DISPOSITION. 129 



to the more pleasing experience of a later voyager in these seas. 

 In his account of his intei-course with the natives of Isabel in 183S, 

 D'Urville thus refers to these islanders : " Nous sommes les premiers 

 a inscrire dans I'histoire des habitants de ces fles, une page en faveur 

 de leur caractere : ils aui'aient pu, presque sans dangers, massacrer 

 ceux de nos officiers qui sont alles chercher I'hospitalite aux villages 

 d'Opihi et Toitoi, et j'aime a croire qu'ils n'auraient pas resiste a la 

 tentation, si dans leur caractere il n'y avait pas eu quelques senti- 

 ments d'affection ou de pro bite. "^ 



In recalling ray own experiences, I can sca,rcely remember a 

 single instance in which I was aught but kindly treated by a race of 

 savages who have been so often characterised as the most treachei'- 

 ous and bloodthirsty in the Pacific. I was constantly in their 

 power, since, in my excursions, I very rarely had any other com- 

 panions. I will, therefore, frame my estimate of their character in 

 the words of the French navigator, that they would not have been 

 able to resist the temptation of harming me, if there was not in their 

 disposition something of the sense of honour and affection. 



1 " Voyage au Pole Sud," etc. VoL V., p. 106. 



