344 cook's second voyage may, 



vernment. In truth, we know not how far his power 

 extends as king, nor how far he can command the 

 assistance of the other chiefs, or is controllable by 

 them. It should however seem, that all have con- 

 tributed towards bringing the isle to its present 

 flourishing state. We cannot doubt that there are 

 divisions amongst the great men of this state, as well 

 as of most others ; or else why did the king tell us 

 that Towha, the admiral, and Poatatou, were not his 

 friends? They were two leading chiefs ; and he 

 must be jealous of them on account of their great 

 power ; for on every occasion he seemed to court 

 their interest. We had reason to believe that they 

 had raised by far the greatest number of vessels and 

 men to go against Eimeo, and were to be two of the 

 commanders in the expedition, which we were told 

 was to take place five days after our departure. Wa- 

 heatoua, king of Tiarabou, was to send a fleet to join 

 that of Otoo, to assist him in reducing to obedience 

 the chief of Eimeo. I think we were told that young 

 prince was one of the commanders. One would sup- 

 pose that so small an island as Eimeo would hardly 

 have attempted to make head against the united force 

 of these two kingdoms, but have endeavoured to set- 

 tle matters by negociation. Yet we heard of no such 

 thing ; on the contrary, every one spoke of nothing 

 but fighting. Towha told us more than once that he 

 should die there ; which, in some measure, shows 

 that he thought of it. Oedidee told me the battle 

 would be fought at sea ; in which case the other must 

 have a fleet nearly equal, if not quite, to the one 

 going against them ; which 1 think was not probable. 

 It was therefore more likely they would remain ashore 

 upon the defensive, as we were told they did, about 

 five or six years ago, when attacked by the people 

 of Tiarabou whom they repulsed. Five general of- 

 ficers were to command in this expedition ; of which 

 number Otoo was one ; and, if they named them in 

 order according to the posts they held, Otoo was 



