Before the ships reached their anchorage at Matavai Bay they were crowded with natives, many of whom Cook recognised, and almost all of whom knew him.  Otoo, the king, at once recognised Cook, and enquired after Banks, Solander, and others of the Endeavour; yet Forster gravely asserts that he never saw them at the former visit.  The old fort on Point Venus was reoccupied, tents pitched, and the observatory set up, and the camp was placed under the command of Lieutenant Edgecombe of the Marines.

Spaniards hanged.

The king gave a theatrical entertainment in honour of their arrival, at which his sister was the only female performer.  It had some reference to the coming of the ships, but they were not able to follow the thread of the story.  Cook could see that Otoo was nervous and uncomfortable, and felt dissatisfied with his reception, so determined to cut short his stay.  No one could understand the reason of the unsatisfactory feeling, but Forster suggests that it was owing to the advice of a Spanish deserter, who had left his ship about March 1773.  This vessel was commanded by Don Juan de Langara y Huarto, and was from Callao; her voyage has not been published, but the natives gave Forster to understand that four of her sailors had been hanged on her arrival.  Cook refers to the presence of a white man, who, when he thought he had been observed, disappeared and was not seen again.  Young Forster made an attempt to explore the interior, but finding the climbing more difficult than he expected, soon returned.  In the gardens which had been planted at the Endeavour’s visit, pumpkins seemed to be the only things which had done well, and for these the natives did not care, “which is not to be wondered at,” says Cook.  Further enquiries as to the religious ceremonies were made, but nothing very definite was ascertained; it appeared that on very rare occasions special criminals, selected by the high priest, were sacrificed at the Moris.  Cook also formed the opinion that the standard of morality amongst the women was much higher than had previously been admitted.

Sailing with a favourable wind on 1st September for Huaheine, the Adventure ran ashore going through the reef, but with the assistance of the Resolution’s boats, she was soon towed off without serious damage.  Forster, as usual, tries to cause trouble by declaring that Cook would not send assistance till the Resolution was safely anchored, and thus added to the danger of his consort.  As the boats were in the water before the accident occurred, in order to render immediate assistance if required, Mr. Forster’s story is too thin.