THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
93 
forfeited lands by force. This made it impoflible to fix him 
at Ulietea, and pointed out to me Huaheine as the proper 
place. I, therefore, refolved to avail myfelf of the prefence 
of the chief men of the ifland, and to make this propofal 
to them. 
After the hurry of the morning was over, we got ready 
to pay a formal vifit to Taireetareea, meaning then to intro¬ 
duce this bufinefs. Omai dreffed himfelf very properly on 
the occafion ; and prepared a handfome prefent for the 
Chief himfelf, and another for his Eatooa. Indeed, after 
he had got clear of the gang that furrounded him at 
Otaheite, he behaved with fuch prudence as to gain re- 
fpe£t. Our landing drew moft of our vifiters from the fhips; 
and they, as well as thofe that were on fhore, affembled in 
a large houfe. The concourfe of people, on this occafion, 
was very great; and, amongfi: them, there appeared to be a 
greater proportion of perfonable men and women than we 
had ever feen in one afiembly at any of thefe new iflands. 
Not only the bulk of the people feemed, in general, much 
flouter and fairer than thofe of Otaheite, but there was alfo 
a much greater number of men who appeared to be of 
confequence, in proportion to the extent of the iiland; moft 
of whom had exactly the corpulent appearance of the Chiefs 
ofWateeoo. We waited fome time for Taireetareea, as I 
would do nothing till the Earee rahie came; but when he 
appeared I found that his prefence might have been dif- 
penfed with, as he was not above eight or ten years of age. 
Omai, who ftood at a little diftance from this circle of great 
men, began with making his offering to the Gods, confid¬ 
ing of red feathers, cloth, &c. Then followed another of¬ 
fering, which was to be given to the Gods by the Chief; 
and, after that, feveral other fmall pieces and tufts of red 
feathers 
1 777 * 
Oftober, 
