C H A P T E R VI.
ViJit Otoo— Arrival o f Pomurrey andMatooara Mahow— Arrival o f Taow,
Pomurrey’s father— Interview between Taow and his fons— SubmiJ/ion o f
Taow to Otoo— Entertainments at the encampment— Vt/it o f Poatatou—
Death o f Mahow— Excurfon to Oparre.
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■ ecemfaer'f D Y the time we had anchored, the fhip was furrounded with canoes
Friday 30. laden with the different produfiions o f the country. The natives, with
every affurance of friendlhip, and with expreffions of the greateft jo y at
our arrival, were crowding on board. One or two amongft them, although
not principal chiefs, evidently affumed fome little authority, and
were exceedingly earned that we fhould not fuffer the multitude to come
on board, as that would be the bell means to prevent thefts, and infure that
amity and good fellowlhip which they appeared very folicitous to eftablilh
and fupport. We complied with their advice, and found no difficulty
in carrying it into execution. We had only to defire they would return
to their canoes, and they immediately complied. I had the mortification
o f finding on inquiry, that moll of the friends I had left here in
the year 1777, both male and female, were dead. Otoo, with his father,
brothers, and fillers, Potatow, and his family, were the only chiefs of
my old acquaintance that were now living. Otoo was not here; nor
did it appear that Otaheite was now the place o f his refidence, having
retired to his newly acquired poffeffion Eimeo, or as the natives more
commonly call that illand M o r e a , leaving his eldeft fon the fupreme '
authority over this, and all the neighbouring illands. The young king
had taken the name of Otoo, and my old friend that o f Pomurrey;
having given up his name with his fovereign jurifdiflion, though he Hill
feemed
feemed to retain his authority as regent. Mr. Broughton had received
fome prefents from Otoo, who being now arrived from Oparre, had
fent defiring that gentleman would vifit him on Ihore at Matavai. I
had received no invitation ; but, as fome of the natives gave me to un-
derlland that my accompanying Mr. Broughton would be elteemed a
civility, I did not hefitate to comply, efpecially as Mr. Broughton had
prepared a prefent in fo handfome a way, that I confidered it a fufficient
compliment to the young king from us both. As foon as the Ihip was
fecured, Mr. Whidbey and myfelf attended Mr. Broughton, with intention
to fix on an eligible fpot for our tents, and for tranfafling our ne-
ceffary bufinefs on Ihore; and afterwards to pay our refpeflls to his
Otaheitean majefly.
The furf obliged us to row round- the point near the mouth of the
river; where we landed, and were received by the natives with every
demonflration of regard. A meffenger was inllantly difpatched to inform
the king of our arrival, and intended vifit. The ftation o f our tents
on my former vifits to this country, was not likely, on the prefent occasion,
to anfwer our purpofe; the beach was confiderably waffled away,
and the fand being removed from the coral rocks rendered the landing
very unfafe. The furf had alfo broken into the river, and made it very
fait. Thefe circumftanCes induced me to fix on a fituation about a quarter
of a mile further along the beach, to the fouthward. The meffenger
that had been difpatched to inform Otoo of our landing and propofed
vifit, returned with a pig, and a plantain leaf, as a peace-offering to me;
accompanied by a fpeech of congratulation on our arrival, and offers of
whatever refreftiments the country afforded. This fhort ceremony being
finilhed, we proceeded along the beach in expeflation of meeting the
young fovereign, until we arrived near to the place where the river had
broken its banks. There we were direfled to halt, under the {hade of a
palm tree, to which we readily confented, the weather being nearly
calm, and exceffively fultry. After waiting a fhort time, we were acquainted
that the king, having fome objection to crofs the river for
the purpofe o f meeting flrangers, requefted we would go to him. A
canoe was in waiting to take us over; and having walked about an hun-
O 2 . dred