or go with us to England. That if the latter was his choice, he must look upon him as his father, as it was very probable he would never return to his own country. The youth threw his arms about his neck, wept much, and faid, many of his friends perfuaded him to remain at Otaheite. Oedidee was well beloved in the fhip, on which account every one was perfuading him to go with us. On the 15th, early in the morning, Oedidee came on board, and Mr. Forfter prevailed upon him to go with us to Ulietea. Towha, Potatou, Oamo, Happi, Oberea, and many more of our friends paid us a vifit. The wife of Towha was with him, this chief was hoisted in, and placed on a chair on the quarter deck. Among other prefents, we gave the admiral an English pendant, which, after he had been inftructed in the use of it, pleased him more than all the reft. The fame day the king, and Tee, his prime minifter, came on board, and brought with them a hog, and a turtle of about fixty pounds weight, who, after remaining on board fome time, took an affectionate farewel. On Sunday the 15th, we put to fea, with a fine breeze in our favour, and purfued our voyage to the N. W. and N. W. by W. The fame night we made the island of Huaheine, and anchored in the north entrance of O'Wharre harbour. Oree, the chief, and several of the natives paid us a vifit. Oree, among other articles, brought with him a hog; and the next day Capt. Cook returned Oree's vifit, prefented to him fome red feathers which he held in his hand, and muttered over them a prayer. This morning the people began to bring us fruit. The chief fent us two hogs, which were followed by himfelf and friends, who came to dine with us. Oree afked afked for axes and nails, which readily were given him. After dinner, Mr. Forster, and a party with him, went up the country to examine its productions; which he continued as a daily task during the fhip's continuance in this harbour. As a fervant of Mr. Forfter's was walking along the fhore, without a companion, he was befet by feveral ftout fellows, who would have ftripped him, had not fome of our people arrived to his affiftance. One of the men made off with a hatchet. This day the number of natives that came about the fhip was fo great, that it was found neceffary to place fentinels in the gangways, to prevent the men from coming on board; but no oppofition was made to the woman, so that the fhip was crouded with them. On the 17th, we found Oree, and a great number of the principal people affembled in a house confulting together. We heard the late robbery mentioned by them feveral times but the chief affured us, neither himself nor his friends had any hand in the fame, and defired Capt. Cook to kill with his gun those that had. We could not learn where the robbers were gone, and therefore, at prefent, took no more notice of the affair. In the evening a dramatic entertainment was exhibited. The fubject of the piece was that of a girl running away with us from Otaheite. This was not wholly a fiction, for a girl had taken her paffage with us from Ulietea, and was at this time present when her own adventures were reprefented: fhe could hardly refrain from tears while the play was acting; and it was with much difficulty we perfuaded her to ftay out the entertainment. At the conclufion of the piece, the girl's return to her friends was reprefented; and the reception fhe met with was not a favourable one. It It is very probable that this part of the comedy was defigned to deter others from going away with us. On the 18th, king Oree came and dined on board, and the captain, at his defire, ordered the great guns to be filled with fhot, and fired into the water, by way of a falute at his arrival and departure: indeed, he had by Oedidee given us to understand, that he expected the fame honours to be paid to him as had been fhewn to the chiefs of Otaheite. A party of petty officers having obtained leave to amuse themselves inthe country, they took with them fome hatchets, nails, &c. in bags, which were carried by two natives, who went with them as their guides. These fellows made off with the truft repofed in them and artfully enough effected their efcape. The party had with them two mufkets; and after it had rained fome time, the natives pointed out fome birds for them to fhoot. One of the guns went off, and the other miffed fire feveral times. At this inftant, when the fellows faw themselves fecure from both, they took the opportunity to run away; and not one of the party, being all very much furprised, had the leaft prefence of mind to pursue them. On the 19th a report was current, that the natives intended to rife and attack the fhip. The captain, though he did not think them ferious in fuch an attempt, yet was unwilling totally to difregard the intimation he therefore ordered twenty ftand of arms to be in readiness, in cafe any commotion fhould be obferved among them; but though the rumour increafed throughout the day, yet no preparations could be perceived to countenance fuch a report; and the king continued his vifits as ufual, never coming empty handed. On the 20th, the firft and fecond lieutenants with one of the mates, being out on a fhooting party, they they were befet by moor than fifty of the natives, who firft took from them their arms, and then robbed them of what articles they had carried with them to trade. In the fcuffle the firft lieutenant loft the fkirt of his coat, and one of the other gentlemen received a fevere blow. When the robbers had ftripped them of their marchendizes, they reftored to them their fowling pieces. When this tranfaction came to the knowledg of Capt. Cook, he went immediately with a boat's crew on fhore, and entered a large house wherein were two chiefs. This, with all their effects he took poffeffion of, and remained there till he heard that the gentlemen had got fafe on board, and had all their things reftored to them. Oedidee informed us, Oree was fo much affected with the relation of this, that he wept much. When on board,, we learnt from the officers themfelves, that a small infult on their part was the occafion of the affray; but fome chiefs interfering, took the officers out of the croud, and caufed every thing which had been taken from them to be restored. On the 21ft we faw upwards of fixty canoes, moft of the people in them being Eareeoies, fleering for Ulietea and we heard they were going to visit their brethren in the neighbouring iflands. It feems thefe people have cuftoms among them peculiar to themfelves; and affift each other when neceffity requires: we may therefore call them the Free Mafons of Huaheme. This day Oree fent a meffage to Capt. Cook, defiring he would come on fhore, and bring twenty-two men with him, in order to chaftife the robbers. Oedidee brought with him twenty-two pieces of leaves to affift his memory, a cuftom very common among thefe people. This meffage feemed to be an extraordinary one, and therefore the captain went to the chief for better information. Oree informed informed him that these fellows were a fet of banditti, who had formed themselves into a body, and had refolved to rob all they met, for which purpose they were now affembled and armed. Thefe robbers Oree wanted us to attack, the captain faid they would fly to the mountains; but he affured us to the contrary, and defired we would destroy both them and their habitations, only fparing their canoes. This request feemed extraordinary, but the captain was refolved to comply with it in part, leaft these fellows fhould make more head, and become formidable; and alfo with a view of preventing the report from gaining ground in Ulietea, where we intended going; and we were apprehenfive affociations might be formed in like manner, and the people might treat us in the fame way, or worse, they being more numerous. Capt. Cook and his officers made ready to accompany king Oree in the expedition against the robbers; and having ordered fifty mariners, with fome failors to be well armed, they landed near the place of the king, and having required him to conduct them according to his promife, he very readily confented, and they all fet out together in very good order. The party increased as we proceeded; and Oedidee told us, that feveral of the banditti had joined us, with a view of decoying us into a place, where they might attack us to advantage. As we could place no confidence in any other person, we took his advice, and proceeded with caution. We marched several miles, when Capt. Cook declared he would proceed no farther; befides, we were informed that the men had fled to the mountains. At this time we were about to cross a deep valley, with fteep rocks on each fide, where our retreat might have been rendered difficult, by a few men |
