They knew very well we could not do without them, and therefore they never failed strictly to observe this rule, without ever considering, that all their war-canoes, on which the strength of their nation depends, their houses, and even the very fruit they refused to supply us with, were entirely in our power.  It is hard to say how they would act, were one to destroy any of these things.  Except the detaining some of their canoes for a while, I never touched the least article of their property.  Of the two extremes I always chose that which appeared the most equitable and mild.  A trifling present to the chief always succeeded to my wish, and very often put things upon a better footing than they had been before.  That they were the first aggressors had very little influence on my conduct in this respect, because no difference happened but when it was so.  My people very rarely or never broke through the rules I thought it necessary to prescribe.  Had I observed a different conduct, I must have been a loser by it in the end; and all I could expect, after destroying some part of their property, would have been the empty honour of obliging them to make the first overture towards an accommodation.  But who knows if this would have been the event?  Three things made them our fast friends.  Their own good-nature and benevolent disposition; gentle treatment on our part; and the dread of our fire-arms.  By our ceasing to observe the second; the first would have worn out of course; and the too frequent use of the latter would have excited a spirit of revenge, and perhaps have taught them that fire-arms were not such terrible things as they had imagined.  They were very sensible of the superiority of their numbers; and no one knows what an enraged multitude might do.

[1] “Towha paid more attention to the multitude of new objects on board, to the strength and size of the timbers, masts, and ropes, than any Otaheitean we had ever seen, and found our tackle so exceedingly superior to that which is usual in his country, that he expressed a wish to possess several articles, especially cables and anchors.  He was now dressed like the rest of the people, and naked to the waist, being in the king’s presence.  His appearance was so much altered from what it had been the day before, that I had some difficulty to recollect him.  He appeared now very lusty, and had a most portly paunch, which it was impossible to discern under the long spacious robes of war.  His hair was of a fine silvery grey; and his countenance was the most engaging and truly good-natured which I ever beheld in these islands.  The king and he staid and dined with us this day, eating with a very hearty appetite of all that was set before them.  Otoo had entirely lost his uneasy, distrustful air; he seemed to be at home, and took a great pleasure in instructing Towha in our manners.  He taught him to make use of the knife and fork, to eat salt to his meat, and to drink wine.  He himself did not refuse to drink a glass of this