*774* May.
I have already mentioned the improvements we found in
the plains of Oparree and Matavai. The fame was obferved
in every other part into which we came. It feemed to us
almoft incredible, that fo many large canoes and houfes
could be built in fo Ihort a fpace as eight months. The iron
tools which they had got from the Englilh, and other nations
who have lately touched at the ille, had, no doubt,
greatly accelerated the work; and they have no want of
hands, as I lhall foon make appear.
The number of hogs was another thing that excited our
wonder. Probably they were not fo fcarce, when we were
here before, as we imagined, and, not chufing to part with
any, they had conveyed them out of our light. Be this as
it may, we now not only got as many as we could confume
during our flay, but fome to take to fea with us.
When I was laft here, I conceived but an unfavourable
opinion of Otoo’s talents. The improvements fince made in
, the ifland convinced me of my miftake; and that he mull
be a man of good parts. He has, indeed, fome judicious
fenfible men about him; who, I believe, have a great lhare
in the government. In truth, we know not how far his
power extends as king, nor how far he can command the
affiftance of the other chiefs, or is controulable by them. It
flaould, however, feem, that all have contributed towards
bringing the ille to its prefent flourilhing Hate. We cannot
doubt that there are divilions amongft the great men of this
Hate, as well as of moll others ; or elfe why did the king tell
us, thatTowha the admiral, and Poatatou were not his friends?
They were two leading chiefs; and he mud be jealous of
them on account of their great power; for, on every occalion,
* he
he feemed to court their interell. We had reafon to believe '774.
that they raifed by far the greatell number of veflels and men, < j
to go againll Eimeo, and were to be two of the commanders in
the expedition, which we were told was to take place live days
after our departure. Waheatoua king of Tiarabou was to
fend a fleet to join that of Otoo, to aflill him in reducing to
obedience the chief of Eimeo. I think, we were told, that
young prince was one of the commanders. One would
fuppofe that lo fmall an ifland as Eimeo would hardly have
attempted to make head againll the united force of thefe
two kingdoms, but have endeavoured to fettle matters by
négociation. Yet we heard of no fuch thing ; on the contrary,
every one fpokeof nothing but fighting, Towha told
us möre than once that he Ihould die there ; which, in fome
meafure, Ihews that he thought of it. Oedidee told me
the battle would be fought at fea ; in which cale the other
mull have a fleet nearly equal, if not quite, to the one going
againll them; which I think was not probable. It was
therefore, more likely they would remain alhore upon thé
defenfive ; as we were told they did, about five or fix years
ago, when attacked by the people of Tiarabou whom they
repulfed. Five general officers were to command in this
expedition; of which number Otoo‘was one ; and, if they
named them in order according to the polls they held, Otoo
was only the third in command. This feems probable
enough ; as, being but a young man, he could not have
fufficient experience to command fuch an expedition, where
the greatell Ikill and judgment feemed to be neceflary.
I confefs I would willingly have llaid five days longer, had
I been fure the expedition would have then taken place ; but
it lather feemed that they wanted us -to be gone firli. \Ye
y T 2 had