We had begun to make preparations for sailing, and Tinah supplied us with a sufficient stock of wood by ordering trees to be brought down from the country.  He had frequently expressed a wish that I would leave some firearms and ammunition with him, as he expected to be attacked after the ship sailed, and perhaps chiefly on account of our partiality to him:  I therefore thought it but reasonable to attend to his request, and I was the more readily prevailed on as he said his intentions were to act only on the defensive.  This indeed seems most suited to his disposition, which is neither active nor enterprising.  If Tinah had spirit in proportion to his size and strength he would probably be the greatest warrior in Otaheite:  but courage is not the most conspicuous of his virtues.  When I promised to leave with him a pair of pistols, which they prefer to muskets, he told me that Iddeah would fight with one and Oedidee with the other.  Iddeah has learnt to load and fire a musket with great dexterity and Oedidee is an excellent marksman.  It is not common for women in this country to go to war, but Iddeah is a very resolute woman, of a large make, and has great bodily strength.

Friday 6.

I sent Mr. Fryer the master to sound Taowne harbour.  The knowledge that we intended shortly to sail having spread among the natives a great many broken iron tools were brought from all parts of the island to be repaired at our forge; and this morning a messenger arrived from Waheatua, the Earee of Tiarraboo, with several pieces of Spanish iron which he desired to have made into small adzes.  This request was of course complied with.

CHAPTER 11.

Arrival of an Arreoy Woman from Tethuroa.  A Present delivered by Tinah for his Majesty.  Other Occurrences to the Time of the Ship’s Departure from Otaheite.

1789.  March.

From the 5th to the 14th of this month the wind blew constantly from between the north-west and south-west with a great deal of rain.  This was the longest continuance of westerly winds without interruption that we experienced.  On the 13th several canoes arrived here and at Matavai from Tethuroa:  in these were a large tribe of Arreoys, and among them Huheine Moyere, the wife of Oreepyah, who is an Arreoy woman, and remained at Tethuroa after Oreepyah came away.  On her arrival a ceremony was performed called Hooepippee, which seemed to be designed as a public visit to all their friends, who are collected on the occasion.  In this ceremony there was nothing remarkable:  the Arreoy men took their opportunity to plunder the women who were near them, and Iddeah made a present of some cloth to Huheine Moyere, and a baked hog to the Arreoys.

Friday 13.

After this ceremony a present was produced from many of the principal people for young Otoo, the Earee Rahie, which was received by Iddeah, Tinah being absent.  This present consisted of five hogs, and forty-eight baskets filled with breadfruit, coconuts, tarro, and different kinds of puddings.  The baskets were decorated with slips of cloth, stained with variety of colours and carried by 24 men, each of whom had a pole on his shoulder, at each end of which was a basket.