A expedição às ilhas Palau

Actualmente Palau faz parte dos Estados Federados da Micronésia, no Oceano Pacífico, entre o mar das Filipinas, a norte e a Indonésia e Nova Guiné, a sul.

Henry Wilson (1740-1810) comandava o 'Antelope', um navio propriedade da Companhia Britânica das Índias Orientais, quando naufragou na ilha de Ulong, perto da ilha de Koror, em Palau, a 9 de Agosto de 1783. O 'Antelope' regressava de Macau pelo "Passagem Oriental" (as rotas normais da China para o oeste foram interrompidas pela Companhia das Índias Orientais Holandesas), uma rota projectada para evitar as monções do sudoeste, mas o navio desviou-se muito na direção leste.

Após o naufrágio onde apenas morreu uma pessoa, a tripulação desembarcou e foi recebida com hospitalidade pelo chefe, Abu Thull. O capitão Wilson ordenou então a construção de uma escuna, a 'Oroolong', usando a madeira dos destroços. Foi neste embarcação improvisada que rumaram novamente até Macau e, após algum tempo, de lá regressaram até Inglaterra em vários navios.

Com a comitiva seguia o príncipe Lee Boo, filho do chefe das ilhas Abu Thull, o que fez grande sucesso na Grã-Bretanha (por ser tão diferente dos ocidentais), mas viria a morrer de varíola ao fim de poucos meses naquele país.

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George Keate (1729-97), um poeta e escritor popular, era amigo de Wilson e compôs um relato da viagem baseado nos diários e na correspondência de Wilson e seus oficiais. Foi publicado pela primeira vez em Londres em 1788 sob o título: "Account of the Pelew Islands in the Pacific Ocean"

Várias edições da publicação "Tales of Travellers" reproduziram o relato desta aventura. A parte referente a Macau foi publicada a 24 Março 1839. Aqui fica um excerto...

"No publication perhaps ever more attracted the notice of the public or created a deeper interest than the 'Account of the Pelew Islands in the Pacific Ocean' by Capt Henry Wilson of the East India Company's ship Antelope It is certain that Capt Wilson represents a people on the face of the earth who prior to his going amongst them had no intercourse with any civilized community notwith standing which they were as pure not angels of light certainly we can hardly believe that the captain intended his readers to draw such an inference but to say the least they come up to a standard of moral excellence so far sur passing that of nations called Christian as the refulgent splendour of the light that rules the day surpasses the mild though beautiful light that rules the night But the reader of the ensuing extracts will judge for himself The Antelope a packet of near three hundred tons burden in the service of the honourable English East India Com pany under the command of Capt Henry Wilson having arrived at Macao in June 1783 the captain received orders from the company's supercargoes to refit his ship with all possible speed which being completed on Sunday the 20th of July he took leave of the council and went on board In the evening of August the 5th they saw numbers of birds and fish likewise some drifts of pieces of wood or bamboo they therefore altered their course more to the southward and went under an easy sail keeping a good look out until morning when it being very tem pestuous they brought to. (...)

The next morning Capt Wilson procured a pilot to conduct their vessel between the islands to Macao and when they came in sight of it an English Jack was hoisted at the mast head which seen by the officers of the ships at anchor in the Typa they immediately sent their boats to meet our people bringing with them fruit and provisions as also men to assist them judging the size of their little vessel that must be part of some English ship's that had been wrecked and one of officers was so obliging as to wait his boat to take the captain on to the governor who being at that engaged on particular business desired be excused from seeing the captain acquainted him by the officer on duty that they were welcome to the port Macao.

This gentleman informed Capt Wilson that the Honourable Company's supra cargoes were all up at Canton and there was no English gentleman then Macao but Mr M Intyre to whom Capt Wilson immediately went on taking leave this officer having when before at Macao in the Antelope received many of this gentleman's friendship who he heard of Capt Wilson's misfortunes with his wonted humanity and attention ordered provisions to be sent on board vessel to the officers and people and other necessaries as they might stand need of whilst the captain wrote to Company's supra cargoes to them with the fate of the Antelope also of his arrival and situation letters Mr M Intyre immediately for warded to Canton.

They now learned that peace was established in Europe and that there were a number of English and other ships at Whampoa that some of the Company's ships were loaded and ready to sail which was most welcome intelli gence Before Capt Wilson went on shore Lee Boo on seeing the large Portuguese ships at anchor in the Typa appeared to be greatly astonished ex claiming as he looked at them Clow clow muc clow that is Large large very large. He gave our people an early opportunity of seeing the natural benevo lence of his mind for some of the Chinese boats that are rowed by the poor Tartar women with their little children tied to their backs and who live in families on the water surrounded the vessel to petition for fragments of victuals. The young prince on noticing their sup plications gave them oranges and such other things as he had being particularly attentive to offer them those things which he best liked himself.

The next morning Mr M Intyre with a Portuguese gentleman of Macao accompanied the captain on board the Oroolong taking with them all kinds of refreshment and provisions ready dressed. In the evening they took Lee Boo and all the officers on shore except the chief mate who remained with the people to take care of the vessel till they should receive orders from the Company's supra cargoes. The Portuguese gentleman who paid Capt. Wilson this visit expressed much pleasure in seeing the Pelew prince and on going on shore requested that the new man as he called Lee Boo might be permitted to visit his family. 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 was the upright walls and flat ceilings of the rooms he seemed as if puzzling himself to comprehend how they could be formed and the decorations of the rooms were also no small subject of astonishment. When he was intro to the ladies of the family his deportment 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 tattooed and appeared pleased with the attention shown him.