CURRENTS AND WHALING. 533 



any thing in watchfulness against treachery ; but while this is attended 

 to, all harsh treatment to the natives should be avoided. 



Above every thing, a strict morality should be preserved on board, 

 both by precept and example, and none should believe themselves 

 beyond the eye of those whose respect they value at home. I am 

 well assured that under such auspices, the arrival of a whale-ship 

 would be hailed with delight in the ports it may visit, instead of 

 being often looked upon as it now is, as a blight upon a dawning 

 civilization. On no consideration should the debt to those pioneers 

 of civilization, the missionaries, be forgotten; for they have already, in 

 very many parts, by their example and instruction, been the means 

 of saving many of our countrymen and shipmates from cruel capti- 

 vity and horrible death. 



Before closing this chapter, I would also say a word to the first 

 planners and promoters of foreign missions in the South Seas, entreat- 

 ing them to turn their attention to the morals of those who follow the 

 sea, and the improvement of their condition. Our ships might, by 

 proper exertions at home, be soon made to carry on every breeze, to 

 the ports and islands of the Pacific, such an example as would promote 

 the great cause of morality, religion, and temperance : of one truth I 

 am satisfied, that if one-tenth of the sums and attention now expended 

 in other ways, were applied to improving the condition of sailors, 

 elevating them in their circumstances, both at sea and on shore, it 

 would produce in a short time the most desirable results; and instead 

 of our "tars" being considered, as they now frequently are, worthless 

 reprobates, opposed to every thing that is sacred, they will be found a 

 band of industrious advocates in the cause of civilization. Until this 

 class of men is brought up to a respectable standing, the cause to 

 which so much exertion has been applied, so much talent and perse- 

 verance have been sacrificed, and which now claims so much of the 

 interest and attention of the civilized world, can never permanently 

 prosper. 



The field for improvement is wide, and those who first labour in it 

 must reap a most satisfactory harvest. To none does it more apper- 

 tain to take the first step, and push earnestly onwards, than the 

 owners of our mercantile marine, and of our whaling fleet in par- 

 ticular. 



vol. v. 134 



