5+ 



A VOYAGE TO 



1777. 



September. 



Saturday ij. 

 Sanday 14. 



which had pafTed at Oparre the preceding day, when Otoo, 

 with all the folcmnities oblerved on fuch occafions, reftored 

 to the friends and followers of the late king Tootaha, the 

 lands and poflefTions, which had been wihheld from them 

 ever fince his death. Probably, the new facrifice was the 

 concluding ceremony of what may be called the reverfal of 

 attainder. 



The following evening, Otoo returned from exercifmg this 

 moil difagreeable of all liis ducies as fovereign ; and, the 

 next day, being now honoured with his company, Captain 

 Gierke and I, mounted on horfehack, took a ride round the 

 plain of Matavai, to the very great furprize of a great train 

 of people who attended on the occafion, gazing upon us, 

 with as much aRonifliment as if we had been centaurs. 

 Omai, indeed, had, once or twice, before this, attempted 

 to get on horfeback ; but he had as often been thrown 

 off, before he could contrive to feat himfclf ; fo that this 

 was the firft time they had feen any body ride a horfe. 

 What Captain Gierke and I began, was, after this, repeated 

 every day, while we flaid, by one or another of our people. 

 And yet the curiofity of tiie natives continued flill tmabated. 

 They were exceedingly delighted with thefe animals, after 

 they had feen the ufe that was made of them ; and, as far 

 as I could judge, they conveyed to them a better idea of the 

 greatnefs of other nations, than all the other novelties, put 

 together, that their European vifiters had carried amongO: 

 them. Botli the horfe and mare were in good cafe, and 

 looked extremely well. 



Monday i;. The ncxt day, Etary, or Olla, the god of Bolabola, who 

 had, for feveral days pall, been in the neighbourhood of 

 Matavai, removed to Oparre, attended by feveral failing ca- 

 noes. "We were told, that Otoo did not approve of his being 



3 fo 



