But though the worthy old Chief was thus favourably difpofed towards his
vifitors, fome of his fubjcdts, either through prejudice, or their natural pro-
p. 164. penfity to thieving, were rather inimical to them. On Monday, the 6th of
September, as foon as Captain Cook got on ihore, he was informed that one
o f the inhabitants had been very troublefome and infolent: the man being
pointed out to him, completely equipped in the war habit, with a club in each
hand, and feemingly bent on inifchief, he took the weapons from him, and
. broke them before his eyes; and, with fome difficulty, forced him to retire
from the place. As they told Captain Cook that he was a Chief, this made
him the .more fufpicious of him, and occaiioned him to fend for a guard,
which, till now, he had thought unnecefiary.
p. 164. About the fame time, Mr. Spearman, having imprudently gone out alone
botanizing, was fet upon by two men, who ftripped him of every thing he
had about him, except his trowiers, and ftruck him feveral times with his own
hanger; but, happily, did him no harm. As foon as the fellows had accom-
pliihed their end, they made off. After which, another of the natives brought
a piece of cloth to cover him, and conduced him to the trading place, where
a great number of the inhabitants then were : as foon as he was brought there,
the natives all fled to a man with the utmoft precipitation. Captain Cook
went to Oree to complain of the outrage; who, when he heard the whole
affair, w^pt aloud, as did many others.
After the firft tranfports of his grief were over, he began to expoftulate with
his people, obferving to them how well Captain Cook had treated them, both
in this and his former voyage, arid how bafe it was in them to commit fuch
aftions. He then fet put in the boat with, Captain Cook to endeavour to recover
the loft things; notwithftanding the intreaties of his attendants, who, no fooner
faw their beloved Chief in the Captain’s power, than, apprehenfive. of his
fafety, they fet up a great outcry: the grief they fhewed was inexpreifible;
every face was bedewed with tears; they prayed, intreated, nay, even attempted
to pull him out of the boat. But all they could do or fay availed nothing.
His lifter, with a fpirit equal to that of her royal brother, was the only perfon
who did not oppofe his going.
After
After a fruitlefs fearch of many hours, they returned to the fhip, where the
Chief fat at table with them, and made a hearty dinner; his lifter, according to
cuftom, eat nothing. In the afternoon Captain Cook liberally rewarded them
for the confidence they had placed in him, and then carried them both on ihore,
where fome hundreds of people waited to receive them, many of whom em- p. 167.
braced their Chief with tears of joy. All now was peace and gladnefs; and the
natives crowded in, from every part, with hogs, fowls, and fruit, fo that two
boats were prefently filled. During their ihort ftay at the fmall, but fertile p. 169.
Ifle of Huahaine, they procured to both (hips not lefs than three hundred hogs,
befides fowls and fruit.
On the 7th of September, early in the morning, while the fhips were un- p. 168.
mooring, Captain Cook went to pay a farewell vifit to Oree, taking with him
for a prefent fuch things as were not only valuable, but ufeful. On his departure,
the good old Chief embraced him with tears in his eyes. The Captain had not
been long returned before Oree came himfelf on board, to inform him that the
robbers were taken; and defiring him to go on ihore, either to punifh them
or fee them punifhed: but this could not be done, as the fhips were under fail.
The Chief ftayed on board till they were full half a league at fea; and then
took an affectionate leave.
Before they quitted Huahaine, Captain Furneaux agreed to receive on board p.
his fhip a young man, named Omai, a native of Ulietea, in which ifland he
had had fome property, but had been drfpoiTeiTed of it by the people o f
Bolabola. Captain Cook here remarks, that Omai was not a proper fample
o f the inhabitants of thefe happy iflands, not having any advantage of birth
or acquired rank, nor being eminent in fhape, figure, or Complexion. For
their people of the firft rank (from living a more luxurious life, and being
lefs expofed to the heat of the fun) are much fairer, and ufually better behaved,
and more intelligent, than the middling clafs o f people, among whom
Omai is to be ranked. He, however, carried hinifelf with great propriety
(having naturally a good underftanding, quick parts, and honeft principles) P’ I7°*
during his voyage, and after his arrival in England, where he acquired the
efteem and patronage of feveral of the nobility and gentry, particularly of
Mr, Banks and Dr. Solander.
Th e