96 
A VOYAGE TO 
oa 7 b* &* ve w ^ at P ort * on °f it I pleafed to my friend.” Omai, who, 
like the reft of his countrymen, feldom fees things beyond 
the prefent moment, was greatly pleafed to hear this; 
thinking, no doubt, that I lhould be very liberal, and give 
him enough. But to offer what it would have been im¬ 
proper to accept, I considered as offering nothing at all; 
and, therefore, I now defired, that they would not only af- 
ftgn the particular fpot, but alfo the exacft quantity of land, 
which they would allot for the fettlement. Upon this, fome 
Chiefs, who had already left the affembly, were fent for; 
and, after a Short confutation among themfelves, my re- 
queft was granted by general confent; and the ground im¬ 
mediately pitched upon, adjoining to the houfe where our 
meeting was held. The extent, along the fhore of the har¬ 
bour, was about two hundred yards; and its depth, to the 
foot of the hill, Somewhat more; but a proportional part 
of the hill was included in the grant. 
This buftnefs being fettled to the Satisfaction of all par¬ 
ties, I fet up a tent afliore, eftablilhed a poll, and erefted 
the obfervatories. The carpenters of both fhips were alfo 
fet to work, to build a fmall houfe for Omai, in which he 
might fecure the European commodities that were his pro¬ 
perty. At the fame time, fome hands were employed in 
making a garden for his ufe, planting Shaddocks, vines, 
pine-apples, melons, and the feeds of feveral other vege¬ 
table articles; all of which I had the Satisfaction of obferv- 
ing to be in a flourishing ftate before I left the illand. 
Omai now began ferioufly to attend to his own affairs, 
and repented heartily of his ill-judged prodigality while at 
Otaheite. He found at Huaheine, a brother, a Sifter, and a 
brother-in-law; the After being married. But thefe did 
not plunder him, as he had lately been by his other rela¬ 
tions. 
