, that
any vessel from the outside world would ever visit the island, as it
appeared to be unknown to navigators, and it was a law upon the island
that the inhabitants of no other islands should approach. At certain
times of the moon, however, he sent a boat to an island, many leagues
away, to bear some rare products of his people in exchange for other
commodities, and, should we so desire, we might be taken, one at a
time, in the boat, and thus eventually be put in the way of passing
vessels. With what appeared to be an embarrassed hesitation, he
informed us that he was compelled to impose a certain mild restraint
upon us--one which, he hurried to add, would in no way interfere with
our comfort or pleasure. This was that we be kept apart from his
people, as they were simple and happy, and he feared that association
with us would bring discontent among them. Their present condition had
come about solely through the policy of complete isolation which had
been followed in the past.

We received this communication with a delight which we took no pains to
conceal; and the king seemed touched by our expressions of gratitude.
So in a little while we were established as a colony about three miles
from the town, the quick hands of the natives having made for us, out
of poles, matting, and thatch, a sufficient number of houses for our
comfort; and the king placed at our disposal a large acreage for our
use, if we should desire to help ourselves with farming; for which
purpose an intelligent native was sent to instruct us. It was on the
10th day of May, 1853, that we went upon the island, and the 14th when
we went into colony.

I cannot pause to give any further description of this beautiful island
and our delightful surroundings, but must hasten away to a relation of
the terrible things which presently befell us. We had been upon the
island about a month, when the king (who had been to visit us twice)
sent a messenger to say that a boat would leave on the morrow, and that
if any one of us wished to go he could be taken. The messenger said
that the king's best judgment was that the sickly ones ought to go
first, as, in the event of serious illness, it would be better that
they should die at home. We overlooked this singular and savage way of
stating the case, for our sense of gratitude to the king was so great
that the expression of a slight wish from him was as binding upon us as
law. Hence from our number we selected John Fol