THIRD VOYAGE 301 



here, and of its attendant power ; and, so pertinaciously 

 or rather blindly adhered to, that unless a person has 

 some degree of it, he will certainly be despised and hated 

 if he assumes the appearance of exercising any authority. 

 This was really the case in some measure with Omai, 

 though his countrymen were pretty cautious of expressing 

 their sentiments while we remained amongst them. Had 

 he made a proper use of the presents he brought with 

 him from England, this, with the knowledge he had 

 acquired by travelling so far, might have enabled him 

 to form the most useful connections. But we have already 

 given instances of his childish inattention to this obvious 

 means of advancing his interest. His schemes seemed 

 to be of a higher, though ridiculous nature, indeed, I 

 may say meaner, for revenge rather than a desire of 

 becoming great, appeared to actuate him from the begin- 

 ning. This, however, may be excused, if we consider that 

 it is common to his countrymen. His father was doubt- 

 less a man of considerable property in Ulietea, when that 

 island was conquered by those of Bolabola, and, with 

 many others, sought refuge in Huaheine, where he died, 

 and left Omai with some other children, who, by that 

 means, became totally dependent. In this situation he 

 was taken up by Captain Furneaux, and carried to 

 England. Whether he really expected, from his treat- 

 ment there, that any assistance would be given him 

 against the enemies of his father and his country, or 

 whether he imagined that his own personal courage and 

 superiority of knowledge, would be sufficient to dis- 

 possess the conquerors of Ulietea, is uncertain ; but 

 from the beginning of the voyage this was his constant 

 theme. He would not listen to our remonstrances on so 

 wild a determination, but flew into a passion, if more 

 moderate and reasonable counsels were proposed for his 

 advantage. As we advanced, however, on our voyage, 

 he became more sensible of his error, and, by the f ime 

 we reached the Friendly Islands, had even such appre- 

 hensions of his reception at home, that he would B ain 

 have staid behind at Tongataboo, under Feenou's pro- 

 tection. At these islands he squandered away much of 

 his European treasure very unnecessarily. At Matavai, 

 he continued the same inconsiderate behaviour, till I 

 absolutely put a stop to his profusion. 



'* Whether the remains of his European wealth, which, 

 after all his improvident waste, was still considerable, will 

 be more prudently administered by him, or whether the 

 steps I took, as already explained, to insure him pro- 

 tection in Huaheine shall have proved effectual, must 



