460 



HISTOKY OF THE SEA. 



plants with which the Moluccas abound; the aspect of a con- 

 siderable town, situated in the bottom of the gulf, of ships at 

 anchor there, and of cattle rambling through the meadows, 

 caused transports which I have doubtless felt, but which I can 

 not here describe." 



It was found that the Dutch East India Company reigned 

 supreme, and that the governor was disposed to keep to the 

 letter of his instructions, which forbade him to receive any ships 

 but those of the monopoly. Bougainville was obliged to plead 

 the claims of hunger and considerations of humanity before the 

 authorities would listen to him. They then furnished him with 

 rice, poultry, sago, goats, fish, eggs, fruit, and venison, the latter 

 being the flesh of stags introduced and acclimated by the Dutch. 

 Henry Inman, the Dutch governor, though placed in a critical 

 position by this arrival, behaved as became an honorable and 

 generous man. He first did his duty towards his superiors, and 

 then towards fellow-creatures in distress. Aotourou, the Tahi- 

 tian, not being taken a shore by the commander on his first visit, 

 imagined that it was because he was bow-legged and knock-kneed, 

 and begged some of the sailors to stand upon his legs and 

 straighten them out. 



During the run back to France, by way of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, St. Helena, and the Cape Verd Islands, nothing happened 

 which requires mention here. Bougainville entered the port of 

 St. Malo on the 16th of March, 1769, having been absent two 

 years and four months, and having lost but seven men during 

 the voyage. He was the first Frenchman who ever went round 

 the world in one ship, — one Gentil de la Barbinais, a pirate, 

 having accomplished a voyage of circumnavigation in several 

 ships, some fifty years before. He sustained his claim to this 

 honor by publishing, two years afterwards, a narrative of his 

 expedition, written in an animated and graceful style, and which 

 established his reputation as a sailor and explorer. 



