another motive, it feems, for the large concourfe o f people we had
fo lately feen at the top of the mountain, and which accounts for
the flridl taboo laid on the natives during the time of this general
affembly.
Teereteere had caufed the houfe I have mentioned at the top of
the hill, to be built as a kind of repofitory, or ftore-houfe, for fuch
articles as the natives might obtain in the courfe of their traffic
with our veffels : when this was compleated, he caufed the bay to
be tabooed, and convened a general affembly of the inhabitants at
the top of this mountain, directing them, at the fame time, to bring
whatever trade they had got, that it might be depofited in his new-
erefled edifice. This being effected, he found means, on fome
pretext or other, to appropriate one-half of thefe flores to his own
ufe. We now no longer wondered at the old prieft venting his
reproaches fo very liberally, as it was pretty evident Teereteere had
exerted his authority contrary to the rules of juftice and, equity.. ,
Though the little we faw of thefe tranfafiions,’ or what information
we got refpedting them, is infufficient for me to, draw any
conclufive determination as to their laws ; yet of this we are certain,
that the horrid cuftom of offering up human facrifices, on
certain oecafions, actually exifls amongft thefe iflands; and that the
King’s- authority is abfolute.
It was evident, from our late misfortunes that we could not keep
our prefent fituation without damaging the cables ; fo that it was
determined to leave this ifland, and fleer for Atoui the firfl opportunity..
At
At five o’clock in the afternoon of the 19th, Captain Portlock j/85-
made the fignal for weighing anchor, which we did in a fhort . _ . .
time, and Hood out of the bay with a moderate Eaflerly breeze.
After flanding on for fome time, we could fee nothing of the King
George following us, bn which we wore, and flretched again into
the bay. On fpeaking Captain Portlock, we were informed that
they had not yet purchafed their anchor, and were doubtful whether
they fhould be able, to accomplifh it in the courfe of the evening.
However, we kept under an eafy fail, making fhort boards,
till pafl eight o’clock, when Captain Portlock made the fignal for
us to anchor.
About ten o’clock in the morning of the 20th, the King George
being a-weigh, we weighed and made fail, flanding out of the bay,
with a moderate breeze at North Eafl. By noon we were about
ten miles from the bay. We learnt from Captain Portlock, that
the Indians had cut-his befl bower-cable which had occafioned his
delay the preceding evening, and this morning.. Captain Portlock
had Piapia, the King’s nephew, on board, accompanied with the
man who ufed to chew Ava for Teereteere. It feems Piapia was fo
exceedingly attached to Captain Portlock, that he was determined
to go with him to Pritane, ■ as they call England; and the cupbearer
was inclined to follow the fortunes of his young mailer.
The day being fine, feveral canoes, filled with the relations and
friends of thefe new voyagers, followed the King George to a con-
fiderable diftance from Whahoo; and when they took their leave
of them for ever, as they thought, their grief was expreffed in the
mofl audible manner, wringing their hands, and making the mofl
bitter lamentations all the time they were in fight of the veffel:
neither did Piapia, and his fervant take leave of their friends and
country, without expreffing fome degree of concern; but their
O 2 regret