1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. ()1 



to the number of ten or a dozen, which he spread on 

 different parts of this vessel, all at the same time ; 

 and drew together as many people to look at her, as 

 a man-of-war would, dressed, in a European port. 

 These streamers of Omai were a mixture of English, 

 French, Spanish, and Dutch, which were all the 

 European colours that he had seen. When I was 

 last at this island, I gave to Otoo an English jack 

 and pendant, and to Towha a pendant ; which I now 

 found they had preserved with the greatest care. 



Omai had also provided himself with a good stock 

 of cloth and cocoa-nut oil, which are not only in 

 greater plenty, but much better at Otaheite than at 

 any of the Society islands ; insomuch, that they are 

 articles of trade. Omai would not have behaved so 

 inconsistently, and so much unlike himself, as he did, 

 in many instances, but for his sister and brother-in- 

 law, who, together with a few more of their acquaint- 

 ance, engrossed him entirely to themselves, with no 

 other view than to strip him of every thing he had 

 got. And they would, undoubtedly, have succeeded 

 in their scheme, if I had not put a stop to it in time, 

 by taking the most useful articles of his property into 

 my possession. But even this would not have saved 

 Omai from ruin, if I had suffered these relations of 

 his to have gone with, or to have followed us to, his 

 intended place of settlement, Huaheine. This they 

 had intended ; but I disappointed their farther views 

 of plunder, by forbidding them to shew themselves 

 in that island, while I remained in the neighbourhood; 

 and they knew me too well not to comply. 



On the 28th, Otoo came on board, and informed 

 me, that he had got a canoe, which he desired I would 

 take with me, and carry home, as a present from him 

 to the Earee rahie no Pretane ; it being the only 

 thing, he said, that he could send worth his Majesty's 

 acceptance. I was not a little pleased with Otoo for 

 this mark of his gratitude. It was a thought entirely 

 his own, not one of us having given him the least 



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