100 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
the present inhabitants of Beritani with those of the 
resident originally left there by its discoverer; and in 
connexion with the circumstances of Mai after his return 
to his native islands^ the following beautiful and pathetic 
lines have often occurred to my mind; and though 
perused on the spot with sensations probably unfelt 
elsewhere, I have nevertheless supposed, that could 
the poet have foreseen what has since taken place, not 
only in this island, but throughout the group—or had 
he lived in the present day—-he would never, in antici¬ 
pation of their abandonment so soon after their dis¬ 
covery, have recorded such mournful anticipations. 
“ But far beyond the rest, and with most cause, 
Thee, gentle savage,* whom no love of thee 
Or thine, but curiosity perhaps. 
Or else vain-glory, prompted us to draw 
Forth from thy native bowers, to shew thee here 
With what superior skill we can abuse 
* The gifts of Providence, and squander life. 
The dream is past. And thou hast found again 
Thy cocoas and bananas, palms and yams, 
And homestall thatched with leaves. But hast thou found 
Their former charms ? And having seen our state, 
Our palaces, our ladies, and our pomp 
Of equipage, our gardens, and our sports, 
And heard our music; are thy simple friends, 
Thy simple fare, and all thy plain delights, 
As dear to thee as once ? And have thy joys 
Lost nothing by comparison with ours ? 
Rude as thou art, (for we returned thee rude 
And ignorant, except of outward show,) 
I cannot think thee yet so dull of heart 
And spiritless, as never to regret 
Sweets tasted here, and left as soon as known. 
Methinks I see thee straying on the beach. 
And asking of the surge that bathes thy foot, 
* Omai 
