488 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



curring. The dancing-dress of the lady was very elegant, being 

 ornamented with long tassels made of feathers, hanging from 

 the waist downwards. 



Cook left Tahiti early in September, taking with him a 

 young savage named Poreo, who was smitten with a desire to 

 visit foreign parts. At the neighboring island of Huaheine, a 

 native named Omai, belonging to the middle class, was also 

 taken on board. Cook thus speaks of him two years later: — ► 

 "Omai has most certainly a good understanding, quick parts, 

 and honest principles: he has a natural good behavior, which 

 renders him acceptable to the best company, and a proper de- 

 gree of pride, which teaches him to avoid the society of persons 

 of inferior rank. He has passions of the same kind as other 

 young men, but has judgment enough not to indulge them to an 

 improper excess." Omai was taken back to Huaheine by Cook 

 when he started upon his third voyage of discovery, in 1776. 

 We shall have occasion hereafter to chronicle the incidents of 

 this restoration. 



Cook arrived at Middlebourg, one of the Friendly Islands, 

 early in October. Two canoes, rowed by three men each, came 

 boldly alongside ; and some of them entered the ship without 

 hesitation. One of them seemed to be a chief, by the authority 

 he exerted, and accordingly received a present of a hatchet and 

 five nails. Tioony — such was this potentate's name — was thus 

 cheaply conciliated. Cook and a party soon embarked in a 

 boat, accompanied by Tioony, who conducted them to a little 

 creek, where a landing was easily effected. Tioony brandished 

 a branch of the tree of peace in his right hand, extending his 

 left towards an immense crowd of natives, who welcomed the 

 English on shore with loud acclamations. Not one of them 

 carried a weapon of any sort: they thronged so thickly around 

 the boat that it was difficult to get room to land. They seemed 

 more desirous to give than receive ; and many threw whole bales 

 cf cloth and armfuls of fruit into the boat, and then retired 



