1773* May.
Saturday 14.
C H A P . VII.
The fecond Jlay at the Society IJlands.
A Brilk gale carried us fwiftly from Taheitee. We
were ftill bufied in contemplating its beautiful
fcenery, when an unexpedted objedt on our own decks attracted
our attention. This was no other than one of the
fineft women whom we had feen in the country, and who-
had refolved to go with us to Raietea (Ulietea), her native
ifland. Her parents, from whom Ihe had eloped to Taheitee
with a favoured lover fome years ago, were ftill alive,
and the force of affection urged her irrefiftibly to vifit them.
She was by no means apprehenfive of their anger, but on
the contrary expedted a kind reception. The little youthful
errors of the heart are eafily forgiven, where intereft and
ambition have fo little fway. She had concealed herfelf on
board during O-Too’s laft vifit, as he had exprefsly ordered
that no woman fhould go with us; but being fafe at prefent,
fhe ventured to make her appearance. Mahine’s brother,
his fervant, and two other natives of Borabora, likewife took
a paffage with us, confidently relying on a people who had
fo faithfully brought one of their countrymen back again,
and who had endeavoured to fhew him every kindnefs in
their
their power. Their company gave life to our converfation,
and fhortened the day of our paflage to Huahine. The
girl was drelfed in a fuit of cloaths belonging to one of
the officers, and was fo much pleafed with her new garments,
that fhe went afhore in them as foon as fhe arrived
at that ifland. She dined with the officers, without the
leaft fcruple, and laughed at the prejudices of her countrymen
with all the good fenfe of a citizen of the world.
With a proper education fhe might have fhone as a woman
of genius even in Europe; fince, without the advantage
of a cultivated underftanding, her great vivacity joined
to very polite manners, already were fufficient to make her
company fupportable.
We failed on all night; and the "next morning, at day
break, the ifland of Huahine was in fight. In the afternoon
we came to an anchor in the northern branch of
Wharre harbour, where we lay not more than fifty yards
from the fhore. We were vifited by fome of the natives,
who brought hogs to fell, but demanded hatchets in return,
which were now fo fcarce on board, that we referved them
for great occafions. Oree, the regent of the ifland, came to
us before funfet in a fmall canoe, and brought a hog and
a target of war to captain Cook, for which he received a fuit-
able prefent. He gave us fome pepper-roots this time, but
without any of the ceremonies obferved at our former vifit
Q_2 to
*774- May.
Saturday 15.