62 AVOYAGETO 



'777; I had but iufl: time to get into mv boat, when news was 



»— V ' brought, that Towha had concluded a treaty with Maheine, 



and had returned with his fleet to Attahooroo. This unex- 

 pected event made all further proceedings, in the military 

 way, quite unneceflary ; and the war canoes, inftead ofren- 

 dezvoufing at Oparre, were ordered home to their refpeiflive 

 diflricls. This alteration, however, did not hinder me from 

 following Otoo to Oparre, accompanied by Mr. King and 

 Omai. Soon after our arrival, and while dinner was pre- 

 paring, a mefTcngcr arrived from Eimeo, and related the 

 conditions of the peace ; or rather of the truce, it being only 

 for a limited time. The terms were difadvantageous to Ota- 

 heite ; and much blame was thrown upon Otoo, whofe de- 

 lay, in fending reinforcements, had obliged Towha to fub- 

 mit to a difgraceful accommodation. It was even currently 

 reported, that Towha, refcnting his not being fupported, 

 had declared, that, as foon as I Ihould leave the ifland, 

 he would join his forces to thofe of Tiaraboo, and attack 

 Otoo at Matavai, or Oparre. This called upon me to declare, 

 in the mod public manner, that I was determined to efpoufe 

 the interefl of my friend, againll any luch combination; and 

 that whoever prefumed to attack him, Ihould feci the 

 weight of my heavy difpleafure, when I returned again to 

 their illand. My declaration, probably, had the defired ef- 

 fect ; and, if Towha had any fuch hoftile intention at full, 

 we foon heard no more of the report. Whappai, Otoo's fa- 

 ther, highly difapproved of the peace, and blamed Towha 

 very much for concluding it. This fcnfible old man wifely 

 judged, that my going down with them to Eimeo muft have 

 been of fingular fervice to their caufc, though I fliould take 

 no other part whatever in the quarrel. And it was upon 

 this that he built all his arguments, and maintained, that 



Otoo 



