62 
A VOYAGE TO 
1777- I had but juft time to get into my boat, when news was 
eptem er. that Towha had concluded a treaty with Maheine, 
and had returned with his fleet to Attahooroo. This unex¬ 
pected event made all further proceedings, in the military 
way, quite unneceflary; and the war canoes, inftead of 
rendezvouflng at Oparre, were ordered home to their re- 
fpeCtive diftriCts. This alteration, however, did not hinder 
me from following Otoo to Oparre, accompanied by Mr. 
King and Omai. Soon after our arrival, and while dinner 
was preparing, a meflenger arrived from Eimeo, and re¬ 
lated the conditions of the peace; or rather of the truce, 
it being only for a limited time. The terms were difad- 
vantageous to Otaheite; and much blame was thrown upon 
Otoo, whofe delay, in fending reinforcements, had obliged 
Towha to fubmit to a difgraceful accommodation. It was 
even currently reported, that Towha, refenting his not 
being fupported, had declared, that, as foon as I fliould 
leave the ifland, he would join his forces to thofe of Tia- 
raboo, and attack Otoo at Matavai, or Oparre. This called 
upon me to declare, in the moft public manner, that I 
was determined to efpoufe the intereft of my friend, againft 
any fuch combination ; and that whoever prefumed to at¬ 
tack him, fliould feel the weight of my heavy difpleafure, 
when I returned again to their ifland. My declaration, 
probably, had the deftred effeCt; and, if Towha had any 
fuch hoftile intention at firft, we foon heard no more of 
the report. Whappai, Otoo’s father, highly difapproved 
of the peace, and blamed Towha very much for conclud¬ 
ing it. This fenftble old man wifely judged, that my going 
down with them to Eimeo muft have been of Angular fer- 
vice to their caufe, though I fliould take no other part 
whatever in the quarrel. And it was upon this that he 
built 
