A General History & Collection of Voyages and Travels ... - Nauticus

one; at last, all my enquiries gave me no other information, than that they were alarmed on account of ourboats being absent, thinking that the people in them had deserted from us, and that I should take someviolent means to recover them. For when we assured them that the boats would return back, they seemedcheerful and satisfied, and to a man, denied that any one was hurt, either of their own or our people, and soit afterwards proved. Nor did it appear that there was the least foundation for these alarms, nor could weever find out by what means this general consternation first took its rise. After a stay of about an hour, Ireturned on board, three of the natives coming along with us, who proclaimed the peace as we rowed alongshore to all they saw.Thus matters were again restored to their former footing, and the next morning they came off to the shipsas usual. After breakfast, Captain Furneaux and I paid the chief a visit; we found him at his own houseperfectly easy, insomuch that he and some of his friends came on board and dined with us. I was now toldthat my Otaheitean young man, Poreo, had taken a resolution to leave me. I have just mentioned before, hisbeing with us when I followed Oreo, and his advising me not to go on shore. He was so much afraid at thattime, that he remained in the boat till he heard all matters were reconciled; then he came out, and presentlyafter, met with a young woman, for whom he had contracted a friendship. Having my powder-horn inkeeping, he came and gave it to one of my people who was by me, and then went away with her, and I sawhim no more.In the afternoon, our boats returned from Otaha, pretty well laden with plantains, an article we were mostin want of. They made the circuit of the island, conducted by one of the Earees, whose name was Boba,and were hospitably entertained by the people, who provided them with victuals and lodging. The firstnight, they were entertained with a play, the second, their repose was disturbed by the natives stealing theirmilitary chest. This put them on making reprisals, by which means they recovered the most of what theyhad lost.Having now got on board a large supply of refreshments, I determined to put to sea the next morning, andmade the same known to the chief, who promised to see me again before we departed. At four o'clock webegan to unmoor; and as soon as it was light, Oreo, his son, and some of his friends, came aboard. Manycanoes also came off with fruit and hogs, the latter they even begged of us to take from them, calling outTiyo boa atoi.--I am your friend, take my hog, and give me an axe. But our decks. were already so full ofthem, that we could hardly move, having, on board both ships, between three and four hundred. By theincrease of our stock, together with what we had salted and consumed, I judge that we got at this island400 or upwards; many, indeed, were only roasters, others again weighed one hundred pounds, or upwards,but the general run was from forty to sixty. It is not easy to say how many we might have got, could wehave found room for all that were offered us.The chief, and his friends, did not leave me till we were under sail, and before he went away, pressed memuch to know, if I would not return, and when? Questions which were daily put to me by many of theseislanders. My Otaheitean youth's leaving me proved of no consequence, as many young men of this islandvoluntarily offered to come away with us. I thought proper to take on board one, who was about seventeenor eighteen years of age, named Oedidee, a native of Bolabola, and a near relation of the great Opoony,chief of that island. Soon after we were out of the harbour, and had made sail, we observed a canoefollowing us, conducted by two men; whereupon I brought-to, and they presently came alongside, havingbrought me a present of roasted fruit and roots from Oreo. I made them a proper return before I dismissedthem, and then set sail to the west, with the Adventure in company.