1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 45 



norantly believed, would be the means of drawing 

 down his vengeance ; and that, from this very cir- 

 cumstance, I took upon me to judge, that their 

 intended expedition against Maheine would be un- 

 successful. This was venturing pretty far upon con- 

 jecture; but still, I thought, that there was little 

 danger of being mistaken. For I found, that there 

 were three parties in the island, with regard to this 

 war ; one extremely violent for it, another perfectly 

 indifferent about the matter ; and the third openly 

 declaring themselves friends to Maheine, and his 

 cause. Under these circumstances of disunion dis- 

 tracting their councils, it was not likely that such a 

 plan of military operations would be settled, as could 

 insure even a probability of success. In conveying 

 our sentiments to Towha, on the subject of the late 

 sacrifice, Omai was made use of as our interpreter ; 

 and he entered into our arguments with so much spirit, 

 that the chief seemed to be in great wrath ; especi- 

 ally when he was told, that if he had put a man to 

 death in England, as he had done here, his rank 

 would not have protected him from being hanged for 

 it. Upon this, he exclaimed, Maeno ! maeno ! [vile! 

 vile !] and would not hear another word. During 

 this debate, many of the natives were present, chiefly 

 the attendants and servants of Towha himself; and 

 when Omai began to explain the punishment that 

 would be inflicted in England upon the greatest 

 man, if he killed the meanest servant, they seemed 

 to listen with great attention ; and were, probably, 

 of a different opinion from that of their master, on 

 this subject. 



After leaving Towha, we proceeded to Oparre, 

 where Otoo pressed us to spend the night. We landed 

 in the evening ; and, on our road to his house, 

 had an opportunity of observing in what manner these 

 people amuse themselves, in their private heevas. 

 About a hundred of them were found sitting in a 

 house ; and in the midst of them were two women, 



