Hitherto, the attention of Otoo and his people had been confined to us; but, next morning, a new scene of business opened, by the arrival of some messengers from Eimeo, or (as it is much oftener called by the natives) Morea,[6] with intelligence, that the people in that island were in arms; and that Otoo’s partizans there had been worsted, and obliged to retreat to the mountains.  The quarrel between the two islands, which commenced in 1774, as mentioned in the account of my last voyage, had, it seems, partly subsisted ever since.  The formidable armament which I saw at that time, and described, had sailed soon after I then left Otaheite; but the malcontents of Eimeo had made so stout a resistance, that the fleet had returned without effecting much; and now another expedition was necessary.

[Footnote 6:  Morea, according to Dr Forster, is a district in Eimeo.  See his Observations, p. 217.]

On the arrival of these messengers, all the chiefs, who happened to be at Matavai, assembled at Otoo’s house, where I actually was at the time, and had the honour to be admitted into their council.  One of the messengers opened the business of the assembly, in a speech of considerable length.  But I understood little of it, besides its general purport, which was to explain the situation of affairs in Eimeo; and to excite the assembled chiefs of Otaheite to arm on the occasion.  This opinion was combated by others who were against commencing hostilities; and the debate was carried on with great order, no more than one man speaking at a time.  At last, they became very noisy, and I expected that our meeting would have ended like a Polish diet.  But the contending great men cooled as fast as they grew warm, and order was soon restored.  At length, the party for war prevailed; and it was determined, that a strong force should be sent to assist their friends in Eimeo.  But this resolution was far from being unanimous.  Otoo, during the whole debate, remained silent; except that, now and then, he addressed a word or two to the speakers.  Those of the council, who were for prosecuting the war, applied to me for my assistance; and all of them wanted to know what part I would take.  Omai was sent for to be my interpreter; but, as he could not be found, I was obliged to speak for myself, and told them, as well as I could, that as I was not thoroughly acquainted with the dispute, and as the people of Eimeo had never offended me, I could not think myself at liberty to engage in hostilities against them.  With this declaration they either were, or seemed, satisfied.  The assembly then broke up; but, before I left them, Otoo desired me to come to him in the afternoon, and to bring Omai with me.