CHAPTER y 



THE SOCIETY ISLANDS 



Cook anchored first in Oheitepeha Bay, pro- 

 posing to provide himself with provisions in this 

 part of the island before going on to Matavai. 

 He met v^ith the warm welcome which he ex- 

 pected. As for Omai, he was at first received 

 by his countrymen with perfect indifiference. It 

 was not until he had overwhelmed them with 

 red feathers and other presents that they showed 

 him any sort of friendship. However, his sister 

 displayed profound joy at seeing him again, and 

 embraced him in so touching a way that Cook 

 was sincerely moved. Omai also found one of 

 his aunts who seemed to possess family feeling 

 of the highest order. As soon as she set eyes on 

 her nephew she threw herself at his feet, which 

 she bathed with tears. 



Omai, who was of low extraction, might have 

 raised himself considerably in the social scale of 

 Tahiti and become an intimate of the great 

 chiefs, but, unfortunately, he consorted with all 

 the rogues on the island, letting himself be duped 

 by the rogues to whom it pleased him to brag, 



221 



