17s a v o y a g e t o w a r d s t h e s o u t h p o l e ,
i773*- my young man from Qtaheit-e, who i'ccmed more all aul tli.m
any of us, probably believing every word the people had told
Wednef. ‘5. ^ I found the chief fqated under the fliade of a houfe, before
which was a large area, and furrounded by a vaft number
of people. As foon as I came to him, he threw his arms-
about me, and burft into tears; in which he was accompanied
by all the women, and fome of the men, fo that the
lamentation became general. Aftonifhment alone kept me
from joining with them. It was fome time before I could
get a word from any one; at laft, all my inquiries gave me
no other information, than that they were alarmed on account
of our boats being abfent; thinking that the people
in them had deferred from us, and that I fhould take fome
violent means to recover them. For when we allured them
that the boats would return back, they feemed cheerful and
finished, and, to a man, denied that any one was hurt, either
of their own or our people; and fo it afterwards proved-
Nor did it appear that there was the lead foundation for
thefe alarms nor could we ever find out by what means
this general conllernation firft took its rife. After a flay of
about an hour, I returned on board ; three of the natives,
coming along with us, who proclaimed the peace as we
rowed along fhore, to all they law.
Thus matters were again reftored to their former footing;
Thurfday 16. and the next morning they came off to the fhips, as ufual.
After breakfalt Captain Furneaux and I paid the chief a vifit.
We found him at his own houfe perfectly eafyinfomuch
that he, and fome of his friends, came on board, and dined,
with us. I was now told that my Otaheitean young man
Poreo, had taken a refolution to leave me. I haye juft mentioned
before, his being with us when I followed Oreo, and
AND ROUND THE WORLD. 179
his advifing me not to go on fhore. He was fo much afraid,
. . September. at that time, that he remained in the boat till he heard all *__'
matters were reconciled. Then he came out; and, prefent- d"y 1
ly after, met with a young woman, for whom he had con-
tradled a friendfhip. Having my powder-horn in keeping,
he came and gave it to one of my people who was by me,
and then went away with her, and I faw him no more.
In the afternoon our boats returned from Otaha, pretty
well laden with plantains ; an article we Were moft in want
of. They made the circuit of the ifland, conducted by one
of the Earees, whofe name was Boba, and were hofpitably
entertained by the people; who provided them with victuals
and lodging. The firft night they were entertained with a
play; the fecond night, their repofe was difturbed by the
natives Healing their military cheft: this put them on making
reprifals, by which means they recovered the moft of
what they had loft.
Having now got on board a large fupply of refrefhments,
I determined to put to fea the next morning, and made the -Friday i7.
fame known to the chief, who promifed to fee me again before
we departed. At four o’clock we began to unmoor;
and, as foon as it was light, Oreo, his fon, and fome of his
friends, came on board. Many 'canoes alfo came off with
fruit and hogs ; the latter they even begged of us to take
from them, calling out Tiyo boa atoi—I am your friend, take
my hog, and give me an ax. But our decks were already fo
full of them, that we could hardly move; having, on board
both fhips, between three and four hundred. By the in-
creafe of our flock, together, with what we had faked and
confumed, I judge that we got at this ifland 400, or upwards.
Many, indeed, were only roafters ; others again weighed one
' A a 3 hundred