some of their accounts; according
to others only three months. The captain they called Tonah. I understood
likewise from them that Lieutenant Watts was in the ship who, having been
here in the Resolution with Captain Cook, was well known to them. One of
my first enquiries, as will naturally be imagined, was after our friend
Omai; and it was a sensible mortification and disappointment to me to
hear that not only Omai, but both the New Zealand boys who had been left
with him, were dead. Everyone agreed in their information that they died
a natural death. Otoo, who was the chief of Matavai when Captain Cook was
here the last time, was absent at another part of the island; they told
me messengers were sent to inform him of our arrival, and that he was
expected to return soon. There appeared among the natives in general
great goodwill towards us, and they seemed to be much rejoiced at our
arrival. This whole day we experienced no instance of dishonesty. We were
so much crowded that I could not undertake to remove to a more proper
station without danger of disobliging our visitors by desiring them to
leave the ship: this business was therefore deferred till the next
morning.

Monday 27.

Early in the morning, before the natives began to flock off to us, we
weighed anchor to work farther into the bay, and moored at about a
quarter of a mile distance from the shore; Point Venus bearing north 16
degrees east; the west part of One-tree hill south-west by south; and the
point of the reef north 37 degrees west; the ship lying in seven fathoms
water.

Several chiefs now came on board and expressed great pleasure at seeing
me. Among these were Otow, the father of Otoo, and Oreepyah, his brother;
also another chief of Matavai called Poeeno: and to these men I made
presents. Two messengers likewise arrived from Otoo to acquaint me of his
being on his way to the ship; each of whom brought me as a present from
Otoo a small pig and a young plantain-tree as a token of friendship. The
ship was now plentifully supplied with provisions; every person having as
much as he could consume.

As soon as the ship was secured I went on shore with the chief Poeeno,
and accompanied by a multitude of the natives. He conducted me to the
place where we had fixed our tents in 1777 and desired that I would now
appropriate the spot to the same use. We then went across the beach and
through a walk delightfully shaded with breadfruit trees to his own
hous