Oparre is the district next to the westward of Matavai.  One of my reasons for going to Oparre was to see if Nelson would be able to procure plants there; but I gave the credit of my visit to young Otoo, the son of Tinah, who was the Earee Rahie, and lived with the rest of Tinah’s children at Oparre.  I prepared a magnificent present for this youth, who was represented to me as the person of the greatest consequence, or rather of the highest rank, in the island.  At noon I left the ship, accompanied by Tinah, his wife Iddeah, and Poeeno.  Moannah was to have been of the party but he insisted on remaining in the ship to prevent his countrymen from attempting to steal anything.

After half an hour’s sailing we arrived at Oparre.  During this time Tinah gave me a more circumstantial account of the cattle and sheep that had been left with him:  he related that, after five years from the time of Captain Cook’s departure (counting 63 moons) the people of the Island Eimeo joined with those of Attahooroo, a district of Otaheite, and made a descent on Oparre:  that after some resistance by which many men were killed Tinah and his people fled to the mountains, leaving all their property to the mercy of the victorious party who destroyed almost everything which they found not convenient to take away with them.  Some of the cattle were killed and eaten but the greater part were taken to Eimeo.  The cows he said had produced eight calves and the ewes ten young ones.  The ducks, among which they classed the geese, had greatly increased; but the turkeys and peacocks, whatever was the cause, had not bred.  It seemed to give Tinah great pleasure to observe how much I was concerned for the destruction of so many useful animals; but the cause of his satisfaction, I found, did not proceed from any expectation that I should replace them, but from the belief that I would take vengeance on the people who had deprived him of them; for with respect to the loss of the cattle he appeared so unconcerned and indifferent that I was very angry with him.  There is however sufficient excuse for his resentment against the people of Eimeo; for the large extensive houses which we had seen in this part of Otaheite in the year 1777 were all destroyed, and at present they had no other habitations than light sheds which might be taken by the four corners and removed by four men:  and of the many large canoes which they then had not more than three remained.  Tinah, understanding from my conversation that I intended visiting some of the other islands in this neighbourhood, very earnestly desired I would not think of leaving Matavai.  “Here,” said he, “you shall be supplied plentifully with everything you want.  All here are your friends and friends of King George:  if you go to the other islands you will have everything stolen from you.”  I replied that, on account of their goodwill and from a desire to serve him and his country, King George had sent out those valuable presents to him; “and