CAPTAIN MOKSHEAD'S TESTIMONY, 195 
fears were entertained for the potato crop, on 
which they are equally dependent. One whaler 
only had been supplied for the year, yet there 
was not on the island a single yam, potato, hog, 
or goat available for traffic, although they would 
exchange them for an equal amount of nutriment 
in biscuit or flour. Their famine has taught 
them a good lesson ; for in many houses I saw 
small parcels of biscuit tied up to the beams to 
await their pending scarcity, Under these cir- 
cumstances, I was induced to leave the supplies 
with directions that they were to be reserved for 
the contingency 
" It has long been their custom to leave any 
cases at issue for the decision of a captain of 
a man-of-war as a final appeal. Only one was 
left for me to decide ; it had previously been 
before the magistrate, and submitted to a jury, 
and on my confirming the opinion of their own 
tribunal, they all shook hands 
" I trust I may be allowed to add my testi- 
mony to their already established reputation for 
morality and virtue. With the Scriptures daily, 
even hourly, in their hands, it is impossible 
that any can act from higher principles or purer 
motives ; and all their impulses happily appear 
for good, while their goodness ever inclines 
them to judge charitably of the faults of others ; 
} but so simple and confiding is their nature, that 
any designing person thrown among them might 
easily destroy their peace and harmony. It has 
never been my lot to witness a community more 
entitled to admiration and respect ; and from 
this, estimation of their character^ it is impossible 
