POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
379 
to gratify the palate^ and supply the necessities^ of their 
inhabitants. Here man seemed to live only for enjoy¬ 
ment, and appeared to have been placed in circumstances, 
where every desire was satisfied, and where it might be 
imagined that even the apprehension of want was a thing 
unknown. Amid the unrestrained enjoyment of a bounty 
so diversified and profuse, it is hardly possible to sup¬ 
pose that the divine Author of all should neither be 
recognized nor acknowledged ; or, that his very mercies 
should foster insensibility, and alienate the hearts of 
the participants in his bounty. Such, however, was the 
melancholy fact: Although 
----- - , the soil untillM 
Pour’d forth spontaneous and abundant harvests, 
The forests cast their fruits, in husk or rind, 
Yielding sweet kernels or delicious pulp, 
Smooth oil, cool milk, and unfermented wine. 
In rich and exquisite variety; 
On these the indolent inhabitants 
Fed without care or forethought. 
