THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
87 
feeing my party was too flrong, had dropped the defign. 1777. 
I was confirmed in this notion, by obferving, that all their i Q<5tober - 1 
houfes were empty. After getting a few of the people of 
the place together, I defired Omai to expoflulate with them 
on the abfurdity of the conduit they were purfuing; and 
to tell them, that, from the teflimony of many on whom I 
could depend, I was well affured, that the goat was in their 
pofreflion; and, therefore, infilled upon its being delivered 
up, otherwife I would bum their houfes and canoes. But, 
notwithflanding all that I or Omai could fay, they conti¬ 
nued to deny their having any knowledge of it. The con- 
fequence was, that I fet fire to fix or eight houfes, which 
were prefently confumed, with two or three war-canoes that 
lay contiguous to them. This done, I marched off to join 
the boats, which were about feven or eight miles from us ; 
and, in our way, we burnt fix more war-canoes, without 
any one attempting to oppofe us; on the contrary, many 
affifted, though, probably, more out of fear than good-will. 
In one place, Omai, who had advanced a little before, came 
back with information, that a great many men were getting 
together to attack us. We made ready to receive them; 
but, inftead of enemies, we found petitioners with plan¬ 
tain-trees in their hands, which they laid down at my feet, 
and begged that I would fpare a canoe that lay clofe by; 
which I readily complied with. 
At length, about four in the afternoon, we got to the 
boats, that were waiting at Wharrarade, the diftridl be¬ 
longing to Tiarataboonoue; but this Chief, as well as all 
the principal people of the place, had fled to the hills; 
though I touched not a fingle thing that was their pro¬ 
perty, as they were the friends of Otoo. After refling 
ourfelves here about an hour, we fet out for the fhips, 
where 
