LEE BOO.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 23, 8 November 1849, Page 3

LEE 800.

There are, perhaps, few narratives which have, afforded more instruction, or greater pleasure to mankind than that which we are now about to present to you. It is the history of Piince Lea 1300, n native of the Pelew, or Palaos. Islands. Those islands are situate in the northern portion of this (the Pacific) Ocean ; at no very great distance from the Sandwich Islands; and their inhabitants, like those of the Sandwich Islands, in manners, habits, and speech, bear a striking resemblance to your own. At the date of this history, the science of navigation was comparatively imperfect. Surveying ship 9, with the exception of those of Captain Cook, were few. No English Colony then existed either at Sydney or nt Hobart Town; and no persons, save a few wandering sailors, knew aught of Neiv Zealand or of the many Islands of the South seas, whose natives are now no longer strangers to the people of Rutland and of France. It is became that the English of that day were as strange to Lea 800, a* he mid hU countrymen u--re strange to them, that the story possesses so lively an interest; and as it is the first example of the intelligence and facility with which the untutored natives of remote and desolate iilands acquired and cherished tho knowledge of the blessings and benefits of civilization, we are of opinion its perusal cannot fail to impart to a thinking people, like yourselves, equal profit anil gratification* The events to bo recorded took place, thirteen years after Captain Cook had first visited New Zealand, and live years subsequently to the discovery of the Sandwich Islands by the same illustrious navigator. THE STORV OF PKINCE LEE 1100, On the 10th of August, 178'J, the Antelope, a packetship of 300 tons burden, inlhe service of the East India Company, and under the command of Captain Henry Wilson, sullered shipwreck on the Pelew Islands, one of the numerous groups which stud the Pacific, and the nearest of any importance to the East India lilands. At that lime the Polynesians had had but little intercourse with white men, and were of course ignorant of many of those virtues (and vices whicli have since so materially altered their character. The shipwrecked English met with the most kindly treatment, and in turn presented the natives with articles and implements calculated to assist them in the operations of their primitive mode of life. During their stay, which continued till the 12th of November, the crew were busy in constructing n small schooner, for the purpose of conveying them to Macao, in China; an effort whicli was ultimately crowned with success.

One of the most interesting and important personages met with by Captain Wilson during his stay, was Abba Tbulle, King of Coorooraa, and of several of the adjacent islets. Uniformly humane, and attentive to the wants of the unfortunate crew, this individual, in his intercourse with thi>m, soon perceived their superiority in warlike preparation, in mechanic.il skill, in their power of turning almost every object to use, and, above nil, in the obedience, regularity, aud order with which each attended to his respective duties. He used to say that, though his subjects looked up to him with respect, aud regarded him as not only superior in rank, but in knowledge, yet that, after being with the English, and contemplating their ingenuity, he had often felt his own insignificance, in seeing the lowest of them exercise talents that he had ever been a stranger to. Impressed with this conviction, lie resolved to entrust one of his sons to Captain Wilson's care, that the youth might have the advantage of improving himself by accompanying the English, and of learning many things that might at his return greatly benefit his own country. This announcement was too important not to be cordially welcomed by Captain Wilson, and the result was that the King's second son, Prince Lee Uoo, then in his ninetenth year, was, on the departure of the schooner, handed Over with due ceremony, " to be instructed in all things that he ought to know, and to he made nn English man." The brief history of this amiable and promsing young man (which we are enabled to give) lias been compiled from the journals and communications furnished by Captain Wilson and his brother officers. After an affectionate parting, the English and their new charge left Pelew on the 12th of November, 1783. Lee 800, the first night he slept on board, ordered Boyam (a Malay, who acted also as his interpreter), to bring his mat upon deck ; apparently annoyed by the restraint and confinement of a cabin. He was the next morning much surprised at not seeing land. Captain \Vilson now clothed him in a shirt, waistcoat, and a pair of trousers : he ap peared himself uneasy in wearing the two first articles, and soon took them off and folded them up, using them only as a pillow ; but being impressed with an idea of the indelicacy—to say nothing of the indecency—of having no clothing, he never appeared without his trousers. As the vessel proceeding northward advanced into a climate gradually growing colder, he in <t little lime felt loss incou*

vcnience in putting on again his jacket and ahirt, to which, when lie had been a little time accustomed, his new-taught sense of propriety was so great, that he would never change his dress, or any part of it. in the presence of another person, always retiring for that purpose to some dark corner where no one could •ee him.

As they approached the Chinese coast, Lee 800 appeared quite delighted at the sight of land and the number of boats On the water. Before Captain Wilson went on shore, the Prince on seeing the large Portuguese ships at anchor in the Typn, appeared to be greatly as tonisbed, exclaiming, as he looked at ihem, " Clow, clow, muo clow!" that in large, large, very large ! Here he gave the companions of his voyage an early opportunity of seeing the natural benevolence of his mind. Some of the Chinese boats, that are rowed by poor Tartar Homen, with their little children lied to their backs, and who live in families on the water, surrounded the vessel to solicit fragments of victuals; and the young Prince, on noticing their supplications, gave them oranges, and such other things as he had, being particularly attentive to offer them those edibles which, he liked best himself.

On landing at Macao, Lee 800 was introduced to the former acquaintances of Captain Wilson; among others to a Mr. M'lnlyre, nnd to a Portuguese gentleman'of some distinction, to whose residence he was first taken. This being the first house our young traveller had ever seen, he was apparently lost in silent admiration. What struck most his imagination at first, were the uptight walls and flat ceilings ; he seemed as if puzzling himself to comprehend how they could be formed ;■ and the decorations of the rooas were also no small subject of astonishment. When be was introduced to the ladiei of the family, his depoitment was so easy and polite, that it was exceeded only by his abundant good-nature. So far from being embarrassed, he permitted the company to examine his hands, which were tatooed, and appeared pleased with the attention shown him. When ho retired with Capl. Wilson, his behaviour left on the mind of every one present the impression, that however great the surprise might be which the scenes of n new world had awakened in him, it could hardly be exceeded by that which his own amiable manners and native polish would excite in others.

Mr. M'lnlyre next conducted them to his own house, where they were introduced into a hall lighted up, with a table in the middle covered for suppar, and a sideboard handsomely decorated. Here a new scene burst at once on Lee Uou's mind : he was all eye, all admiration. The vessels of g'ass appeared to be the objects which rivetted most his attention. Mr. M'lnl)ro showed him whatever lie conceived would amuse him ; but every thing that surrounded him was attracting ; his eye was like his mind, lost and bewildered. It was in truth to him a scene of magic, a fairy tale. Amongst the things lhat solicited his nolice was a large mirror at the upper end of the ball, which reflected almost his whole person. Here Lee 800 stood in amazement at seeing himself: he laughed, he drew back, and returned to look again, quite absorbed in wonder. He made an effort to look behind, as if conceiving somebody was there, but found •he glass fixed close to the wall- Mr. M'lnlyre observing ihe idea that had crossed him, ordered a small glass to be brought into the room, where:n having viewed bis face, he looked behind, to discover the person who looked at him, totally jnable lo make out how all this was produced. Soon after the landing of the crew, some of them went to purchase such things they were in want of, in doing which they did not forget Lee 800, who was a favourite with them all. They bought him some little trinkets, which they thought would, from their novelty, please him. Amongst them was a string of large glass'beads, the first sight of which almost threw him into an ecstacy j he hugged them with a transport that could not be exceeded by the interested possessor of a string . of pearls of equal magnitude. His imagination ttdd him he had in his hands all the wealth the world could afford hirri. He ran with eagerness to Captain Wilson, to show him his riches and, enraptured with the idea that bis family should share them with him, he, in the utmost agitation, intreated Captain Wilson would immediately get him a Chinese vessel to carry his treasures to Pe lew, and deliver them to the King, that he might distribute them as he thought best, and thereby see what a countiy the English had conveyed him to; adding, that tho people who carried them should tell the King that Lee 800 would soon send him other presents. He also told Captain Wilson that if the people faithfully executed their charge, he would, independent of what Abba Thulle would give them, present them at their return with one or two beads', as a reward for their fidelity. Whilst Lee 800 remained at Macao, he had frequeut opportunities of seeing people of dif- . ff re at nations; and also was shown three Eu-

glish women, who having lost the'u- husbands in India, had been sent from Madrass thilher, and were waiting there to return to Europe, to whom the " new man," as he was called, gavo the preference to any other of the fair sex he had seen. Having no quadrupeds at Pelew, the two dogs left there were tho only kind he had seen, on which account the sheep, goats, and other cattle which lie met with whilst at Macao, wero viewed with wonder. The Newfoundland dog which had been given to his uncle at Pelew, being called Sailor, he applied tlie word sailor to every animal that had four legs. Seeing some horses in a stable, he called them " clow I sailor;" that is, "large sailor;" but the next day observing a man pass the house on horseback, he was himself so wonderfully astonished, that he wanted every one to go and see the strange sight. He went afterwards to the stables where the horses were; lie felt, he stroked them, and was inquisitive to know what their food was, having (ouud, by offering them some oranges he had in his pocket, that they would not eat them. He was easily persuaded to get on one of their backs ; and when lie was informed what a noble, docile, and useful animal it was, he with much earnestness besought the Ciiptain to get one sent to his uncle, to whom he said he was sure it would be of great service. Anxious to obtain a vessel bound for England Captain Wilson left Macao for Canton, taking his wondering charge along with him. At Canton the number of houses, the variety of shops, and the multitude of artificers, greatly astonished him. Being at the Company's table at ihe Factory, the vessels of glass, of various shapes and sizes, particularly the glass chanueliers, attracted his notice. When, on looking round, he surveyed the number of attendants standing behind the gentlemen's chairs, he observed to Captain Wilson that the King, his father, lived in a manner very dillbrent, having only a little fish, a yam, or a cocoa-nut, which he ate from off a leaf, and drank out of the shell of the nut; and when his meal was finished, wiped his mouth and his fingers with a bit of cocoa-nut husk ; whereas the company present ate u bit of one thing and then a bit of another, the servants always supplying them with a dill'erent plate, and different sorts of vessels to drink out of. He seemed from the first to relish tea ; coffee he disliked the smell of, nnd therefore refused, it, at the same lime tolling Captain Wilson he would drink it if ho ordered biin. On their arriv.il at Macao, orle of the seamen beinjf murh intoxicated, Lee Hoo expressed great concern thinking him very ill, and applied t'i Air. Sharp, the surgeon, to go and see him, Being told nothing material ailed him, thai it was only the ell'cct ofn liquor that common people were ant to indulge in, and that he would soon be well, ho nppcareil satisfied ; but would never after even taste spirits, if any were olleml him. saying, "it was not drink fit for gentl men." As to his eating and drinking, he was in both temperate to a degree.

Whilst at Canton several genllemem, who had been at Maiiag.isc.ir aiiil other placi-s whtte the throwing ol the spenr is practised, and who themselves were, in some degree, skilled ill the art, having expressed a wish to see the Prince perform this exercise, they assembled at the hall of the factory for that purpose. I.ee 800 did not at fvat point his spear to any particular object, but only shook and poised il, as is usually done before the weapon is thrown from the hand: this they were also able to do { but, proposing to aim at some particular point, they fixed this point t» he a gauze cage which hung up in the hall, and which had a bird painted in the middle, Lee Don took up his spear with greit apparenHndiiierence, and levelling at the little bird, struck it through the head, astonishing nil his competitors, who, at the great distance from Nhence they flong, with much difficulty even Ait the cage. He was greatly pleased with the stone buildings and spacious rooms in the houses at Canton ; but the flat ceilings still continued to excite his wonder • he often compared them with the sloping tliatched roofs at Pelew, and said, by the time lie went back he should have learnt how it was done, and would then tell the people there in what manner they ought to build. The benefitiini; his country by whatever he taw, seemed to be the point to which alt his observations were directed.

A passage to England having been obtained in the Morse, East Indiaman, Captain Wilson and' Lee 800 bide adieu to their hospitable friends at Canton about tbo end of December 1783. The occurrences of the passage, and the adventures which Lee 800 met with in England must, however, be reserved for our next number.