A l7 S V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
March been occafioned by exceffive fatigue; but that we might rely. on feeing
t-— ---- ' them the next morning. This unpleafant ftate o f fufpenfe occafioned me
fome anxiety; but at day-break I was agreeably relieved by receiving
a meffage that the prince and regent were arrived at Whymea.
Tuefday i3. Mr. Puget was difpatched to the fhore for the purpofe of obtaining
the things which had been left behind, and with directions to ufe every
polfible means to imprefs the prince and regent with our friendly dif-
pofition, and to prevail on them to vifit the fhips. In thefe refpefts he
had the good fortune to fucceed, and communicated to me the following
particulars of his reception.
On landing, he was received with great marks o f friendfhip and cordiality
by Enemoh, who is an elderly chief; guardian to the children o f
Taio, king of the ifland, and regent during his abfence. A t fome distance
the young prince was feated in a man’s lap, to whom Mr. Puget
haftened to pay his refpefts, and had the fatisfaftion of feeing him well
pleafed with the prefents he made him on this occafion. Having fettled
the bufinefs of their vifiting the Ihips, to which Enemoh had eonfented, he
was extremely anxious to become acquainted with the fate of the feveral
articles which he had intrufted to the care of Williams and Nomateehetee
the preceding evening. Much to their credit and honor, he not only found
every thing he had configned to their protection and integrity, but alfo the
mulket with its bayonet, and crofs cut faw, which had been loft out o f the
canoe, but which in the courfe of the night had been recovered by the
natives; who promifed, that the axes which were not yet obtained lhould
likewife be reftored, the inftant they were recovered. The feveral articles
being collefted and fent down to the boat, with the man belonging to
the Chatham who had been left on fhore the preceding evening, Mr.
Puget acquainted Enemoh that he was ready to attend them on board.
Enemoh replied that, with refpeft to himfelf, he had not the leaf! objection
to accompany Mr. Puget with the young prince and Tvpoone, a
young chief about the prinee’s age, who feemed his principal companion
; but that he was now prevented following his own inclinations by
the chiefs who were prefent, and fome women apparently of great eon-
fequence, who collectively demanded an hoftage to be left with them
on
on fhore, whilft we on board were honored with the company of thefe
illuftrious perfonages. On Mr. Puget’s receiving and making known t---- ----- >
my orders, that Mr. Manby and Mr. Sheriff fhould remain behind in
compliance with their defires, a general approbation was expreffed by all
prefent, and the regent with fome attendants embarked; faying, that on
his return the prince and his young friend fhould go on board, but that
the ifland could not be left without either the prince or the regent.
On Enemoh'a coming on board he aiicctcd to recollect, me, and faid we
had been acquainted when I was at Attowai with Captain Cook; and, to
recall himfelf to my remembrance added, that he was prefent when I gave
a lock of my hair to Taio, which Taio had ever fince preferved, and always
carried about him; and that he, Enemoh, had on that occafion re-
quefted a fimilar pledge of friendfhip, which, however, I thought proper
to decline. Thefe circumftances were very likely to have taken
place, although at the moment they did not recur to my memory.
A dozen hogs, and a quantity of mats and cloth, being prtfented by
Enemoh, I made no delay in offering a fuitable return, with which, however,
he did not feem either delighted or fatisfied. This produced ah inquiry
on my part; on which he frankly acknowledged, that the prelent I
had made him was a very liberal one, but that he would gladly give up the
whole for a mufket, or even for a piftol. Thefe engines of deftruftion had
been uniformly folicited with the greateft ardency, by every native o f the
leaft confequence with whom we had any dealings ; and I had frequently
been much perplexed how, without offence, to refufe complying with re-
quefts fo importunate, and, at the fame time, in my humble opinion, fb
repugnant to the caufe of humanity. On this occafion I availed myfelf
of our peculiar fituation, as it had refpeH to the trading veffels which
he had been accuftomed to vifit; and informed him, that the fhip, and
every thing fhe contained, belonged to His Majefty King George, who
had tabooed mufkets, piftols, and various other articles. On this gunpowder
and balls were immediately folicited ; but, on being told that
thefe were under fimilar reftriaions, he remained filent, and feemed very
thoughtful. At length, conceiving no importunities would avail, he. recovered
himfelf, and became as fuddenly cheerful, as on the refufal of
A a 2 his