62 
AN ACCOUNT OF 
1783- circumftance impreffed on every one, at the time, an idea, 
AUGUST. 7 5 
which will poffibly now as forcibly imprefs the reader, 
that there was every caufe to fuppofe there had never 
been a communication between thefe people and any other 
nation ; that they and their anceftry, through a line of 
ages too remote for human conjecture to fix a date, might 
have lived as fovereigns of the world, unconfcious that 
it extended beyond the horizon that bounded them; uncon¬ 
fcious alfo that there were any more inhabitants in it than 
themfelves; and in this cafe, what might not be the fenti- 
ments that might burfl on a mind thus fuddenly awakened 
to a new and a more enlarged notion of nature and man¬ 
kind ! * 
As the King was going toward our tents, of which there 
were three, with a centry ftationed at each, the day being 
fine, and the fun in full power, he noticed the bright glitter 
of the bayonet; it of courfe aftonifhed him, who had never 
feen any polifhed body, or the action of light on it. He 
ftepped haftily to the centinel and wifhed to feel it, offering 
to take it out of the man’s hand, who thereupon drew back; 
Captain Wilson then explained to him, that no EngUfh cen- 
* It is not improbable but that, from feeing the Malay , fome notion of this kind 
might have been awakened before; but now, having before him a people of a different 
colour , and hearing of a variety of nations who were of the fame complexion, the im- 
prelEon would naturally operate on his mind with redoubled Hrength, 
tinel 
