iffanders, their method of treating ftrangers, and their general
habits of life, are much like thofe that prevail at
Otaheite, and its neighbouring ifles. Their religious ceremonies
and opinions are alfo nearly the fame. For, upon
feeing one -man, who was painted all over of a deep black
colour, and inquiring the reafon, our gentlemen were told,
that he had lately been paying the laft good offices to a de-
ceafed friend; and they found, that it was upon fimilar
occafions, the women cut themfelves, as already mentioned.
From every circumftance, indeed, it is indubitable, that the
natives of Wateeoo fprung, originally, from the fame flock,
which hath fpread itfelf fo wonderfully all over the im-
menfe extent of the South Sea. One would fuppofe, however,
that they put in their claim to a more illuftrious extraction
; for Omai allured us, that they dignified their
illand with the appellation of Wenooa no te Ealooa, that is, A
land of gods; efteeming themfelves a fort of divinities,
and poffeffed with the fpirit of the Eatooa. This wild en-
thufiaftic notion Omai feemed much to approve of, telling
us there were inftances of its being entertained at Otaheite;
but that it was univerfally prevalent amongft the inhabitants
o f Mataia,. or Qfnaburg Illand.
The language fpoken at Wateeoo was equally well un-
derftood by Omai, and by our two New Zealanders. What
ks peculiarities may be, when compared with the other
dialeCte, I am not able to point o u t; for, though Mr. An-
derfon had taken care to note down a fpecimen of it, the
natives, who made no- diftinCtion of the objects of their
theft,. Hole the memorandum book.
C H A P.
c h a p . nr.
Wenooa-ette, or Otalootaia, v ifte d .— Account o f than
I f and, and o f its Produce.— H erveys I f and, or T e-
rougge mou Attooa, found to be inhabited.— Tranfac-
tions with the N atives.— Their Perfons, D refs, L a n guage,
Canoes.— Fruitlefs Attem pt to land there.— Rea-
fons fo r bearing away fo r the Friendly Ifa n d s.— P a lmer
fo n s I f and touched a t.— Defcription. of. the two
Places where the Boats landed.— RefreJhments obtained
there.— Conje&ures on the Formation o ffu ch low Ifa n d s.
-—A r r iv a l a t the Friendly Ifands-.
LI G 'HT airs and calms having prevailed, by turns, all’ 1777.
the night of the 3d, the Eaflerly fwell had carried the , fnl~
fhips fome diftance from Wateeoo, before day-break. But Fridays
as I had failed' in my objeCt o f procuring, at that place,
fome effectual fupply, Flaw no reafon for flhying there any
longer. I", therefore; quitted it, without regret, and fleered
for the neighbouring illand, which, as has been mentioned;
we difcovered three days before.
With a gentle breeze at Eaft, we got up with it, before
ten oklock in the morning, and: I immediately difpatchedi
Mr. Gore, with two boats, to- endeavour to land, and gee
fome food for our cattle. As therefeemed to be no inhabitants
here to obftruCt our taking away whatever we mights
think proper, I was confident of his being able to make
amends for our late difappointment, if. the landing could:
1, be,-