fell among 

 rooks," and had to sell his share in the painted prince, 

 who was afterwards shown as a sight, and died of the 

 smallpox at Oxford. 



