THIRD VOYAGE 293 



tinguish him by the name of Mateema. He seems to have 

 been a person who had studied their language, or at least to 

 have spoken it so as to be understood, and to have taken 

 uncommon pains to impress the minds of the islanders with 

 the most exalted ideas of the greatness of the Spanish nation, 

 and to make them think meanly of the English. He even 

 went so far as to assure them that we no longer existed 

 as an independent nation ; that Pretane was only a small 

 island which they, the Spaniards, had entirely destroyed ; 

 and for me, that they had met with me at sea, and with 

 a few shots had sent my ship and every soul in her to the 

 bottom ; so that my visiting Otaheite at this time was of 

 course very unexpected. 



" With what design the priests stayed we cannot guess, 

 If it was to convert the natives to the Roman Catholic faith, 

 they have not succeeded in any one instance. When they 

 had stayed ten months, two ships came to Oheitepeha, took 

 them on board, and sailed again in five days. This hasty 

 departure shews, that whatever design the Spaniards might 

 have upon this island, they had now laid it aside ; yet 

 before they went away, they would have the natives believe 

 that they still meant to return, and to bring with them 

 houses, all kinds of animals, and men and women, who 

 were to settle, live and die on the island. Otoo said, if 

 the Spaniards should return, he would not let them come 

 to Matavai Fort, which he said was ours. It was easy to 

 see that the idea pleased him ; little thinking that the 

 completion of it would at once deprive him of his kingdom 

 and the people of their liberties. This shews with what 

 facility a settlement might be made at Otaheite, which, 

 grateful as I am for repeated good offices, I hope will never 

 happen. 



" We had no sooner anchored at the neighbouring island 

 of Eimeo than the ships were crowded with the inhabitants, 

 whom curiosity alone brought on board, for they had 

 nothing with them for the purposes of barter. But the 

 next morning this deficiency was supplied, several canoes 

 then arriving from more distant parts, which brought with 

 them abundance of bread-fruit, cocoanuts, and a few hogs. 

 These they exchanged for hatchets, nails and beads ; for red 

 feathers were not so much sought after here as at Otaheite. 



" In the morning of the 2nd of October, Maheine, the chief 

 of the island, paid me a visit. He approached the ship with 

 great caution, and it required some persuasion to get him 

 on board. 



" This chief, who, with a few followers, had made himself 

 in a manner independent of Otaheite, is between forty and 

 fifty years old. He is bald-headed, which is rather an un- 



