224 CAPTAIN COOK 



to make the same proposal to his people ; which 

 they also agreed to. Accordingly, we stopped 

 serving grog, except on Saturday nights; when 

 the companies of both ships had full allowance 

 of it, that they might drink the healths of their 

 female friends in England ; lest these, among the 

 pretty girls of Otaheite, should be wholly for- 

 gotten." 



After a stay of twelve days at Oheitepeha, the 

 two vessels went on to Matavai, where Otoo, the 

 King of the island, Towha, the High Admiral, 

 and all Cook's old friends received him and his 

 companions as amiably as possible. Cook took 

 care to distribute to the King and the chiefs the 

 greater part of the animals and fowls which he 

 had on board, which was a cause of great relief 

 to him, for the upkeep of the animals had been a 

 constant worry to him since his departure from 

 the Cape. 



One day. Cook and Captain Clerke took it into 

 their heads to ride on horseback round the plain 

 of Matavai. Cook says in his Journal, "Captain 

 Clerke and I, mounted on horseback, took a ride 

 round the plain of Matavai, to the very great 

 surprise of a great train of people who attended 

 on the occasion, gazing upon us with as much 

 astonishment as if we had been centaurs. . . . 

 What Captain Clerke and I began, was, after 



