502 CURRENTS AND WHALING. 



in the whale and biche de mar fishery; namely, that in their inter- 

 course with the natives of the South Seas they would treat them with 

 justice and honesty. By so doing, I am satisfied that however much 

 they may be exposed to dangers, they will escape without harm. I 

 would not, however, be understood to say, that they should relax 

 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 civiliza- 

 tion. On no consideration should the debt to those pioneers of civili- 

 zation, 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 captivity 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 particular. 



