into a gang, with a refolution to -rob every one who fhould
go that way. It fhould feem, -from what followed, that
the chief could not prevent this, or put a top to thefe repeated
outrages. I did not fee him this evening, as he was
not come into the neighbourhood when I went on board;
but I learnt from Oedidee that he came foon after, and was
To concerned at what had happened that he wept.
Day-light no fooner broke upon us on the sift, than we faw
upwards of fixty canoes under fail going out of the harbour»
and fleering over for Ulietea. On our enquiring the reafon,
we were told that the people in them were Eareeoies, and were
going to vifit their brethren in the neighbouring ifles. One
may almoft compare thefe men to Free-Mafons; they tell us
they affift each other when need requires; they feem to have
cuftoms among them which they either will not, or cannot
explain. Oedidee fold us he was one; Tupia was one ; and
yet I have not been able to get any tolerable idea of this fet
of men, from either of them. Oedidep denies that the children
they have by their miftrefles are put to death, as we
underftood from Tupia and others. I have had fome con-
verfation with Omai on this fubjeft, and find that he confirms
every thing that is faid upon it in the narrative of my
former voyage.
Oedidee, who generally flept on fhore, came off with a
mefiage from Oree, defying I would land with twenty-two
men, to go with him to chaftife the robbers. The meffenger
brought with him, by way of affifting his memory, twenty-
two pieces of leaves, a method cuftomary amongft them.
On my receiving this extraordinary mefiage, I went to the
chief for better information; and all I could learn of him
was, that thefe fellows were a fort of banditti, who had
formed
formed themfelves into a body with a refolution of feizing
and robbing our people wherever they, found them, and
were now armed for that purpofe: for which reafon he
wanted me to go along with him to chaftife them. I told
him, if I went, they would fly to the mountains; but he
faid, they were refolved to fight us, and therefore defired I
would deftroy both them and their lioufe; but begged I
would fpare thofe in the neighbourhood, as alfo the canoes
and the Whenooa-. By way of fecuring thefe, he prefented me
with a pig as a peace-offering for the Whenooa. It was too
fmall to be meant for any thing but a ceremony Of this kind.
This fenfible old chief could fee (what perhaps none of the
ethers ever thought of) that every thing in the neighbourhood
was at our mercy, and therefore took care to fecure
them by this method, which I fuppofe to be of weight with
them. When I returned on board, I confidered of the chief’s
requeft, which upon the whole appeared an extraordinary one.
I, however, refolved to go, left thefe fellows fhould be (by
our refufal) encouraged to commit greater adls of violence;
and, as their proceeding would foon reach Ulietea, where I
intended to go next, the people there might be induced to
treat us in the fame manner, orworfe, they being more numerous.
Accordingly, I- landed with forty-eight men, including
officers, Mr. Forfter, and fome others of the gentle-
„men. The chief joined us with a few people, and we began
to march, in fearch of the banditti, in good order. As we •
proceeded, the chief’s party increafed like a fnow-ball. Oedidee,
who was with us, began to be alarmed, obferving.
that many of the people in our company were of the very
party we were going again!!, and at laft telling us that they
were only leading us to fome place where they could attack
us to advan tage. Whether there was any truth in-this, or it
- wasi
" 4‘
May.
Saturday 21.