1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 339 



indeed, it was quite unnecessary, for many youths 

 voluntarily offered themselves to go, and even to 

 remain and die in Pretanee ; as they call our coun- 

 try. Otoo importuned me much to take one or two, 

 to collect red feathers for him at Amsterdam, wil- 

 ling to risque the chance of their returning. Some 

 of the gentlemen on board were likewise desirous of 

 taking some as servants ; but I refused every solicit- 

 ation of this kind, knowing, from experience, they 

 would be of no use to us in the course of the voyage ; 

 and farther my views were not extended. What 

 had the greatest weight with me, was the thinking 

 myself bound to see they were afterwards properly 

 taken care o\\ as they could not be carried from 

 their native spot without consent. 



Next morning early, Oedidee came on board with 

 a resolution to remain at the island ; but Mr.Forster 

 prevailed upon him to go with us to Ulietea. Soon 

 after, Towha, Poatatou, Oamo, Happi, Oberea, and 

 several more of our friends, came on board with fruit, 

 &c. Towha was hoisted in and placed on a chair 

 on the quarter-deck ; his wife was with him. 

 Amongst the various articles which I gave this chief, 

 was an English pendant, which pleased him more 

 than all the rest, especially after he had been in- 

 structed in the use of it. 



We had no sooner dispatched our friends than we 

 saw a number of war canoes coming round the point 

 of Oparree. Being desirous of having a nearer view 

 of them, accompanied by some of the officers and 

 gentlemen, I hastened down to Oparree, which we 

 reached before all the canoes were landed, and had 

 an opportunity of seeing in what manner they ap- 

 proached the shore. When they got before the place 

 where they intended to land, they formed them- 

 selves into divisions, consisting of three or four, or 

 perhaps more, lashed square and close along-side of 

 each other ; and then each division, one after the 

 other, paddled in for the shore with all their might, 



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