PfMKppeC:
j»nu>ry ^10re’ on ^le*r way on board the Difcovery, where a canoe was wait-
'— -v-— 1 mg to receive them; and in which were two large hogs, that Pomurrey
had defired might be lent me from Oparre. Confidering myfelf; on
this occafion, his debtor, I endeavoured to difcover what would be
molt acceptable in return. He had promifed to folicit a file for a man
in his canoe, and he could not be prevailed upon to accept any other
article. After a Ihort (lay on board, they bid us farewel, and were
faluted with eight guns from the veffels. Moll of the chiefs left us, in
order to procure fuch articles as they confidered might be acceptable to
us previoufiy to our departure.
Mr. Broughton, Mr. Menzies, and feveral officers of the Difcovery
Friday 13. and Chatham, made an excurfion on the 13th to' the weftward, towards
Oparre, and the country in its vicinity; which, together with the ab-
fence o f the chiefs and their attendants, fo much reduced our focietv
that the encampment had the appearance of being almoft deferted.
Saturday 14. A t day break the next morning I received a meflage from Pomurrey,’
acquainting me with the death of Mahow; in confequence o f which their
voyage to Morea was at an end. Little concern could polfibly be felt
on this occafion. Mahow’s relief from the wretched condition in which
he exilted, was direCted by humanity to be eileemed a moll happy
event; particularly when the very lingular treatment is- confidered,
which this poor being endured whilft in our neighbourhood. Almoft
every evening, and fometimes twice in the night, he was brought in the
litter from the royal habitation near the point, and placed in fome
one of our tents for a Ihort time, and then carried back again. In
the day-time he was either viliting the encampment, or, in the heat of
the fun, or in the midft of rain was rowed round the Ihips, arid infilled
one evening on fleeping on board the Chatham. He was very fond of
tea, and extremely defirous that, whatever nourilhment he took, Ihould
be drelfed in the Englilh falhion. The conduft obferved towards this
dying man, feemed calculated, if not intended, to haften his diflolution. •
This however, was not to be reconciled with the general deportment o f
the whole royal party, and efpecially with that of Pomurrey, who ap-\
peared to regard him with great tendernefs and affeflion. I was particularly
cularly inquifitive why he was fo harrafled about; and they all agreed ‘ 79^
it Was in confequence o f his own defire, which, fo far as could be <---- y— j
learned, feemed di&ated by fuperftitious notions.
I defired the meflenger to inform Pomurrey, that I would attend the
funeral folemnities of the deceafed the next day. On funday morning Sunday 15.
he again returned with a requeft from Pomurrey, that I would not
vifit Oparre until tuefday, when the religious interdiction under which
that diftrifil had been laid would be at an end, no communication at
prefent being permitted between the inhabitants of Oparre and thofe of
the other parts of the ifland. This was made generally known by the
difplay of flags inv the feveral path-ways ; not a canoe was fuffered to
move along the Ihores; nor was a fire allowed to be made; which produced
a degree of folemnity, that was very expreflive of the concern
felt for the' death o f this chief, and of his confequence and refpeclabi-
lity. Numerous fires had been obferved the preceding day all over the
diftrift of Oparre.' Thefe, we were given to underftand, were ceremonies
of a religious nature confequent on the .demife o f Mahow ; and it is rea-
fonable to fuppofe that the mourners took advantage of this ordinance
to cook fufficient provifions for the time of the interdiction.
Our provifions having been fupplied in the greateft abundance, per-
miflion was now granted for the purchafe of curiofities, agreeably to
my promife contained in the reftriftive orders of the 25th of deeember
laft. And as nothing worthy of attention had occurred in our neighbourhood
during the abfence o f Mr. Broughton and his party, I (hall
infert fuch obfervations made during their excurfion, as were communicated
to me on their return.
Our gentlemen embarked in a canoe belonging to Motor ee, the fove-
reign of Ulietea, who together with Whytooa and his wife, accompanied
them towards Oparre. On their way they landed for the purpofe of
feeing the morai of Tapootapootatea. Mowrce, who attended them, on
approaching the facred fpot, defired the party would flop until he
Ihould addrefs the Eaetooa. For this purpofe he feated himfelf on the
ground, and began praying before a watta, ornamented with a piece
o f wood indifferently carved, on which was placed, for the prefent
O 2 occafion,