6 
A VOYAGE TO 
1776. to remain at the Nore till I fhonld join her, being at this 
t Ju * e ~ , time in London. 
As we were to touch at Otaheite and the Society Iflands, 
in our way to the intended fcene of our freffi operations, it 
had been determined not to omit this opportunity (the 
only one ever likely to happen) of carrying Omai back to 
his native country. Accordingly, every thing being ready 
for our departure, he and I fet out together from London 
Monday 24. on the 24th, at fix o’clock in the morning. We reached 
Chatham between ten and eleven o’clock; and, after dining 
with Commilhoner Proby, he very obligingly ordered his 
yacht to carry us to Sheernefs, where my boat was waiting 
to take us on board. 
Omai left London with a mixture of regret and fatisfac- 
tion. When we talked about England, and about thofe 
who, during his flay, had honoured him with their protec¬ 
tion or friendfhip, I could obferve that his fpirits were fen- 
libly affected, and that it was with difficulty he could refrain 
from tears. But, the inftant the converfation turned to his 
own iflands, his eyes began to fparkle with joy. He was 
deeply imprefled with a fenfe of the good treatment he had 
met with in England, and entertained the higheft ideas of 
the country and of the people. But the pleaflng profpech he 
now had before him of returning home, loaded with what, 
he well knew, would be efteemed invaluable treafures there, 
and the flattering hope which the pofleffion of thefe gave 
him, of attaining to a diftinguiflied fuperiority amongft his 
countrymen, were conflderations which operated, by de¬ 
grees, to fupprefs every uneafy fenfation; and he feemed to 
be quite happy when he got on board the fliip. 
He was furniffied, by his Majefty, with an ample provi¬ 
sion of every article which, during our intercourfe with his 
country, 
