414 cook's voyage to july, 



seemed to act with some kind of independence. 

 Omai, who was a great favourite with Feenou, and 

 these people in general, was tempted with the offer 

 of being made chief of this island if he would have 

 staid amongst them ; and it is not clear to me, that 

 he would not have been glad to stay, if the scheme 

 had met with my approbation. I own I did disap- 

 prove of it ; but not because I thought that Omai 

 would do better for himself in his own native isle. 



On returning from my country expedition, w r e 

 were informed that a party of the natives had, in the 

 circle where our people traded, struck one of their 

 own countrymen with a club, which laid bare, or, 

 as others said, fractured his skull, and then broke his 

 thigh with the same, when our men interposed. He 

 had no signs of life when carried to a neighbouring 

 house ; but afterward recovered a little. On my 

 asking the reason of so severe a treatment, we were 

 informed that he had been discovered in a situation 

 rather indelicate with a woman who was tabooed. 

 We, however, understood that she was no otherwise 

 tabooed, than by belonging to another person, and 

 rather superior in rank to her gallant. From this 

 circumstance we had an opportunity of observing 

 how these people treat such infidelities. But the 

 female sinner has, by far, the smaller share of punish- 

 ment for her misdemeanor ; as they told us that she 

 would only receive a slight beating. 



The next morning I planted a pine-apple, and 

 sowed the seeds of melons and other vegetables in 

 the chief's plantation. I had some encouragement, 

 indeed, to flatter myself that my endeavours of this 

 kind would not be fruitless ; for, this day, there was 

 served up at my dinner a dish of turnips, being the 

 produce of the seeds I had left here during my last 

 voyage. 



I had fixed upon the 15th for sailing, till Taoofa 

 pressed me to stay a day or two longer, to receive a 

 present he had prepared for me. This reason, and 



