1788. ters to work to make him a cheft large enough, for himfelf
. ovem^er. an(j w}fe to fleep on. Captain Cook had formerly given
him fuch a cheft, but it had been taken front him, by the
Eimeo people.
Fndaj 21. This forenoon, I received a meflageffrom Teppahotjy to
acquaint me the heifer was brought to Matavai. I immediately
went on fhore, and found that he had been as good as
his word. The purchafe money was. paid, which confift-
ed o f a fhirt, a hatchet, a fpike nail, a knife, a pair of
fciffars, a gimlet, and file; to which was added, a final!
quantity of loaf-fugar. Teppahoo appeared well pleafed
with his bargain ; and I fent the heifer to Poeeno’s . refi*>
dence, near which was plenty of grafs.
i In the afternoon, I was invited to a heiva, die moft ex-»
traordinary part o f which was. an brationj' with' fomet c e r e monies
in compliment to us. Twelve men were divided
into four ranks, with two women in the front ;• behind
them all -Hood a prieft, who made a fpeech which lafted-
ten minutes, and which was liftened to with fome attention,
.During this,, the picture of Captain Cook, which'
had been brought for that purpofe, was placed by my fide.
When the prieft left off fpeaking, a piece of white cloth,
was wrapt round the picture, and another piece round me.
The prieft then fpoke again for a (hort time, and an old
man placed a piece o f plaited cocoa-nut leaf at my feet;
the fame was done to Tinah, and one piece was put under
the pifture. After this the dancing began, which was in
the fame ftile that we had already feen.
The head of the fhip was the figure o f a woman, and
not ill carved. As we were painting the fhip’s upper
works, I dire&ed this figure to be painted in colours, with
which the iflanders were much pleafed. Not only the
men
men, hut the women,'defired mè to bring. Englifh women u**»
Gamte ^gairiij To-day Oedidde, thinking I was not t _ _ *
Convinced o f the truth of what he, had told me about Id-
deah, mentioned 'the .affair to the lady herfelf in my hearing,
at <w-hichrfhe< laughed, but faid he.did illito tell me
ofiit. -..HqWefer, itwas evident file was not much offended;
for they were both very much. diverted:in .(Jifcourfing upon
the fubjéék;
. I find ittis.hot at all uncommon for firdthers to have
: connection with the wives; o f dach uthe»:, particularly elder
brothers'with the wives, o f their ■ younger brothers, which
is.generally allowed,' and.no offënce taken: h u t if any per-
fon, not belonging to the family,|.endeavours at .the fame
intimacy,'.itcis refented as ah injury. Inclination feems to
-be. thejonly. binding law of marriage at Otahëite.,
As I purpofed to get.mftruments on fhore at Point
Venus, to make,, obfervations, I defired Tinah to order a
.houfe to be brought there for,me; which was done, and
fixed in half an hour, being only a light fhed fupported by
pofts,
To-day'I bought a turtle,‘that was caught on the reefs. Mondig.
As Tinah-was going to leave me fortafew> days;; 1 had it
.'4 reft for his. dinner-.;! He told me tbat.his.mother, Oberreeroah,
was arrived from the ifland Tethuroa, and begged that
I woüldffend for. her in the morning, ?md take care o f her
till he returned; which I willingly promifed.
■s j.Tuefday thé 25th. This,morning, I fent a boat to Oparre, Tutfday 25.
which returned in the afternoon, with Oberree-roah, and
twowomen, her.fervants. As fhe was. old and corpulent, it
was with difficulty that we helped her up the fhip’s fide.
;As foonas fhe was in the fhip, fhe fat down on the gangway, •
and, clafping my knees in.her arms, expreffed her pleafure at
feeing me by a flood of tears. Her fervants then produced
Q three