TAHITI AND THE SOCIETY ISLANDS 127 



to upbraid his people, recalling the friendly 

 manner in which the powerful stranger had 

 treated the inhabitants of Huaheine during his 

 two visits, and which made him ashamed of such 

 conduct. Finally Orea took a note of the things 

 stolen from Dr. Sparmann, and promised to have 

 the most careful search made for the robbers. 

 He even wished, to the great alarm of his people, 

 to take his place in Cook's boat in order to go 

 with him in pursuit of the bandits. The expedi- 

 tion was unsuccessful, but on the following day 

 the knife and some of the clothes were returned 

 to Sparmann. 



On September 7th, at the very moment when 

 Cook had set sail, Orea came on board the Reso- 

 lution, to tell him that the robbers had been cap- 

 tured and that he wished his friends to land 

 either to punish the culprits or assist at their 

 chastisement. Cook was unable to accept, and 

 parted from the old man with the most tender 

 farewells. 



Before leaving Huaheine Captain Furneaux 

 agreed to receive on board the Adventure a 

 young man called Omai, who wished to follow 

 the travellers. Omai was of low birth, but, 

 thanks to his vivid intelligence, he was later of 

 considerable use. 



When the Adventure returned to England 

 Omai was taken up by Lord Sandwich, who pre- 



