0 A V O Y A G E TO THE
(February. ^ve fathom water, over a fandy bottom; the extremes of the hand
-horn South Eaft by Eaft to Weft three quarters North,
On the 31 ff> we moored with both bowers, determining to ftay
diere whilft the weather permitted, this bay being greatly preferable
to the road at Oneehow; and as it was yet too foon by fix weeks for
ais to think of profecuring our Voyage to the Northward, the
-objefts of our prefent concern were to ftation the veffels where they
could lie with more fafety, and at the fame time, where the beft
fupply of provifions and water could be procured ; on thefe latter
accounts, if we except the article of yams, Atoui was by far the
anoft defirable fituation now within our reach.
From the ill to the 8th of February, we had light variable
winds- with fine moderate weather. The veffels now laying much
nearer to each other than before, we frequently were favoured with
Abbenooe’s company; with the help of a few prefents, he became
our very good friend, and we frequently found the good
effeifts of his influence, which was not a little, in getting our
various wants fupplied.
Abbenooe is o f a middle fize, and appears to be about fifty years
old: when we firft faw'him at Oneehow, his body was almoft
covered with a white fcurf, and his eyes feemed weak, occafioned
Fy an immoderate ufe of the Ava ; but he then difcontinued the
drinking it at our requeft. The good effefts of this moderation
were vifibly feen, for his fkin began to refume its former
colour, his eyes looked frelh and lively; and he had altogether
the appearance of health and vigour. He has a fon, named
Tyheira, whofe authority feemed pretty extenfive, and who feemed
equally felicitous to render us friendly offices; but he was far
from
N O R T H -W E S T C O A S T OF AM E R I C A . r ig f
from poffeffmg the aftivity or intelligent powers of his father, nor 1787.
was his friendlhip of the fame free, difinterefted kind, all his- f ebrualT-;
addons evidently being influenced by mercenary,, interefted views;
and to effectually fecuie his attachment, it was fometimes neceffary
to have recourfe to a bribe, and he would accept of a fmall toe, o r
even a nail, fooner than mifs a Matano, or prefent. Belides the’
friendly offices of Abbenooe and Tyheira, we had frequent tfi(its;
from two other Chiefs, who frequently fupplied us with hogs and'
vegetables ; their names wereToetoe, and Nomaitahaite; but the-
latter was always known by us under the denomination of Long-
lhanks, from his being remarkably tall and thin, and his legs andi
thighs appearing too long for his body. Toetoe is well advanced
in years, and appears greatly debilitated by the immoderate ufe of
Ava, but unlike Abbenooe, he cannot form a refolution to leave its.
off. He appears to poffefs a very large portion of taro plantations,
and fupplied us with larger quantities of that root, than any off
the other Chiefs, and was always perfectly fatisfied with whatever.’
was. offered, to him. in return.
Long-(hanks alfo, was very afliduous in fupplyihg our wants
and though his authority is greatly inferior to that of Abbenooe,..
or Toetoe, yet we found him extremely ufeful on many occafions r.
though it muft be confefled, that like Tyheira, he was mercenary-
in his demands, and continually begging fomething or other, by
way of Matano. I had forgot to obferve, that we had been frequently
vifited by a brother of the King, who always came in a .
fine large double canoe, attended by a number of inferior Chiefs } ,
but, whether traffic was reckoned beneath his dignity, or from I
know not what motive, he feldorn brought any thing with him to -
difpofe o f ; fo that curiofity, no doubt, principally induced him to •
vifit us. His daughter, a fine child about feven years old, generally
came.: