136 DESCRIPTION OF YOUNG ISLANDERS. 
addressed by persons of a class with those 
whom he had been accustomed to obey. Ap- 
prehension for his safety formed no part of 
his thoughts : he had received too many de- 
monstrations of the good feeling that existed 
towards him, both on the part of the British 
Government and of individuals, to entertain any 
alarm on that head ; and as every person endea- 
voured to set his mind at rest, he very soon 
made himself at home. 
" The young men, ten in number, were tall, 
robust, and healthy, with good-natured counte- 
nances, which would anywhere have procured 
them a friendly reception ; and with a simplicity 
of manner, and a fear of doing wrong, which at 
once prevented the possibility of giving offence. 
Unacquainted with the world, they asked a 
number of questions, which would have applied 
better to persons with whom they had been 
intimate, and who had left them but a short 
time before, than to perfect strangers; and 
inquired after ships and people we had never 
heard of. Their dress, made up of the presents 
which had been given them by the masters and 
seamen of merchant ships, was a perfect carica- 
ture. Some had long black coats, without any 
other article of dress, except trowsers ; some, 
shirts without coats ; and others, waistcoats 
without either; none had shoes or stockings, 
and only two possessed hats, neither of which 
seemed likely to hang long together." 
The following picture of filial affection, drawn 
by a careful and intelligent observer, is well 
worthy of insertion. Captain Beechey, anxious 
