1774" ROUND THE WORLD. 833 



usual, and the first salutations were over, he desired 

 me to payroll (that is, to speak). Accordingly, I be- 

 gan with blaming him for being frightened and 

 alarmed at what had happened, since I had always 

 professed myself his friend, and I was not angry 

 with him or any of his people, but with those of 

 Tiarabon, who were the thieves. I was then asked, 

 how I came to fire at the canoes ? Chance, on this 

 occasion, furnished me with a good excuse. I told 

 them, that they belonged to Maritata, a Tiarabou 

 man, one of whose people had stolen the musket, and 

 occasioned all this disturbance, and if I had them in 

 my power, I would destroy them, or any other be- 

 longing to Tiarabou. This declaration pleased them, 

 as I expected, from the natural aversion the one 

 kingdom has to the other. What I said was enforced 

 by presents, which perhaps had the greatest weight 

 with them. Thus were things once more restored to 

 their former state ; and Otoo promised, on his part, 

 that the next day we should be supplied with fruit, 

 &c. as usual. 



We then returned with him to his proper residence 

 at Oparree, and there took a view of some of his 

 dock-yards (for such they well deserved to be called) 

 and large canoes ; some lately built, and others 

 building ; two of which were the largest I had ever 

 seen in this sea, or indeed any where else, under 

 that name. This done, we returned on board, with 

 Tee in our company, who, after he had dined with 

 us, went to inform old Happi, the king's father, that 

 all matters were accommodated. 



This old chief was at this time in the neighbour- 

 hood of Matavai, and it should seem, from what 

 followed, that he was not pleased with the condi- 

 tions } for that same evening, ail the women, which 

 were not a few, were sent for out of the ship, and 

 people stationed on different parts of the shore to 

 prevent any from coming off; and the next morning, 

 no supplies whatever being brought, on my inquiring 



