72 COOK'S VOYAGE TO SEPT' 



Pretmie was only a small island, which they, the 

 Spaniards, had entirely destroyed ; and for me, that 

 they had met with me at sea, and, with a few shot, 

 had sent my ship, and every soul in her, to the bot- 

 tom ; so that my visiting Otaheite, at this time, was, 

 of course, very unexpected. All this, and many 

 other improbable falsehoods, did this Spaniard make 

 these people believe. If Spain had no other views 

 in this expedition, but to depreciate the English, 

 they had better have kept their ships at home; 

 for my returning again to Otaheite was considered 

 as a complete confutation of all that Mateema had 

 said. 



With what design the priests stayed, we can only 

 guess. If it was to convert the natives to the catho- 

 lic faith, they have not succeeded in any one instance. 

 But it does not appear that they ever attempted it - 9 

 for, if the natives are to be believed, they never con- 

 versed with them, either on this, or on any other 

 subject. The priests resided constantly in the house 

 at Oheitepeha ; but Mateema roved about, visiting 

 most parts of the island. At length, after he and 

 his companions had staid ten months, two ships came 

 to Oheitepeha, took them on board, and sailed again 

 in five days. This hasty departure shews, that, what- 

 ever design the Spaniards might have had upon this 

 island, they had now laid it aside. And yet, as I 

 was informed by Otoo, and many others, before they 

 went away, they would have the natives believe that 

 they still meant to return, and to bring with them 

 houses, all kinds of animals, and men and women, who 

 were to settle, live, and die on the island. Otoo, when 

 he told me this, added, that if the Spaniards should 

 return, he would not let them come to Matavai Fort, 

 which, he said, was our's. It was easy to see that 

 the idea pleased him ; little thinking, that the com- 

 pletion of it would at once deprive him of his 

 kingdom, and the people of their liberties. This 

 shews with what facility a settlement might be made 



