THIRD VOYAGE 303 



of the inferiority of his own country to these islands and 

 resigned himself, though perhaps with reluctance, to end 

 his days in ease and plenty in Huaheine. But the other 

 was so strongly attached to us that he was taken out 

 of the ship and carried ashore by force. He was a witty, 

 smart boy, and on that account much noticed on board. 



" The boat which carried Omai ashore (never to join 

 us again) having returned to the ship, we hoisted her 

 in, and immediately stood over for Ulietea, where I 

 intended to touch next. 



" On the 4th we arrived in the harbour of Ohamaneno, 

 and were visited by Oreo, the chief of the island, with 

 whom I interchanged civilities and presents. 



" On the 6th we set up the observatories and got the 

 necessary instruments on shore. 



" Though we had separated from Omai, we were still 

 near enough to have intelligence of his proceedings, and 

 I had desired to hear from him. Accordingly, about a 

 fortnight after our arrival at Ulietea, he sent two of his 

 people in a canoe, who brought me the satisfactory intelli- 

 gence that he remained undisturbed by the people of the 

 island, and that everything went well with him, except 

 that his goat had died in kidding. He accompanied this 

 intelligence with a request that I would send him another 

 goat and two axes. Being happy to have this additional 

 opportunity of serving him, the messengers were sent 

 back to Huaheine on the 18th with the axes and two 

 kids, male and female, which were spared for him out 

 of the Discovery. 



" On the 24th, I was informed that a midshipman and 

 a seaman, both belonging to the Discovery, were missing. 

 As the midshipman was known to have expressed a desire 

 to remain at these islands, it seemed pretty certain that 

 he and his companion had gone off with this intention, 

 and Captain Glerke set out in quest of them, with two 

 armed boats and a party of marines. His expedition 

 proved fruitless, for he returned in the evening without 

 having got any certain intelligence where they were. 

 From the conduct of the natives, Captain Clerke seemed 

 to think that they intended to conceal the deserters, and 

 with that view had amused him with false information 

 the whole day, and directed him to search for them in 

 places where they were not to be found. The Captain 

 judged right, for the next morning we were told that our 

 runaways were at Otaha. As these two were not the 

 only persons in the ship who wished to end their days 

 at these favourite islands, in order to put a .stop to any 

 further desertion, it was necessary to get them back at 



