8 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777. After leaving this ifland, from the difcovery of which, 
future navigators may pofftbly derive fome advantage, I 
fleered to the North, with a frefh gale at Eaft by South, and, 
Tuefday 12. at day-break, in the morning of the 12th, we faw the ifland 
of Maitea. Soon after, Otaheite made its appearance ; 
and, at noon, it extended from South Weft by Weft, to 
Weft North Weft; the point of Oheitepeha bay bearing 
Weft, about four leagues diftant. I fleered for this bay, 
intending to anchor there, in order to draw what refrefh- 
ments I could from the South Eaft part of the ifland, be¬ 
fore I went down to Matavai; from the neighbourhood of 
which ftation I expefled my principal fupply. We had a 
frefh gale Eafterly, till two o’clock in the afternoon; when, 
being about a league from the bay, the wind fuddenly died 
aw r ay, and was fucceeded by baffling, light airs, from 
every direction, and calms, by turns. This lafted about 
two hours. Then we had fudden fqualls, with rain, from 
the Eaft. Thefe carried us before the bay, where we got a 
breeze from the land, and attempted, in vain, to work in, 
to gain the anchoringrplace. So that, at laft, about nine 
o’clock, we were obliged to Hand out, and to fpend the 
night at fea. 
When we firft drew near the ifland, feveral canoes came 
off to the Ihip, each conducted by two or three men. But, 
as they were common fellows, Omai took no particular no¬ 
tice of them, nor they of him. They did not, even, feem 
to perceive, that he was one of their countrymen, although 
they converfed with him for fome time. At length, a Chief, 
whom I had known before, named Ootee, and Omai’s bro¬ 
ther-in-law, who chanced to be now at this corner of the 
ifland, and three or four more perfons, all of whom knew 
Omai, before he embarked with Captain Furneaux, came 
on 
