278 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



preached, we saw it everywhere guarded by a reef of coral 

 rock, extended in some places a full mile from the land, and 

 a high surf breaking upon it. We also observed people on 

 several parts of the coast ; and in a little time after we had 

 reached the lee-side of the island, we saw them launch two 

 canoes, into which about a dozen men got, and paddled 

 towards us. 



" I now shortened sail, as well to give these canoes time 

 to come up with us, as to sound for anchorage. The canoes 

 having advanced to about the distance of a pistol-shot from 

 the ship, they stopped. Omai was employed, as he usually 

 had been on such occasions, to use all his eloquence to 

 prevail on the men in them to come nearer, but no entreaties 

 could induce them to trust themselves within our reach. 

 They kept eagerly pointing to the shore with their paddles, 

 and calling on us to go thither ; and several of their country- 

 men who stood upon the beach held up something white, 

 which we considered also as an invitation to land. But 

 I did ng. think proper to risk losing the advantage of a 

 fair wind for the sake of examining an island which appeared 

 to be of little consequence. For this reason I made sail to 

 the north, but not without getting from them, during their 

 vicinity to our ship, the name of their island, which they 

 called Toobouai. 



" At daybreak, in the morning of the 12th, we saw the 

 island of Maitea. Soon after, Otaheite made its 

 appearance. 



" When we first drew near the island, several canoes came 

 off to the ship, each conducted by two or three men. But 

 as they were common fellows, Omai took no particular notice 

 of them, nor they of him. At length, a chief, whom I had 

 known before, named Ootee, and Omai's brother-in-law, 

 who chanced to be now at this corner of the island, and 

 three or four more persons, all of whom knew Omai, came 

 on board. Yet there was nothing either tender or striking 

 in their meeting ; on the contrary, there seemed to be a 

 perfect indifference on both sides, till Omai having taken 

 his brother down into the cabin, opened the drawer where 

 he kept his red feathers and gave him a few. This being 

 presently known amongst the rest of the natives upon deck, 

 the face of affairs was entirely turned ; and Ootee, who 

 would hardly speak to Omai before, now begged that they 

 might be friends and exchange names. Omai accepted of 

 the honour, and confirmed it with a present of red feathers ; 

 and Ootee, by way of return, sent ashore for a hog. But it 

 was evident to every one of us that it was not the man, but 

 his property they were in love with. Such was Omai's first 

 reception among his countrymen. I own I never expected 



