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

Bougainville. But they were continually asking for Mr Banks, and several others who were with me in myformer voyage.These people informed us, that Toutaha, the regent of the greater peninsula of Otaheite, had been killed ina battle, which was fought between the two kingdoms about five months before, and that Otoo was thereigning prince. Tubourai Tamaide, and several more of our principal friends about Matavai, fell in thisbattle, as also a great number of common people; but, at present, a peace subsisted between the twokingdoms.On the 19th, we had gentle breezes easterly, with some smart showers of rain. Early in the morning, theboats were again sent to recover the Adventure's anchors, but returned with the same ill success as the daybefore, so that we ceased to look for them any longer, thinking ourselves very happy in having come off sowell, considering the situation we had been in. In an excursion which Captain Furneaux and I made alongthe coast, we met with a chief who entertained us with excellent fish, fruit, &c. In return for his hospitality,I made him a present of an axe and other things; and he afterwards accompanied us back to the ships,where he made but a short stay.Nothing worthy of note happened on the 20th, till the dusk of the evening, when one of the natives madeoff with a musquet belonging to the guard on shore. I was present when this happened, and sent some ofour people after him, which would have been to little purpose, had not some of the natives, of their ownaccord, pursued the thief. They knocked him down, took from him the musquet, and brought it to us. Fear,on this occasion, certainly operated more with them than principle. They deserve, however, to beapplauded for this act of justice, for, if they had not given their immediate assistance, it would hardly havebeen in my power to have recovered the musquet, by any gentle means whatever, and by making use ofany other, I was sure to lose more than ten times its value.The 21st, the wind was at north, a fresh breeze. This morning a chief made me a visit, and presented mewith a quantity of fruit, among which, were a number of cocoanuts we had drawn the water from, andafterwards thrown, over board; these he had picked up, and tied in bundles so artfully, that we did not atfirst perceive the cheat; when he was told of it, without betraying the least emotion, and, as if he knewnothing of the matter, he opened two or three of them himself, signified to us, that he was satisfied it wasso, and then went ashore and sent off a quantity of plantains and bananoes. Having got on board a supplyof water, fruit, and roots, I determined to sail in the morning to Matavai, as I found it was not likely that Ishould get an interview with Waheatoua, without which, it was very improbable we should get any hogs.Two of the natives, who knew my intention, slept on board, with a view of going with us to Matavai, but,in the morning, the wind blew fresh at N.W., and as we could not sail, I sent the trading party on shore asusual.In the evening, I was informed that Waheatoua was come into the neighourhood, and wanted to see me. Inconsequence of this information, I determined to wait one day longer, in order to have an interview withthis prince. Accordingly, early the next morning, I set out in company with Captain Furneaux, Mr Forster,and several of the natives. We met the chief about a mile from the landing-place, towards which he wasadvancing to meet us; but, as soon as he saw us, he stopt, with his numerous train, in the open air. I foundhim seated upon a stool, with a circle of people round him, and knew him at first sight, and he me, havingseen each other several times in 1769. At that time he was but a boy, and went by the name of Tearee, but,upon the death of his father, Waheatoun, he took upon him that name.