1773*
A ugust,
bunches of bananas, and a clothing-mat. There was Something
fo generous in O-Wahow’s way of afting, above all
the little ideas of bartering, that we could not fail to
exprefs the higheft regard for him. A much more considerable
prefent was returned to him, rather to confirm
him in his noble Sentiments, than as a compensation fot
his gift. I With that he retired in the evening, promifing
to return to us again, and exprefling Such extravagant
emotions of joy as are commonly the effeéls of unexpected
good fortune.
In the mean while we gradually approached the fhore,
a faint breeze helping us on, and the evening-fun illuminating
the landscape with the richeft golden tints. We now
difcerned that long projecting point, which from the obferv-
ation made upon it, had been named Point Venus, and
eafily agreed, that this was by far the moft beautiful part
of the ifland. The diftrift of Matava'i, which now opened
to our view, exhibited a plain of Such an extent as we had
not expected, and the valley which we traced running up
between the mountains, was itfelf a very Spacious grove,
compared to the little narrow glens in Tiarraboo. We
hauled round the point “about three o’clock, and faw it
crouded with a prodigious number of people, who gazed
at us with fixed attention; but as Soon as we came to an
anchor, in the fine bay which it fhelters, the greater part of
them ran very precipitately round the whole beach, and acrofs
One-
One-tree-hill to O-Parre, the next diflrift to the weftward.
Among the whole croud, we faw only a Angle man whofe
fhoulders were covered with a garment, and he, according
to our friend O-Wahow’s teftimony, was O-Too, the king
of O-Taheitee-Nue (the Greater Taheitee.) His perfon was
tall, and very advantageoufly proportioned, but he ran very
nimbly along with his Subjects, which the natives on board
attributed to his apprehenfions on our account.
Though it was near Sun-Set when we came to an anchor,
yet our decks were in a fhort time crouded with natives of
all ranks, who recognized their old friends in many of our
officers and Sailors, with a degree of reciprocal joy, which
cannot eafily be defcribed. Among them was the old, venerable
O-Whaw, whofe peaceable character and good
offices to our people, are taken notice of in the. account of
Lieutenant Cook’s firft voyage, particularly upon the occasion
when one of the natives was murdered *. He immediately
recollefted Mr. Pickerfgill, and calling him by his
Taheitean name, Petrodero, enumerated on his fingers,
that this was the third vifit he made to the ifland, that gentleman
having been here both in the Dolphin and the Endeavour.
A chief, named Maratata X, paid captain Cook
a, vifit with his. lady, (Tedua)-Erararee, who was a very
well-looking young woman, and both received a number
* . See Hawkefwortli, vol. II. p. 83, go}. 91«.
X Ibid. p. 157. Mara'itata,