1777' THE TACIFIC OCEAN. 363 



what they saw no prospect of obtaining by fair means. 

 For this reason, I thought it prudent to declare my 

 intention of leaving behind me some of our animals ; 

 and even to make a distribution of them previously 

 to my departure. 



With this view, in the evening of the 19th, I 

 assembled all the chiefs before our house, and my 

 intended presents to them were marked out. To 

 Poulaho, the king, I gave a young English bull and 

 cow ; to Mareewagee, a Cape ram, and two ewes ; 

 and to Feenou, a horse and a mare. As my design, 

 to make such a distribution, had been made known 

 the day before, most of the people in the neighbour- 

 hood were then present, I instructed Omai to tell 

 them, that there were no such animals within many 

 months sail of their island; that we had brought them, 

 for their use, from that immense distance, at a vast 

 trouble and expence ; that, therefore, they must be 

 careful not to kill any of them till they had multiplied 

 to a numerous race ; and, lastly, that they and their 

 children ought to remember, that they had received 

 them from the men of Britane. He also explained 

 to them their several uses, and what else was ne- 

 cessary for them to know, or rather as far as he knew ; 

 for Omai was not very well versed in such things 

 himself. As I intended that the above presents 

 should remain with the other cattle, till we were 

 ready to sail, I desired each of the chiefs to send a 

 man or two to look after their respective animals, 

 along with my people, in order that they might be 

 better acquainted with them, and with the manner of 

 treating them. The king and Feenou did so ; but 

 neither Mareewagee, nor any other person for him, 

 took the least notice of the sheep afterward ; nor did 

 old Toobou attend at this meeting, though he was 

 invited, and was in the neighbourhood. I had meant 

 to give him the goats, viz. a ram and two ewes ; 

 which as he was so indifferent about them, I added 

 to the king's share. 



