Excerpt from Ben Nebo: A Pilgrimage in the South Seas, In Three Cantos

People in these times are not supposed to rank poetry too highly, yet there are some who are not above verse, and to these Ben Nebo is directed. Of the Poem itself I shall say nothing: its conduct lies among the South Seas, and so far as the description of the natives, islands, adventures, etc. are concerned, is strictly correct - all being drawn from personal experience.

Ben Nebo is an imaginary name compounded for the occasion. Nebo, as the intelligent reader is aware, is the name of one of the summits of the mountains of Abarim, whence the great Hebrew legislator was permitted to behold the Land of Promise, before yielding up his spirit. I chose the name because it struck me as unique and euphonious: the prefix "Ben" is simply an abbreviation of Benjamin - a style I have also adopted from mere novelty, and which is seen in other names in the poem, thus: Ned Bastion, Dave Vangs, etc. I trust no harm will come of this innovation, though perhaps more toploftical titles might have a better effect in a rhyming production, but if the characters are proper, who will quarrel with patronymics?

Ben Nebo, himself, is a fanciful character, created for the purpose of effect, and is supposed to be the super-cargo of the trader. He may be a rather cynical and unamiable personage, but for this I am not accountable, no author is responsible for the vagaries of his creations.

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