88 cook's voyage to oct. 



been laid before him, and after repeating a prayer, 

 sent it to the moral ; which, as Omai told us, was at 

 a great distance, otherwise the offerings would have 

 been made there. 



These religious ceremonies having been performed, 

 Omai sat down by me, and we entered upon business, 

 by giving the young chief my present, and receiving 

 his in return ; and, all things considered, they were 

 liberal enough on both sides. Some arrangements 

 were next agreed upon, as to the manner of carrying 

 on the intercourse betwixt us ; and I pointed out the 

 mischievous consequences that would attend their 

 robbing us, as they had done during my former visits. 

 Omai's establishment was then proposed to the as- 

 sembled chiefs. 



He acquainted them, " That he had been carried 

 by us into our country, where he was well received 

 by the great king and his Earees, and treated with 

 every mark of regard and affection, while he staid 

 amongst us ; that he had been brought back again, 

 enriched by our liberality with a variety of articles, 

 which would prove very useful to his countrymen ; 

 and that, besides the two horses which were to re- 

 main with him, several other new and valuable ani- 

 mals had been left at Otaheite, which would soon 

 multiply, and furnish a sufficient number for the use 

 of all the islands in the neighbourhood. He then 

 signified to them, that it was my earnest request, in 

 return for all my friendly offices, that they would give 

 him a piece of land, to build a house upon, and to 

 raise provisions for himself and servants ; adding, 

 that, if this could not be obtained for him at Hua- 

 heine, either by gift or by purchase, I was deter- 

 mined to carry him to Ulietea, and fix him there." 



Perhaps I have here made a better speech for my 

 friend, than he actually delivered ; but these were 

 the topics I dictated to him. I observed, that what 

 he concluded with, about carrying him to Ulietea, 

 seemed to meet with the approbation of all the chiefs ; 



6 



