1777' THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 59 



tricts. This alteration, however, did not hinder me 

 from following Otoo to Oparre, accompanied by 

 Mr. King and Omai. Soon after our arrival, and 

 while dinner was preparing, a messenger arrived from 

 Eimeo, and related the conditions of the peace, or 

 rather of the truce, it being only for a limited time. 

 The terms were disadvantageous to Otaheite ; and 

 much blame was thrown upon Otoo, whose delay in 

 sending reinforcements had obliged Towha to sub- 

 mit to a disgraceful accommodation. It was even 

 currently reported, that Towha, resenting his not 

 being supported, had declared, that as soon as I 

 could leave the island he would join his forces to 

 those of Tiaraboo, and attack Otoo at Matavai or 

 Oparre. This called upon me to declare, in the most 

 public manner, that I was determined to espouse the 

 interest of my friend against any such combination ; 

 and that whoever presumed to attack him, should 

 feel the weight of my heavy displeasure, when I 

 returned again to their island. My declaration pro- 

 bably had the desired effect ; and if Towha had any 

 such hostile intention at first, we soon heard no more 

 of the report. Whappai, Otoo's father, highly dis- 

 approved of the peace, and blamed Towha very much 

 for concluding it. This sensible old man wisely 

 judged, that my going down with them to Eimeo 

 must have been of singular service to their cause, 

 though I should take no other part whatever in the 

 quarrel. And it was upon this that he built his argu- 

 ments, and maintained that Otoo had acted properly 

 by waiting for me, though this had prevented his 

 giving assistance to Towha so soon as he expected. 



Our debates at Oparre, on this subject, were hardly 

 ended, before a messenger arrived from Towha, de- 

 siring Otoo's attendance the next day at the moral 

 in Attahooroo, to give thanks to the gods for the 

 peace he had concluded $ at least such was Omai's 

 account to me of the object of this solemnity. I 

 was asked to go ; but being much out of order was 



