THEPACIFICOCEAN. 77 



panlons had ftaid ten months, two fliips came to Ohcitepeha, g^ Member 

 took them on board, and failed again in five days. This 

 hafly departure fliews, that, whatever defign the Spaniards 

 might have had upon this ifland, they had now laid it afidc. 

 And yet, as I was informed by Otoo, and many others, before 

 they went away, they would have the natives believe, that 

 they ftill meant to return, and to bring with them houfes, 

 all kinds of animals, and men and women who were to 

 fettle, live, and die, on the ifland. Otoo, when he told me 

 this, added, that if the Spaniards fhould return, he would 

 not let them come to Matavai Fort, which, he faid, was ours. 

 It was eafy to fee, that the idea plcafcd him ; litcle thinking, 

 that the completion of it would, at once, deprive him of 

 his kingdom, and the people of their liberties. This fliews 

 with what facility a fettlement might be made at Otaheite ; 

 which, grateful as I am for repeated good offices, I hope 

 will never happen. Our occaflonal vifus may, in fome re- 

 fpccls, have benefited its inhabitants ; but a permanent 

 eflablilhmcnt amongil them, conduced as moft European 

 eflabliflimcnts amongft Indian nations have unfortunately 

 been, would, I fear, give them jull: caufe to lament, tiiat 

 our fliips had ever found them out. Indeed, it is very un- 

 likely, that any meafure of tlfis kind fliould ever be fcri- 

 oufly thought of, as it can neither fcrve the purpofes ol- 

 public ambition, nor of private avarice ; and, without fuch 

 inducements, I may pronounce, that it will never be un- 

 dertaken. 



I have already mentioned the vifit that I had^from one ot 

 the two natives of this ifland, who had been carried by the 

 Spaniards to Lima. I never faw him afterward ; which I 

 rather wondered at, as I had received him with uncommon- 

 civility. I believe, however, that Oniai liad kept him at a 



diO.ancc 



