On the 17th, I went ashore to look for the chief, in order to complain of the outrage committed as above; but he was not in the neighbourhood.  Being ashore in the afternoon, a person came and told me Oree wanted to see me.  I went with the man, and was conducted to a large house, where the chief and several other persons of note were assembled in council, as well as I could understand.  After I was seated, and some conversation had passed among them, Oree made a speech, and was answered by another.  I understood no more of either, than just to know it regarded the robbery committed the day before.  The chief then began to assure me, that neither he, nor any one present (which were the principal chiefs in the neighbourhood) had any hand in it; and desired me to kill, with the guns, all those which had.  I assured him, that I was satisfied that neither he nor those present were at all concerned in the affair; and that I should do with the fellows as he desired, or any others who were guilty of the like crimes.  Having asked where the fellows were, and desired they would bring them to me, that I might do with them as he had said, his answer was, they were gone to the mountains, and he could not get them.  Whether this was the case or not, I will not pretend to say.  I knew fair means would never make them deliver them up; and I had no intention to try others.  So the affair dropt, and the council broke up.

In the evening, some of the gentlemen went to a dramatic entertainment.  The piece represented a girl as running away with us from Otaheite; which was in some degree true; as a young woman had taken a passage with us down to Ulietea, and happened now to be present at the representation of her own adventures; which had such an effect upon her, that it was with great difficulty our gentlemen could prevail upon her to see the play out, or to refrain from tears while it was acting.  The piece concluded with the reception she was supposed to meet with from her friends at her return; which was not a very favourable one.  These people can add little extempore pieces to their entertainments, when they see occasion.  Is it not then reasonable to suppose that it was intended as a satire against this girl, and to discourage others from following her steps?

In the morning of the 18th, Oree came on board with a present of fruit, stayed dinner, and in the afternoon desired to see some great guns fired, shotted, which I complied with.  The reason of his making this request was his hearing, from Oedidee, and our Otaheitean passengers, that we had so done at their island.  The chief would have had us fire at the hills; but I did not approve of that, lest the shot should fall short and do some mischief.  Besides, the effect was better seen in the water.  Some of the petty officers, who had leave to go into the country for their amusement, took two of the natives with them to be their guides, and to carry their bags, containing nails, hatchets, &c. the current cash we traded with