2 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
last summer. To this disappointment we owed our 
having it in our power to revisit the Sandwich Islands, 
and to enrich our voyage with a discovery, which, 
though last, seemed, in many respects, to be the most 
important that had hitherto been made by Europeans 
throughout the extent of the Pacific ocean.” These are 
the last words recorded in the journal of that enter¬ 
prising and intelligent navigator: a melancholy event 
shortly afterwards occurred on the shores of this very 
bay, which arrested his career of discovery, and termi¬ 
nated his existence. 
On the return of the survivors, a detailed account 
of the islands and their inhabitants was given to the 
world, and excited no small degree of interest, not only 
in England, but throughout the continent of Europe. 
The descriptions which Captain Cook’s Voyages 
contained, of the almost primitive simplicity, natural 
vivacity, and fascinating manners, of a people, who had 
existed for ages, isolated, and unknown to the rest of the 
world, were so entirely new, and the accounts given of 
the mildness and salubrity of the climate, the sponta¬ 
neous abundance of delicious fruits, and the varied and 
delightful appearance of the natural scenery in the 
Sandwich and other islands of the Pacific, were so 
enchanting, that many individuals were led to ima¬ 
gine they were a sort of elysium, where the highly 
favoured inhabitants, free from the toil and care, the 
want and disappointment, which mar the happiness 
of civilized communities, dwelt in what they called a 
state of nature, and spent their lives in unrestrained 
gratification and enjoyment. 
These descriptions, were, I am convinced, faithful 
transcripts of the first impressions made onthe minds 
