THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
29 
flout a refiftance, that the fleet had returned without ef¬ 
fecting much; and now another expedition was neceflary. 
On the arrival of thefe meflengers, all the Chiefs, who 
happened to he at Matavai, aflembled at Otoo’s houfe, where 
I actually was at the time, and had the honour to be ad¬ 
mitted into their council. One of the meflengers opened 
the bufinefs of the aflembly, in a fpeech of confiderable 
length. But I underftood little of it, befldes its general 
purport, which was to explain the fituation of affairs in 
Eimeo; and to excite the aflembled Chiefs of Otaheite to 
arm on the occaflon. This opinion was combated by others 
who were againft commencing hoftilities ; and the debate 
was carried on with great order; no more than one man 
fpeaking at a time. At hit, they became very noify, and 
I expedted that our meeting would have ended like a Polifh 
diet. But the contending great men cooled as faff as they 
grew warm, and order was foon reftored. At length, the 
party for war prevailed ; and it was determined, that a 
ftrong force fhould be fent to aflift their friends in Eimeo. 
But this refolution was far from being unanimous. Otoo, 
during the whole debate, remained fllent; except that, now 
and then, he addreffed a word or two to the fpeakers. Thofe 
of the council, who were for profecuting the war, applied 
to me for my afliftance; and all of them wanted to know 
what part I would take. Omai was fent for to be my in¬ 
terpreter ; but, as he could not be found, I was obliged to 
fpeak for myfelf, and told them, as well as I could, that as 
I was not thoroughly acquainted with the difpute, and as 
the people of Eimeo had never offended me, I could not 
think myfelf at liberty to engage in hoftilities againft them. 
With this declaration they either were, or feemed, latisfied. 
The aflembly then broke up; but, before I left them, Otoo 
deftred 
1777. 
Auguft. 
