1777- THE pacific OCEAN. 569 



For our plundered travellers upon their return, 

 without consulting me, employed Omai to complain 

 to the king of the treatment they had met with. 

 He, not knowing what step I should take, and, from 

 what had already happened, fearing lest I might lay 

 him again under restraint, went off early the next 

 morning. His example was followed by Feenou ; 

 so that we had not a chief, of any authority, remain- 

 ing in our neighbourhood. I was very much dis- 

 pleased at this, and reprimanded Omai for having 

 presumed to meddle. This reprimand put him upon 

 his metal to bring his friend Feenou back ; and he 

 succeeded in the negotiation ; having this powerful 

 argument to urge, that he might depend upon my 

 using no violent measures to oblige the natives to 

 restore what had been taken from the gentlemen. 

 Feenou, trusting to this declaration, returned to- 

 ward the evening ; and, encouraged by his recep- 

 tion, Poulaho favoured us with his company the day 



after. 



Both these chiefs, upon this occasion, very justly 

 observed to me, that if any of my people at any 

 time wanted to go into the country, they ought to 

 be acquainted with it ; in w 7 hich case they would 

 send proper people along with them ; and then they 

 would be answerable for their safety. And I am 

 convinced, from experience, that by taking this very 

 reasonable precaution, a man and his property may 

 be as safe among these islanders, as in other parts of 

 the more civilized world. Though I gave myself no 

 trouble about the recovery of the things stolen upon 

 this occasion, most of them, through Feenou's inter- 

 position, were recovered ; except one musket, and a 

 few other articles of inferior value. By this time 

 also, we had recovered the turkey-cock, and most of 

 the tools, and other matters, that had been stolen 

 from our workmen. 



On the 25th, two boats, which I had sent to look 

 for a channel, by which we might most commo- 



vol. v. B B 



