vifited every part of the fhip above and below decks, particularly
to gratify the curiofity of Towhah, who had never
feen a fhip before in his life. He paid more attention to the
multitude of new objects on board, to the ftrength and fize of
the timbers, mails, and ropes, than any Taheitian we had ever
feen, and found our tackle fo exceedingly fuperior to that which
is ufual in his country, that he expreffed a wilh to poffefs fe-
veral articles, efpecially cables and anchors. He was now
dreffed like the reft of the people in this happy ifland, and
naked to the waift, being in the king’s prefence. His appearance
was fo much altered from what it had been the
day before, that I had fome difficulty to recollect him..
He appeared now very lufty, and had a moil portly paunch,
which it was impolfible to difcern under the long fpacious
robes of war. His hair was of a fine filvery grey, and his
countenance was the moft engaging and truly good-natured
which I ever beheld in thefe iflands. The king and he
ftaid and dined with us this day, eating with a very hearty
appetite of all that was fet before them. O-Too had entirely
loft his uneafy, diftruftful a ir; he feemed to be at
home, and took a great pleafure in inftruifting Towhah in
our manners. He taught him to make ufe of the knife
and fork, to eat fait to his meat, and to drink wine. He
himfelf did not refufe to drink a glafs of this generous liquor,
and joked with Towhah upon its red colour, telling
him
69-
him it was blood. The honeft admiral having tailed our ap7ku..
grog, which is a mixture of brandy and water, defired to
tafte of the brandy by itfelf, which he called e va'i no Bretannee,
Britifh water, and drank off a fmall glafs full, without making
a wry face. Both he and his Taheitian majefty were
extremely chearful and happy, and appeared to like our way
of living, arid our cookery of their own excellent provi-
fions. They told us that their fleet was intended to reduce
the rebellious people of Eimeo (or York Ifiand). and their
chief, Te-aree-Tabonooee, to obedience, adding, that they
would make the attack in a diftrict of that ifland, called
Morea. Captain Cook propofed, in jeft, to accompany them
with bis fhip, and to fire upon the enemies of O-Too,
which at firft they fmiled at, and approved o f ; but prefently
after they talked among themfelves, and then changing
their tone, faid they could not make ufe of his affiftance,
being refolved to go out againft Eimeo the fifth day after
our departure. Whatever might be the real motive of
this refolution, it certainly was the moft politic in their fi-
tuation. We were too powerful an ally, not to be formidable
even to tbofe- for whom we fhould fight; and'
waving that confideration, it was making the people of Eimeo
too important,: to bring our invincible four-pounders
againft them; for to thefe only would the victory be afcrib-
ed, even by the vanquifhed; and as foon as we fhould have-
left the ifland, the conquerors would lofe much of that importance