s „ x S « . proves that they have the art of managing fome of their
plantations fa as to produce at different feafons; but thefe
late crops are, as may be eafily conceived, very trifling in '
quantity, and referved for the luxury of their chiefs.
We returned on board to dinner, and afterwards made
‘ another excurfion on fhore, where we were told, that the
chiefs of the ifland would make their appearance the next
day. We were not much incommoded by the inhabitants
on our rambles, our train feldom exceeding fifteen or
twenty, except near a place of general refort, fuch as the
fhed where our trade was carried on. The fmallnefs of the
ifland might be the principal caufe of the difference from
what we had experienced at Taheitee ; but it muft be added,
~ that the natives here were not well enough acquainted with
our difpofition to expedt to reap any advantage from following
us ; and did not, upon the whole, exprefs that degree
of curiofity, nor of fear, which was inherent in the Tahei-
tians, who had had fufficient caufe to dread the fuperior
power of our fire-arms.
Our Taheitian friend Porea went afhore with us in a
linen frock and a pair of trowfers, and carried captain
Cook’s powder-horn and fhot-pouch. He told us that he
was defirous to be looked upon as one of our people, and
therefore never fpoke the Taheitian language, but continued
to mutter fome unintelligible founds, which actually
impofed upon the multitude. To favour the illufion, he
would
would no longer hearken to his Taheitian name Porea,
but defired to have an Englifh one ;• the failors immediately
called him Tom, with which- he was extremely
well pleafed, and foon learnt the ufual anfwer of Sir,
which he expreffed Yorro. What aim he propofed to him-
felf in afluming this difguife, we could not conceive,
unlefs it was, that he expected to have greater confequence
in the character of an Englifh failor, than that of a Ta-
heitian towtow.
The next day my father accompanied the captains to
the trading-place, and from thence to the north part of
the harbour, where they found the adting chief, Oree, who
was the uncle of the prefent king Territarea (perhaps T’-
Aree-Tarea.) They put afhore near a houfe on the water-
fide, where Oree was feated amidft a number of his attendants.
Two of the natives who were in the boat, feeing
our gentlemen preparing to land, defired them to fit {till
a while, till they had brought fome plantane-ftems, in
fign of peace and friendfhip. They prefen ted two of thefe
to our people, and defired them to ornament them with,
large nails, looking-glafles, medals, 8cc. This requeft being,
complied with, the Items thus loaded were brought on
fhore and prefented, whilfl they bid our people pronounce
to the firft no t’Eatua, “ for the Divinity, and to the feeond,
na te tayo O-'Toote no Oree, u from the friend, Cook, to Oree.
This
' 773-
September.