1777. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 21 



CHAP. II. 



INTERVIEW WITH OTOO, XING OF THE ISLAND. IMPRU- 

 DENT CONDUCT OF OMAI. ExMPLOYMENTS ON SHORE. 



EUROPEAN ANIMALS LANDED. PARTICULARS ABOUT A 



NATIVE WHO HAD VISITED LIMA ABOUT OEDIDEE. 



A REVOLT IN EIMEO. WAR WITH THAT ISLAND DETER- 

 MINED UPON, IN A COUNCIL OF CHIEFS. A HUMAN SA- 

 CRIFICE ON THAT ACCOUNT. A PARTICULAR RELATION OF 



THE CEREMONIES AT THE GREAT MORAI, WHERE THE SA- 

 CRIFICE WAS OFFERED. -OTHER BARBAROUS CUSTOMS Of 

 THIS PEOPLE. 



jTIlbout nine o'clock in the morning, Otoo, the king 

 of the whole island, attended by a great number of 

 canoes full of people, came from Oparre, his place 

 of residence, and having landed on Matavai Point, 

 sent a message on board, expressing his desire to see 

 me there. Accordingly I landed, accompanied by 

 Ornai, and some of the officers. We found a prodi- 

 gious number of people assembled on this occasion, 

 and in the midst of them was the king, attended by 

 his father, his two brothers, and three sisters. I went 

 up first and saluted him, being followed by Omai, 

 w T ho kneeled and embraced his legs. He had pre- 

 pared himself for this ceremony, by dressing himself 

 in his very best suit of clothes, and behaved with a 

 great deal of respect and modesty. Nevertheless, 

 very little notice was taken of him. Perhaps envy had 

 some share in producing this cold reception. He made 

 the chief a present of a large piece of red feathers, 

 and about two or three yards of gold cloth ; audi 

 gave him a suit of tine linen, a gold-laced hat, some 

 tools, and, what was of more value than all the other 

 articles, a quantity of red feathers, and one of the 

 bonnets in use at the Friendly Islands. 



After the hurry of this visit was over, the king 

 and the whole royal family accompanied me on 



c 3 



