1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 27 



continuing there ; the inhabitants of the two parts of 

 the island being inveterate enemies to each other. 



From the time of our arrival at Matavai, the wea- 

 ther had been very unsettled, with more or less rain 

 every day, till the 29th ; before which we were not 

 able to get equal altitudes of the sun for ascer- 

 taining the going of the time-keeper. The same 

 cause also retarded the caulking, and other necessary 

 repairs of the ships. 



In the evening f this day, the natives made a 

 precipitate retreat, both from on board the ships, and 

 from our station on shore. For what reason, we 

 could not, at first, learn ; though, in general, we 

 guessed it arose from their knowing that some theft 

 had been committed, and apprehending punishment 

 on that account. At length, I understood what had 

 happened. One of the surgeon's mates had been in 

 the country to purchase curiosities, and had taken 

 with him four hatchets for that purpose. Having 

 employed one of the natives to carry them for him, 

 the fellow took an opportunity to run off with so va- 

 luable a prize. This was the cause of the sudden 

 flight, in which Otoo himself, and his whole family, 

 had joined ; and it was with difficulty that I stopped 

 them, after following them two or three miles. As 

 I had resolved to take no measures for the recovery 

 of the hatchets, in order to put my people upon their 

 guard against such negligence for the future, I found 

 no difficulty in bringing the natives back, and in re- 

 storing every thing to its usual tranquillity. 



Hitherto, the attention of Otoo and his people had 

 been confined to us ; but, next morning, a new scene 

 of business opened, by the arrival of some messen- 

 gers from Eimeo, or (as it is much oftener called by 

 the natives) Morea *, with intelligence that the peo- 

 ple in that island were in arms ; and that Otoo's 



Morea, according to Dr. Forster, is a district in Eimeo. See 

 his Observations , p. 217. 



