1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 57 



cular districts of land, and sometimes whole islands, 

 change their owners. Omai told us that he was 

 once taken a prisoner by the men of Bolabola, and car- 

 ried to that island, where he and some others would 

 have been put to death the next day if they had not 

 found means to escape in the night. 



As soon as this mock fight was over, Omai put on 

 his suit of armour, mounted a stage in one of the 

 canoes, and was paddled all along the shore of the 

 bay; so that every one had a full view of him. His 

 coat of mail did not draw the attention of his country- 

 men so much as might have been expected. Some of 

 them, indeed, had seen a part of it before ; and there 

 were others, again, who had taken such a dislike to 

 Omai, from his imprudent conduct at this place, that 

 they would hardly look at any thing, however sin- 

 gular, that was exhibited by him. 



