A Voyage to the South Sea eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 274 pages of information about A Voyage to the South Sea.

A Voyage to the South Sea eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 274 pages of information about A Voyage to the South Sea.
will not you, Tinah, send something to King George in return?” “Yes,” he said, “I will send him anything I have;” and then began to enumerate the different articles in his power, among which he mentioned the breadfruit.  This was the exact point to which I wished to bring the conversation and, seizing an opportunity which had every appearance of being undesigned and accidental, I told him the breadfruit trees were what King George would like; upon which he promised me a great many should be put on board, and seemed much delighted to find it so easily in his power to send anything that would be well received by King George.

On landing at Oparre an immense crowd of natives as usual immediately thronged about us.  I enquired for Oreepyah, whom I expected to have met me here, but he was not yet returned from his search after the thieves; we therefore went under a shed of his to wait for him, and in about a quarter of an hour he joined us, bringing with him an iron scraper and one of the hoops of the buoy.  I thanked him for the trouble which he had taken, and assured him that I was perfectly satisfied, for he still seemed apprehensive of my displeasure.

We took leave for a short time of Oreepyah and I proceeded with Tinah to make my visit to the young Otoo, the Earee Rahie.  When we had walked about five minutes Tinah stopped and informed me that no person could be permitted to see his son, who was covered above the shoulders.  He then took off his upper garments and requested I would do the same.  I replied that I had no objection to go as I would to my own king, who was the greatest in all the world and, pulling off my hat, he threw a piece of cloth round my shoulders and we went on.  About a quarter of a mile farther towards the hills, through a delightful shade of breadfruit trees, we stopped at the side of a small serpentine river:  here I was in view of a house on the other side at about fifty yards distance.  From this house the young king was brought out on a man’s shoulders, clothed in a piece of fine white cloth, and I was desired by Tinah to salute him by the name of Too Earee Rahie.  The present which I had prepared was divided into three parts, and two other children made their appearance in the same manner.  The first present I gave to a messenger who attended for that purpose; and I was instructed by Tinah to say that it was for the Earee Rahie; that I was his friend; that I hated thieves; and that I came from Britannia.  The second present was sent in the same manner, with a similar message, to one of the other children and likewise the third.

As I could not see the Earee Rahie distinctly I desired to be permitted to go over the river to him; but this, it seems, could not be complied with:  therefore after seeing the presents delivered I returned with Tinah towards Oreepyah’s house.  I was informed that Tinah had four children by his wife Iddeah.  Otoo, or Too, the Earee Rahie, appeared to be about six years old:  the second is a girl named Terrenah Oroah:  the third a boy, Terreetappanooai; and a fourth, an infant girl, whom I did not see, named Tahamydooah.

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A Voyage to the South Sea from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.