I 



1769. ROUND THE WORLD* 155 



ceremony was performed by all the natives who were 

 without the fort. Uncovering the body, therefore, 

 is in this country probably a mark of respect ; and 

 as all parts are here exposed with equal indifference, 

 the ceremony of uncovering it from the waist down- 

 wards, which was performed by Oorattooa, might be 

 nothing more than a different mode of compliment, 

 adapted to persons of a different rank. The chief 

 came into the tent, but no entreaty could prevail upon 

 the young woman to follow him, though she seemed 

 to refuse contrary to her inclination. The natives with- 

 out were, indeed, all very solicitous to prevent her, 

 sometim.es, when her resolution seemed to fail, ahuost 

 using force : the boy also they restrained in the same 

 manner ; but Dr. Solander, happening to meet him at 

 the gate, took him by the hand, and led him in before 

 the people were aware of it. As soon, however, as 

 those that were within saw him, they took care to 

 have him sent out. 



These circumstances having strongly excited our 

 curiosity, w^e inquired who they were, and were in- 

 formed, that Oamo was the husband of Oberea, 

 though they had been a long time separated by mu- 

 tual consent ; and that the young woman and the boy 

 were their children. We learnt also, that the boy, 

 whose name was Terridiri, was heir-apparent to the 

 sovereignty of the island, and that his sister was in- 

 tended for his wife, the marriage being deferred only 

 till he should arrive at a proper age. The sovereign 

 at this time was a son of Whappai, w^hose name was 

 OuTou, and who, as before has been observed, was a 

 minor. Whappai, Oamo, and Tootahah, were 

 brothers : Whappai was the eldest, and Oamo the se- 

 cond ; so that, Whappai having no child but Outou, 

 Terridiri, the son of his next brother Oamo, was heir 

 to the sovereignty. It will, perhaps, seem strange 

 that a boy should be sovereign during the life of his 

 father ; but, according to the custom of the country, 

 a child succeeds to a father's title and authority 



