Page:An account of the natives of the Tonga Islands.djvu/486

420 often come under our observation ; and it is proper that we should know what men are and may be in a savage state, if we wish to judge with tolerable accuracy of the human character in a civilized state, that, by comparison of the two together,we may arrive at a better knowledge of human nature in the abstract ; a science of all sciences the most truly interesting j a science to which all others are but auxiliary ; and with- out which all others would be but vain subtle- ties, fatiguing in the pursuit, and unsatisfactory in the possession. We come now to view the island of Vavaoo under the dominion of a man of a very different turn of mind ; of one whose intellect was of a very superior kind; and who, unlike his late father, was void of inordinate political ambition, and sought the happiness of his people, not the extension of his own power ; an admirer of the arts, a philosopher among savages ! But to shew better the contrast between the two, we need only mention, that, when the late king was not at his house, and it was necessary to seek for him, be was generally to be found at some public place, at some other chief's house, or at the maldi ; if the present king was wanted, he was to be found at the houses of carpenters, or canoe-builders, or else up in the country, in- specting some ground to be cultivated.