whole force of the ifland could not take him from me, and
that, let my demands for his Tanfom have been ever fo high,
they muft have complied with them. Thus far their fears,
both for his and their own fafety, were founded in reafon.
On the yth, early in the morning, while the fit ip s were
unmooring, I went to pay my farewell vifit to Oree, accompanied
by Captain Furneaux and Mr. Forfter. We took with
us for a prefent, fuch things as were not only valuable, but
ufeful. I alfo left with him the infcription plate he had before
in keeping, and another fmall copper-plate on which
were engraved thefe words, “ Anchored here, his Britannic
Majefty’s fhips Refolution and Adventure, September 1773,”
•together with fome medals, all put up in a bag; of which
the chief promifed to take care, and to produce, to the firft
fhip or fhips that fhould arrive at the ifland. He then gave
me a hog; and, after trading for fix or eight more, and
loading the boat with fruit, we took leave, when the good
old chief embraced me with tears in his eyes. At this interview,
nothing was faid about the remainder of Mr. Sparrman’s
clothes. I judged they were not brought in; and, for that
reafon, did not mention them, left I fhould give the chief pain,
about things I did not give him time to recover; for this was
early in the morning.-
When we returned to the fhips, we found them crowded
round with canoes full pf hogs, fowls, and fruit, as at out
firft arrival. I had not been long on board, before Oree
himfelf came, - to inform me, as we underftood, that the
robbers were taken, and to defire us to go on fhore, either
to punifh, or to fee them punifhed; but this could not be
done, as the Refolution was juft under fail, and the Adventure
already out o f , the harbour. The chief flayed on board
till
AND ROUND THE WORLD.
till we were a full half league out at fea; then took a moft
affectionate leave of me; and went away in a canoe, conduced
by one man and himfelf; all the others having gone
long before. I was forry that it was not convenient for me
to go on fhore with him, to fee in what manner thefe people
would have been punifhed; for I am fatisfied, this was what
brought him on board.
During our fhort flay at the fmall but fertile ifle of Hua-
heine, we procured to both fhips not lefs than three hundred
hogs, befides fowls and fruits; and, had we flayed longer,
might have got many more: for none of thefe articles of re-
frefhment were feemingly diminifhed, but appeared every
where in as great abundance as ever.
Before we quitted this ifland Captain Furneaux agreed to
receive on board his fhip a young man named Omai, a
native of Ulietea, where he had had fome property, of which
he had been difpofiefled by the people of Bolabola. I at firft
rather wondered that Captain Furneaux would encumber
himfelf with this man, who, in my opinion, was not a proper
fample of the inhabitants of thefe happy iflands, not
having any advantage of birth, or acquired rank; nor being
eminent in fhape, figure, or complexion. For their
people of the firft rank are much fairer, and ufually better
behaved, and more intelligent, than the middling clafs of
people, among whom Omai is to be ranked. I have, however,
fince my arrival in England, been convinced of my
error: for excepting his complexion, (which is undoubtedly
of a deeper hue than that of the-Earees or gentry, who,
as in other countries, live a more luxurious life, and are*
lefs expofed to the heat of the fun) I much doubt whether
any other of the natives would have given more general fa-
■ V o L - Z tisfaClion
169 n
1773*
September. m
Tuefday 7,
_
m