ermaster; and six privates
were put on board of her. She was decked, beautifully built, and the size
of a Gravesend boat.

FOOTNOTES:

[91-1] First printed at Berwick in 1793.

[96-1] Afternoon entertainments.

[117-1] Compare the ravages of the great Lila (wasting sickness) in Fiji,
and the accounts of similar visitations following on the first visit of
an European ship to an insular people. (The Fijians, p. 243).

CHAP. II.

VOYAGE FROM OTAHEITE TO ANAMOOKA.

WITH a pleasant breeze, on the evening of the 8th of May, passed Emea or
York Island, contiguous to, and in sight of Otaheite. It is governed by
Matuara, brother-in-law to Ottoo. It is a pleasant romantic looking spot,
with very high hills upon it, and about twelve miles in circumference.
They were lately attacked by some neighbouring power, and Matuara
requested the lend of a musket from his friend and ally. When peace was
restored, Ottoo sent for his musket. Matuara represented, that as a man,
from a sense of honour, he wished to return it; but that as a king, the
love he bore his subjects prevented him complying with the request. That
single musket, and a few cartridges, gives him no small degree of
consequence, and are retained as the royal dower of his wife.

Next morning we reached Huaheine, and sent the boats on shore in Owharre
Bay. As Oedidy the chief requested to go with us to Whytutakee, he went
on shore with the officers, in their search for intelligence of the
mutineers; but they returned without success.

Here we learned the fate of Omai, the native of Otaheite, whom Captain
Cook brought from England. On his return here he had wealth enough to
obtain every fine woman on the island; and at last fell a martyr to
Venus, having finished his career by the venereal disease, two years
after his landing. His house and garden are still standing; but his
musket occasioned a war after his death, and was found in the possession
of a native of Ulitea. His servant was on board of us, but had not
retained a single article of his property.

On the 10th, we examined Ulitea and Otaha, interchanged presents with the
natives, and landed in Chamanen's Bay; but got no information.

We examined Bolobola on the 11th; and Tatahu, the king, honoured us with
a visit. The people of this island are of a more warlike disposition than
any other of the Society Islands; and on account of that national
ferocity of character, are much caressed by the Otaheitans