282 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



" As soon as we had dined, a party of us accompanied 

 Otoo to Oparre, taking with us the poultry with which we 

 were to stock the island. These I left at Oparre in the 

 possession of Otoo, and the geese and ducks began to breed 

 before we sailed. We found there a gander, which the 

 natives told us was the same that Captain Wallis had given 

 to Oberea ten years before ; several goats, and the Spanish 

 bull which they kept tied to a tree near Otoo's house. I 

 never saw a finer animal of his kind. He was now the 

 property of Etary, and had been brought from Oheitepeha 

 to this place, in order to be shipped for Bolabola. But it 

 passes my comprehension how they can contrive to carry 

 him in one of their canoes. If we had not arrived, it would 

 have been of little consequence who had the property of 

 him, as, without a cow, he could be of no use, and none had 

 been left with him. Next day I put ashore three cows and 

 a horse, a mare and sheep. 



" Having thus disposed of these passengers, I found my- 

 self lightened of a very heavy burthen. The trouble and 

 vexation that attended the bringing this living cargo thus 

 far, is hardly to be conceived. But the satisfaction that I 

 felt in having been so fortunate as to fulfil his Majesty's 

 humane design, in sending such valuable animals to supply 

 the wants of two worthy nations, sufficiently recompensed 

 me for the many anxious hours I had passed, before this sub- 

 ordinate object of my voyage could be carried into execution. 



" As I intended to make some stay here, we set up the 

 two observatories on Matavai Point. Adjoining to them, 

 two tents were pitched for the reception of a guard, and of 

 such people as it might be necessary to leave on shore in 

 different departments. At this station, I intrusted the 

 command to Mr. King, who, at the same time, attended 

 the observations for ascertaining the going of the time- 

 keeper, and other purposes. 



" On the 26th, I had a piece of ground cleared for a 

 garden, and planted it with several articles. Some melons, 

 potatoes, and two pine-apple plants, were in a fair way of 

 succeeding before we left the place. I had brought from the 

 Friendly Islands several shaddock trees. These I also 

 planted here, and they can hardly fail of success, unless their 

 growth should be checked by the same premature curiosity 

 which destroyed a vine planted by the Spaniards at Oheite- 

 peha. A number of the natives got together to taste the 

 first fruit it bore ; but, as the grapes were still sour, they 

 considered it as little better than poison, and it was unani- 

 mously determined to tread it under foot. In that state 

 Omai found it by chance, and was overjoyed at the dis- 

 covery, for he had a full confidence, that if he had but 



