mIx. ders, he refolved to return, and declared to the natives that
the enemy was too far off to be purfued. We came back
to a fpacious houfe, about halfway to the Ihip, where Oree
regaled us with coco-nuts. Whilft we remained there, fome
o f the natives brought feveral banana-ftalks, two dogs, and
a pig. They prefented them to the captain, holding a long
fpeech on the occafion, which was moftly unintelligible, but
feemed to relate to the affair that had brought us into the
field. A large hog was fhewn to us at the fame time, but
inftead of being prefented, it was Jed off again. From
hence we reached the fea-fhore oppofite th.e fhip about noon
and then fired our mulkets in platoons over the fea. This
manoeuvre furprifed the natives prodigioufly, as it convinced
them that we could keep up a confiant fire, of which they
had no idea before, and Ihewed them to what vaft diftances
our balls could be projected. Thus ended our warlike expedition,
to the wilh of a few individuals amongft us, who
had too great an affe&ion for all their brethren, to defire
tjreir deftrudtion. It was not fi> fatisfaélory to others, who,
inured to the horrid fcenes of war and bloodfhed, had ac-!
quired, by force of habit, a deteftable eagernefs to try their
Ikill in fhooting at men, rather than at a mark !
We faw but few natives about the fhip all the next afternoon
; fome fruit was however exchanged for fmall nails.
Our friends vifited us the next morning, with many pre-
fcnts of different forts, One of them, a chief, named Morurua,
rurua, had fingled out my father as his friend, and came
with his wife and family to fee us. Several articles were
diftributed to them, in return for thofe which the chief had
brought; but he thought our prefent fo much more valuable
than his, that he feemed quite enchanted, and his eyes
with peculiar eloquence expreffed a lively fenfe of gratitude.
He returned therefore to us again the next morning, when
we were getting under fail, and after loading us with new
prefents, diflbl'ved in tears at parting.
We' left the three friends of Mahine on this illand, but
had taken on board another native, who was fent from Oree
with a meflage to O-Poonee, the king of Borabora. This
ambaffador appeared to be a very ftupid fellow ; we could
not however dive into the fecret of his million, nor were
any of us folicitous about it. His name was Hurree-hurree,
which, in its Englifh acceptation, feemed to be remarkably
well chofen for a meflenger.
The next day before noon we anchored in the entrance of
Hamaneno harbour, on the illand of Raietea, and fpent the
reft of the day, till after fun-fet, in warping the fhip into
the bafon. The chief O-Rea came on board, and feemed
highly delighted with our return. The appearance of Mahine
and Hurree doubtlefs ftrengthened his good opinion of
us, and infpired all his people with confidence. We went
on Ihore to his houfe with captain Goolc the next morning;
and were met by his wife and his daughter Poyadua; The
wife.
»774* May.
Monday 2,3.)
T u efd a y 24^-
Wednefd. 25*-