86 cook's voyage to oct. 



to behave better to us than they had done during my 

 former visit?. 



While ] was at Otaheite, I had learned that my 

 old friend Oree was no longer the chief of Huaheine ; 

 and that, at this time, he resided at Ulietea. Indeed, 

 he never had been more than regent during the mi- 

 nority of Taireetareea, the present Earee rahie ; but 

 he did not give up the regency till he was forced. 

 His two sons, Opoony and Towha, were the first 

 who paid me a visit, coming on board before the ship 

 was well in the harbour, and bringing a present with 

 them. 



Our arrival brought all the principal people of the 

 island to our ships on the next morning, being the 

 18th. This was just what I wished, as it was high 

 time to think of settling Omai ; and the presence of 

 these chiefs, I guessed, would enable me to do it in 

 the most satisfactory manner. He now seemed to 

 have an inclination to establish himself at Ulietea ; 

 and if he and I could have agreed about the mode 

 of bringing that plan to bear, I should have had no 

 objection to adopt it. His father had been dispos- 

 sessed by the men of Bolabola, when they conquered 

 Ulietea, of some land in that island ; and I made no 

 doubt of being able to get it restored to the son in an 

 amicable manner. For that purpose it was necessary 

 that he should be upon good terms with those who 

 now were masters of the island; but he was too great 

 a patriot to listen to any such thing ; and was vain 

 enough to suppose that I would reinstate him in his 

 forfeited lands by force. This made it impossible to 

 fix him at Ulietea, and pointed out to me Huaheine 

 as the proper place. I therefore resolved to avail 

 myself of the presence of the chief men of the island, 

 and to make this proposal to them. 



After the hurry of the morning was over, wc got 

 ready to pay a formal visit to Taireetareea, meaning 

 then to introduce his business. Omai dressed himself 

 very properly on the occasion ; and prepared a hand- 



