THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
55 
fo near our ftation, where his people could more ealily in¬ 
vade our property. I muft do Otoo the juftice to fay, that 
he took every method prudence could fuggeft to prevent 
thefts and robberies ; and it was more owing to his regula¬ 
tions, than to our own circumfpection, that fo few were 
committed. He had taken care to ereX a little houfe or two, 
on the other fide of the river, behind our poll; and two 
others, clofe to our tents, on the bank between the river and 
the fea. In all thefe places fome of his own people con- 
ftantly kept watch; and his father generally refided on 
Matavai point; fo that we were, in a manner, furrounded 
by them. Thus firationed, they not only guarded us in the 
night from thieves, but could obferve every thing that 
pafled in the day ; and were ready to collect contributions 
from fuch girls as had private connexions with our peo¬ 
ple ; which was generally done every morning. So that the 
meafures adopted by him to fecure our fafety, at the fame 
time ferved the more effential purpofe of enlarging his own 
profits. 
Otoo informing me, that his prefence was neceffary at 
Oparre, where he was to give audience to the great per- 
fonage from Bolabola; and alking me to accompany him,, 
I readily confented, in hopes of meeting with fomething 
worth our notice. Accordingly I went with him, in the 
morning of the 16th, attended by Mr. Anderfon. Nothing, 
however, occurred on this occafion, that w r as either intereft- 
ing or curious. We faw Etary and his followers prefent 
fome coarfe cloth and hogs to Otoo; and each article was 
delivered with fome ceremony, and a fet fpeech. After 
this, they, and fome other Chiefs, held a confultation about 
the expedition to Eimeo. Etary, at firft, feemed to difap- 
prove of it; but, at laft, his objections were over-ruled. 
i - Indeed, 
1 777 * 
September. 
1,-v—,.*■ 
Tuefday i6„ 
