<S2 cook's VOYAGE TO OCT. 



trict belonging to Tiarataboonoue ; but this chief, as 

 well as all the principal people of the place, had fled to 

 the hills; though I touched not a single thing that 

 was their property, as they were the friends of Otoo. 

 After resting ourselves here about an hour, we set 

 out for the ships, where we arrived about eight o'clock 

 in the evening. At that time, no account of the 

 goat had been received ; so that the operations of this 

 day had not produced the desired effect. 



Early next morning, I dispatched one of Omai's 

 men to Maheine, with this peremptory message, that 

 if he persisted in his refusal, I would not leave him 

 a single canoe upon the island, and that he might ex- 

 pect a continuation of hostilities as long as the stolen 

 animal remained in his possession. And, that the 

 messenger might see that I was in earnest, before he 

 left me I sent the carpenter to break up three or 

 four canoes that lay ashore at the head of the harbour. 

 The plank was carried on board, as materials for 

 building a house for Omai, at the place where he in- 

 tended to settle. I afterward went, properly accom- 

 panied, to the next harbour, where we broke up three 

 or four more canoes, and burnt an equal number ; 

 and then returned on board about seven in the even- 

 ing. On my arrival I found that the goat had been 

 brought back about half an hour before ; and, on 

 enquiry, it appeared that it had come from the very 

 place where I had been told the day before, by the 

 inhabitants, that they knew nothing of it. But in 

 consequence of the message I sent to the chief in 

 the morning, it was judged prudent to trifle with me 

 no longer. 



Thus ended this troublesome and rather unfortu- 

 nate business ; which could not be more regretted on 

 the part of the natives, than it was on mine. And 

 it grieved me to reflect, that, after refusing the pres- 

 sing solicitations of my friends at Otaheite, to favour 

 their invasion of this island, I should so soon And 

 myself reduced to the necessity of engaging in hos- 



