Account of an English Ship lately sailed from Otaheite.  Death of Omai.  Captain Cook’s Picture sent on board.  Otoo visits the Ship.  His Visit returned.  Natives well disposed towards us.  Account of the Cattle left by Captain Cook.  Breadfruit plants promised.  Visit to the Earee Rahie.  Presents made to the Arreoys.

1788.  October.  Sunday 26.

The ship being anchored, our number of visitors continued to increase; but as yet we saw no person that we could recollect to have been of much consequence.  Some inferior chiefs made me presents of a few hogs and I made them presents in return.  We were supplied with coconuts in great abundance but breadfruit was scarce.

Many enquiries were made after Captain Cook, Sir Joseph Banks, and many of their former friends.  They said a ship had been here from which they had learnt that Captain Cook was dead; but the circumstances of his death they did not appear to be acquainted with; and I had given particular directions to my officers and ship’s company that they should not be mentioned.  The ship spoken of, they informed me, stayed at Otaheite one month and had been gone four months, by some of their accounts; according to others only three months.  The captain they called Tonah.  I understood likewise from them that Lieutenant Watts was in the ship who, having been here in the Resolution with Captain Cook, was well known to them.  One of my first enquiries, as will naturally be imagined, was after our friend Omai; and it was a sensible mortification and disappointment to me to hear that not only Omai, but both the New Zealand boys who had been left with him, were dead.  Everyone agreed in their information that they died a natural death.  Otoo, who was the chief of Matavai when Captain Cook was here the last time, was absent at another part of the island; they told me messengers were sent to inform him of our arrival, and that he was expected to return soon.  There appeared among the natives in general great goodwill towards us, and they seemed to be much rejoiced at our arrival.  This whole day we experienced no instance of dishonesty.  We were so much crowded that I could not undertake to remove to a more proper station without danger of disobliging our visitors by desiring them to leave the ship:  this business was therefore deferred till the next morning.

Monday 27.

Early in the morning, before the natives began to flock off to us, we weighed anchor to work farther into the bay, and moored at about a quarter of a mile distance from the shore; Point Venus bearing north 16 degrees east; the west part of One-tree hill south-west by south; and the point of the reef north 37 degrees west; the ship lying in seven fathoms water.

Several chiefs now came on board and expressed great pleasure at seeing me.  Among these were Otow, the father of Otoo, and Oreepyah, his brother; also another chief of Matavai called Poeeno:  and to these men I made presents.  Two messengers likewise arrived from Otoo to acquaint me of his being on his way to the ship; each of whom brought me as a present from Otoo a small pig and a young plantain-tree as a token of friendship.  The ship was now plentifully supplied with provisions; every person having as much as he could consume.