6 AVOYAGETO 



I776. anchored at the Nore. Next day the Difcovery proceeded, 

 v»— V- — ' in obedience to my order; but the Refolution was ordered 

 to remain at the Nore till I fliould join her, being at this 

 time in London. 



As we were to touch at Otaheite and the Society Iflands, 

 in our way to the intended fcene of our frefh operations, it 

 had been determined not to omit this opportunity (the only 

 one ever likely to happen) of carrying Omai back to his native 

 country. Accordingly, every thing being ready for our de- 

 Monday 24. parture, he and I fet out together from London on the 24th, 

 at fix o'clock in the morning. We reached Chatham be- 

 tween ten and eleven o'clock ; and, after dining with Com- 

 miflioner Proby, he very obligingly ordered his yacht to 

 carry us to Sheernefs, where my boat was waiting to take 

 us on board. 



Omai left London with a mixture of regret and fatisfac- 

 tion. When we talked about England, and about thofe 

 who, during his flay, had honoured him with their protec- 

 tion or friendfhip, I could obfcrve that his fpirits were fea- 

 fibly affe(5ted, and that it was with difficulty he could refrain 

 from tears. But, the inftant the converfation turned to his 

 own iflands, his eyes began to fparkle with joy. He was 

 deeply imprefTed with a fenfe of the good treatment he had 

 met with in England, and entertained the higheft ideas of 

 the country and of the people. But the pleafing profped: he 

 now had before him of returning home, loaded with what, 

 he well knew, would be efl;eemed invaluable treafures there, 

 and the flattering hope which the poiTcffion of thefe gave 

 him, of attaining to a diftinguiflied fuperiority amongft 

 his countrymen, were confiderations which operated, by 

 degrees, to fupprefs every uneafy fenfation ; and he feemed 



to be quite happy when he got on board the fliip. 



He 



