177^. ROUND THR WORLD. 337 



CHAP. XIII. 



PREPARATIONS TO LEAVE THE ISLAND. ANOTHER NAVAL 



REVIEW, AND VARIOUS OTHER INCIDENTS; WITH SOME 

 ACCOUNT OF THE ISLAND, ITS NAVAL FORCE, AND NUMBER 

 OF INHABITANTS. 



In the morning of the 11th, a very large supply of 

 fruit was brought to us from all parts. Some of it 

 came from Towha, the admiral, sent as usual by his 

 servants, with orders to receive nothing in return. 

 But he desired I would go and see him at Attahourou, 

 as he was ill and could not come to me. As I could 

 not well undertake this journey, I sentOedidee, along 

 with Towha* s servants, with a present suitable to that 

 which I had, in so genteel a manner, received from 

 him. As the most essential repairs of the ship were 

 nearly finished, I resolved to leave Otaheite in a few 

 days, and accordingly ordered every thing to be got 

 off from the shore, that the natives might see we 

 were about to depart. 



On the 12th, old Oberea, the woman, who, when 

 the Dolphin was here in 1767, was thought to be 

 queen of the island, and whom I had not seen since 

 1769, paid us a visit, and brought us a present of 

 hogs and fruit. Soon after came Otoo with a great 

 retinue, and a large quantity of provisions. I was 

 pretty liberal in my returns, thinking it might be the 

 last time I should see these good people, who had 

 so liberally relieved our wants ; and, in the evening, 

 entertained them with fire- works. 



On the 13th, winds easterly, fair weather. Never- 

 theless, we were not ready to sail, as Otoo had made 

 me promise to see him again, and I had a present 

 to make him, which I reserved to the last. Oedidee 

 was not yet come back from Attahourou j various 



. VOL. III. z 



