1777* THE PACIFIC OCEAN. V23 



main subject to Bolabola ; the chiefs who govern 

 them being only deputies of Opoony, the sovereign 

 of that island. In the reduction of the two islands, 

 five battles were fought, at different places, in which 

 great numbers were slain on both sides. 



Such was the account we received. I have more 

 than once remarked, how very imperfectly these 

 people recollect the exact dates of past events. And 

 with regard to this war, though it happened not many 

 years ago, we could only guess at the time of its com- 

 mencement and its conclusion, from collateral cir- 

 cumstances, furnished by our own observation, as the 

 natives could not satisfy our inquiries with any pre- 

 cision. The final conquest of Ulietea, which closed 

 the war, we know, had been made before I was there 

 in the Endeavour, in 1769 > but we may infer, that 

 peace had not been very long restored, as we could 

 see marks of recent hostilities * having been commit- 

 ted upon that island. Some additional light may be 

 thrown upon this inquiry, by attending to the age of 

 Teereetareea, the present chief of Huaheine. His 

 looks showed, that he was not above ten or twelve 

 years old ; and we were informed, that his father had 

 been killed at one of the battles. As to the time 

 when the war began, we had no better rule forjudg- 

 ing, than this, that the young people of about twenty 

 years of age, of whom we made inquiries, could 

 scarcely remember the first battles ; and I have al- 

 ready mentioned, that Omai's countrymen, whom we 

 found at Wateeoo, knew nothing of this war ; so that 

 its commencement was subsequent to their voyage. 



Ever since the conquest of Ulietea and Otaha, the 

 Bolabola men have been considered by their neigh- 

 bours as invincible ; and such is the extent of their 

 fame, that even at Otaheite, which is almost out of 

 their reach, if they are not dreaded, they are at least 

 respected for their valour. It is said, that they never 



* These are taken notice of in Hatukesivortlis Collection, vol. ii. 

 p. 256, &c. 



