*777- after-us in any one thing. We are not, therefore, toexpedt
November. . . .
^ that Omai w ill be able to introduce many o f our arts and
cuitoms amongft them, or much improve -thofe to which
they have been long habituated. I am confident, however,
° that he w ill endeavour to bring to perfeilion the various
fru its and vegetables w e planted, w hich w ill be no fmall
acquifition. But the greateft benefit thefe iflands are lik e ly
to receive from Omai’s travels, w ill be in the animals that
have been left upon th em ; which, probably, they never
would have got, had he not come to England. When thefe
m u lt ip ly , o f w hich I think there is little doubt, Otaheite,
and the Society Illands, w ill equal, i f not exceed, any place
in the kn own world, for provifions.
• Omai’s return, and the fubftantial proofs he brought back
w ith him o f our liberality, encouraged many to offer them-
felves as volunteers to attend me to Pretane. I took every
opportunity o f exprefling m y determination to rejed: all
fuch applications. But, notwithftanding this, Omai, who
was v e ry ambitious o f remaining the only great traveller,
-being afraid left 1 might be prevailed upon to put others in
a fituation o f riv allin g him, frequently put me in mind,
that Lord Sandwich had told him, no others o f his countrym
en were to come to England.
I f there had been the moft diftant probability o f any ihip
b e in g again fent to New Zealand, I would have brought the
two youths o f that country home with m e ; as both o f
them were ve ry defirous o f continuing with us. Tiarooa,
the eldeft, was an exceedingly well difpofed y o u n g man,
with flrong natural fenfe, and capable o f re ceiving any in-
ftrudion . He feemed to be fu lly fenfible o f the inferiority
,of his own country to thefe iflands, and refigned himfelf,
& though
though perhaps w ith re lad an c e , to end his days, in" eafe r ’ 777-
* . , . - November.
and plenty, in Huaneine. But the other was fo ftrongly at- u „/
tached to us, that he was taken out o f the lhip, and carried
afhore b y force. He was a witty, fmart boy ; and, on that,
account, m u ch noticed on board.