A VOYAGE TO 
fiderate behaviour, till I abfolutely put a ftop to his profu- 
fion ; and he formed fuch improper connections there, that 
Otoo, who was, at firft, much difpofed to countenance him, 
afterward openly expreffed his diflike of him, on account of 
his conduct. It was not, however, too late to recover his 
favour; and he might have fettled, to great advantage, in 
Otaheite, as he had formerly lived feveral years there, and 
was now a good deal noticed by Towha, whofe valuable 
prefent, of a very large double canoe, we have feen above* 
The objection to admitting him to fome rank would have 
alfo been much leffened, if he had fixed at Otaheite; as a 
native will always find it more difficult to accomplifh fuch 
a change of ftate amongft his countrymen, than a ftranger, 
who naturally claims refpect. But Omai remained unde- 
termined to the laft, and would not, I believe, have adopted 
my plan of fettlement in Huaheine, if I had not fo expli¬ 
citly refufed to employ force in refloring him to his father’s 
poffeffions. Whether the remains of his European wealth, 
which, after all his improvident wafte, was ftill confidera- 
ble, will be more prudently adminiftered by him, or whe¬ 
ther the fteps I took, as already explained, to infure him 
protection in Huaheine, fhall have proved effectual, muft be 
left to the decifion of future navigators of this Ocean; with 
whom it cannot but be a principal object of curiofity to trace 
the future fortunes of our traveller. At prefent, I can only 
conjecture, that his great eft danger will arife from the very 
impolitic declarations of his antipathy to the inhabitants of 
Bolabola. For thefe people, from a principle of jealoufy, 
will, no doubt, endeavour to render him obnoxious to thofe 
of Huaheine; as they are at peace with that illand at pre¬ 
fent, and may eafily effeCt their defigns, many of them 
living there. This is a circumftance, which, of all others, 
he. 
108 
1777. 
November. 
On — y” 1/ 
