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Article DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF MAOUNA. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Description Of The Island Of Maouna.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF MAOUNA .
BY f-1 . DE LA PERQUSE , EMPLOYED OK A VQYACF . OF DISCOVERY . " ^ ft / TIILE some of our people , says M . de la Perouse , were trafficking with the natives , others were employed in filling our casks with water , and some engaged in soft dalliance with the fair savages , many of whom were very pretty . During this time I
thought I might venture to the distance of two hundred yards to visit a charming village , situated in the midst of a wood , or rather of an orchard , all the trees of which were loaded with fruit . The houses were placed upon the circumference of a circle , of about a hundred and fifty toises in diameter , the interior forming a vast open space , covered with the most beautiful verdure , and shaded by trees , which kept the air deli ghtfully cool . Women , children , and old men , accompanied me , and invited me into their houses . They spread the
hnest and freshest mats upon a floor formed of little chosen pebbles , and raised about two feet above the ground , in order to guard against the humidity . I went into the handsomest of these huts , which probably belonged to a chief ; and great was my surprise , to see a large cabinet of lattice-work , as well executed as any of those in the environs of Paris . The best architect could not have given a more elegant curve to the extremities of the ellipsis that terminated the
building ; while a row of pillars , at five feet distance from each other , formed a complete colonnade round the whole . The -pillars were made of trunks of trees very ne .-tly wrought , and between them were fine mats laid over one another with great art . like the scales of a fish .
and drawing up and down with cords , like our Venetian blinds . The rest-. of the house was covered with leaves ofthe cocoa-palm . ' I Ip ' s charming country combines the advantages of a soil fruitful without culture , and of a climate which renders clothing unnecessary . The trees that produce the bread-fruit , the coccoa-nut , the banana , the guava , and the orange , hold out to these fortunate people an abundof
ance wholesome food ; while the fowls , hogs , and dogs , which live upon the surplus of these fruits , afford them an agreeable variety of vivtnds . They were so rich , and had so few wants . ' that they disdained our instruments of iron , and our cloth , and asked onlv for beads . Abounding in real blessings , they were desirous of obtaining superfluities only .
They had sold at our market more than two hundred wood-pigeons , which would only eat out of the hand ; and a number of the " most beautiful turtle-doves and perroquets , equally tame . What cold imagination could separate the idea of happiness from so enchanting a place ? Surrounded by their wives and children , they pass their peaceful days in innocence and repose : no care disturbs them but VOL . xi . A a
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Description Of The Island Of Maouna.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF MAOUNA .
BY f-1 . DE LA PERQUSE , EMPLOYED OK A VQYACF . OF DISCOVERY . " ^ ft / TIILE some of our people , says M . de la Perouse , were trafficking with the natives , others were employed in filling our casks with water , and some engaged in soft dalliance with the fair savages , many of whom were very pretty . During this time I
thought I might venture to the distance of two hundred yards to visit a charming village , situated in the midst of a wood , or rather of an orchard , all the trees of which were loaded with fruit . The houses were placed upon the circumference of a circle , of about a hundred and fifty toises in diameter , the interior forming a vast open space , covered with the most beautiful verdure , and shaded by trees , which kept the air deli ghtfully cool . Women , children , and old men , accompanied me , and invited me into their houses . They spread the
hnest and freshest mats upon a floor formed of little chosen pebbles , and raised about two feet above the ground , in order to guard against the humidity . I went into the handsomest of these huts , which probably belonged to a chief ; and great was my surprise , to see a large cabinet of lattice-work , as well executed as any of those in the environs of Paris . The best architect could not have given a more elegant curve to the extremities of the ellipsis that terminated the
building ; while a row of pillars , at five feet distance from each other , formed a complete colonnade round the whole . The -pillars were made of trunks of trees very ne .-tly wrought , and between them were fine mats laid over one another with great art . like the scales of a fish .
and drawing up and down with cords , like our Venetian blinds . The rest-. of the house was covered with leaves ofthe cocoa-palm . ' I Ip ' s charming country combines the advantages of a soil fruitful without culture , and of a climate which renders clothing unnecessary . The trees that produce the bread-fruit , the coccoa-nut , the banana , the guava , and the orange , hold out to these fortunate people an abundof
ance wholesome food ; while the fowls , hogs , and dogs , which live upon the surplus of these fruits , afford them an agreeable variety of vivtnds . They were so rich , and had so few wants . ' that they disdained our instruments of iron , and our cloth , and asked onlv for beads . Abounding in real blessings , they were desirous of obtaining superfluities only .
They had sold at our market more than two hundred wood-pigeons , which would only eat out of the hand ; and a number of the " most beautiful turtle-doves and perroquets , equally tame . What cold imagination could separate the idea of happiness from so enchanting a place ? Surrounded by their wives and children , they pass their peaceful days in innocence and repose : no care disturbs them but VOL . xi . A a