m79 h' quefted that Titeerec and Taio would accompany us in' a walk through
— ---- - the plantations; this they begged leave to decline, and pleaded their age
and infirmities as an excufe. They; however direfled that Namahanna,
Tomofurmoho, and Martier fhould attend us, who would equally prevent
the obtrulion of the curious, and render us every fervice.
Attended by our guard and thefe chiefs, we vifited the cultivated parts
o f the plain of Raheina; thefe occupied no Very great extent; the part
bordering on the fea fhore was pleafantly laid out in plantations of taro,
potatoes, fugar cane, the cloth plant, &c. tolerably well fhaded by fpread-
ing trees, chiefly o f the bread fruit; but in point of fize, or in the luxuriance
o f its productions, it bore no proportion to the plains of Otaheite
and of the Society iflands. Through thefe grounds little canals were cut
in various directions, that fupplied the feveral plantations with water;
-the whole originating from a continual fpring of excellent water, fuffi-
ciently above the level to inundate every part. The taro was growing
among the water, but in a very bad flate of culture, and in very fmatl
quantities. T o the ravage and deftruCtion of Tamaakmaah’s wars, the
wretched appearance of their crops was to be afcribed; of this they grieV-
oufly complained, and were continually pointing out the damages they
had fuftained. The defpoiled afpeCt of the country was an incontrovertible
evidence of this melancholy truth. Mofl of the different tenements
in the lands formerly cultivated, were now lying wafle, their fences partly
or intirely broken down, and their little canals utterly deftroyed; nor
was a hog or a fowl any where to be feen. By far the larger portion of
the plain was in this ruinous flate; and the fmall part that was in a flou-
rifhing condition, bore the evident marks of very recent labour.
Having extended our walk as far as our inclinations led us, and
having fatisfied our curiofity,. we returned to the royal habitation,
where we found Titeeree and Taio at dinner on raw pickled fifh, and
poty taro; that is, a mefs made o f the taro root, not unlike a hafty pudding.
Senfible that we were not likely to relifh fuch food, they had provided
two very fine baked hogs which were immediately fet before us, but
the cook having negleCled to provide any vegetables, which was a more
important article to us, we declined the repdft, and the chiefs having
finifhed their meal, returned with us on board.
As this was likely to be the lafl vifit o f Titeeree and Taio, I prefented ‘ 793:
them with a large affortment o f ufeful tools, implements, and houfehold . M” cl,‘ .
utenfils, with cloth, linen, fome beads, and other articles o f ornament.
To Titeeree I gave alfo fome goats; and thefe being the firfl foreign animals
imported into Mowee, were regarded as a mofl valuable prefent. The
inferior chiefs and attendants were not neglefled on this occafion, and I
had the fatisfaflion to find, that my liberality had exceeded their moflfan-
guine expectations. By this time they had become well acquainted with
the noble and generous conduct o f Tamaakmaah, and our reception and
treatment at Owhyhee. This they would have been happy to have
imitated, had they not been prevented by the general diflrefs of their
country; but they promifed to afhfl us on our return to the very utmofl
of their power and ability.
In the evening, we had a difplay of fire-works from the after part of
the fhip, to the great terror and admiration o f our vifitors, and their
attendants on board, and of the natives o f all defcriptions aflembled
in their canoes about the fhip, comprehending mofl probably all the
inhabitants.
The exhibition being concluded, I expe&ed to have taken leave of
my Mowee friends, but the night being very dark, and a heavy furf
breaking on the fhore, the king and Taio were not much inclined to
leave us, faying they fhould be liable to great danger in palling the reef
in the dark. This circumflance induced me, though contrary to my
eflablifhed rule, to indulge them and the major part o f their retinue with
my cabin. The night was more appropriated to converfation, than to
fleep. I retired to reft, but was frequently awakened, and found that their
difcourfe was principally on the occurrences that had taken place fince
our arrival, and on the deflruftive powers o f our fire-works when ufed in
war.
The next morning Titeeree departed in a very fudden manner, and Monday t8.
without my knowledge. I became apprehenfive that fome accidental
offence had been given him; but Taio allured me of the contrary, and
that fuch was his common praftice of retiring. I had indeed, before, noticed
an abruptnefs in his leaving the fhip; but on the prefent occafion
I thought he would have fhewn more refpeft.