5^20 FALKNEll ^ Ua' DISEASES. NoV. 



himself among the low islanders so securely that he scrupled 

 not to visit any of their islands, Aura alone excepted. How- 

 necessary it must be for a missionary to have a knowledge of 

 medicine and surgery. The Jesuit, Falkner, wandered alone 

 in safety among the tribes of South American Indians, owing, 

 in a great measure, to his knowledge of the healing art.* 



21st. I went to see ' Ua,' an old man, who remembered 

 ' Toote^ (Cook) ; yet was still strong and active : he told me 

 that in those days he was a little boy. There were many more 

 people then inOtaheite; ten to one, as compared with the present 

 numbers : but sickness had destroyed a great many, he thought. 

 The island was not so healthy as in former times ; and they had 

 caught diseases, in those days unknown. Asking who brought 

 tliis or that disease, he imputed the worst to the ships which 

 came after Cook's first visit, and left men upon the island until 



* "Mr. Thomas Falkner was the son of a surgeon of eminence at Man- 

 chester, and was brought up in his father's profession, for which he always 

 manifested the most promising- disposition. To complete his professional 

 studies, he was sent to London to attend St. Thomas's Hospital; and, 

 happening- to lodge in Tooley-street, on the Surrey bank of the Thames, 

 he made an acquaintance with the master of a ship, employed in the 

 Guinea trade, who persuaded the young- surg-eon to accompany him in his 

 next voyage in his professional capacity. On his return to Eng-land, he 

 engaged to g-o in the same situation on board a merchant ship to Cadiz, 

 from which he continued his voyage to Buenos Ayres, a Spanish settle- 

 ment on the River La Plata. Here he fell sick, and was in so dangerous 

 a state when his ship was ready to depart, as not to be in a condition to 

 be carried on board ; so she sailed without him. The Jesuits, of which 

 there was a college at Buenos Avi'es, nursed him during his illness with 

 the greatest care and kindest assiduity; and perceiving the very great 

 advantage which they would derive, in their missions, from possessing a 

 brother who was so well skilled in medicine and surgery, spared no pains 

 to win his affection and secure his confidence. In short, they so worked 

 upon his mind, as to persuade him to enter into their college, and finally 

 to become one of their order. He now entered upon his ministry among 

 the Lidians who inhabit the vast track of country between the River La 

 Plata and the Straits of Magellan. His skill in the cure of diseases, and 

 in performing chirurgical operations, together with his knowledge of 

 mechanics, rendered his mission successful beyond example. In this 

 Country he remained near forty years, and was among the persons ap- 

 pointed 



