1773' ROUND THE WORLD. 177 



use of to his people, when they opposed his going 

 into my boat. His words were to this effect : 

 " Oree (meaning me, for so I was always called) 

 and I are friends ; I have done nothing to forfeit his 

 friendship ; why, then, should I not go with him ?" 

 We, however, may never find another chief who will 

 act in the same manner under similar circumstances. 

 It may be asked, What had he to fear ? to which I 

 answer, Nothing ; for it was not my intention to 

 hurt a hair of his head, or to detain him a moment 

 longer than he desired. But how was he or the 

 people to know this ? They were not ignorant, that, 

 if he was once in my power, the whole force of the 

 island could not take him from me, and that, let my 

 demands for his ransom have been ever so high, they 

 must have complied with them. Thus far their fears, 

 both for his and their own safety, were founded in 

 reason. 



On the 7th, early in the morning, while the ships 

 were unmooring, I went to pay my farewell visit to 

 Oree, accompanied by Captain Furneaux and Mr. 

 Forster. We took with us, for a present, such things 

 as were not only valuable but useful. I also left with 

 him the inscription-plate he had before in keeping, 

 and another " small copper-plate, on which were en- 

 graved these words, " Anchored here, his Britannic 

 Majesty's ships Resolution and Adventure, Septem- 

 ber, 1773," together with some medals, all put up in 

 a bag ; of which the chief promised to take care, 

 and to produce, to the first ship or ships that should 

 arrive at the island. He then gave me a hog ; and, 

 after trading for six or eight more, and loading the 

 boat with fruit, we took leave, when the good old 

 chief embraced me with tears in his eves. At this in- 

 terview, nothing was said about the remainder of 

 Mr. Sparrman's clothes. I judged they were not 

 brought in ; and, for that reason, did not mention 

 them, lest I should give the chief pain about things 



VOL. III. n 



