1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 3 



gander, and three geese ; a drake, and four ducks. 

 All these I left at Oparre, in the possession of Otoo; 

 and the geese and ducks began to breed, before we 

 sailed. We found there, a gander, which the na- 

 tives told us, was the same that Captain Wallis had 

 given to Oberea ten years before ; several goats ; and 

 the Spanish bull, whom they kept tied to a tree, near 

 Otoo's house. I never saw a finer animal of his kind. 

 He was now the property of Etary, and had been 

 brought from Oheitepeha to this place, in order to be 

 shipped for Bolabola. But it passes my comprehen- 

 sion, how they can contrive to carry him in one of 

 their canoes. If we had not arrived, it would have 

 been of little consequence who had the property of 

 him, as, without a cow, he could be of no use ; and 

 none had been left with him. Though the natives 

 told us that there were cows on board the Spanish 

 ships, and that they took them away with them, I 

 cannot believe this; and should rather suppose, that 

 they had died in the passage from Lima. The next 

 day,I sent the three cows, that I had on board, to this 

 bull ; and the bull, which I had brought, the horse 

 and mare, and sheep, I put ashore at Matavai. 



Having thus disposed of these passengers, I found 

 myself lightened of a very heavy burthen. The 

 trouble and vexation that attended the bringing of 

 this living cargo thus far, is hardly to be conceived. 

 But the satisfaction that I felt, in having been so for- 

 tunate as to fulfil his Majesty's humane design, in 

 sending such valuable animals, to supply the wants 

 of two worthy nations, sufficiently recompensed me 

 for the many anxious hours I had passed, before this 

 subordinate object of my voyage could be carried 

 into execution. 



As I intended to make some stay here, we set up 

 the two observatories on Matavai Point. Adjoining 

 to them, tw r o tents were pitched for the reception of 

 a guard, and of such people as it might be necessary 

 to leave on shore, in different departments. At this 



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