This being settled, we left Etary and his party to ruminate upon their folly, and attended Otoo to another place hard by, where we found the servants of a chief, whose name I forgot to ask, waiting with a hog, a pig, and a dog, as a present from their master to the sovereign.  These were delivered with the usual ceremonies, and with an harangue in form, in which the speaker, in his master’s name, enquired after the health of Otoo, and of all the principal people about him.  This compliment was echoed back in the name of Otoo, by one of his ministers; and then the dispute with Eimeo was discussed, with many arguments for and against it.  The deputies of this chief were for prosecuting the war with vigour, and advised Otoo to offer a human sacrifice.  On the other hand, a chief, who was in constant attendance on Otoo’s person, opposed it, seemingly with great strength of argument.  This confirmed me in the opinion, that Otoo himself never entered heartily into the spirit of this war.  He now received repeated messages from Towha, strongly soliciting him to hasten to his assistance.  We were told, that his fleet was, in a manner, surrounded by that of Maheine; but that neither the one nor the other durst hazard an engagement.

After dining with Otoo, we returned to Matavai, leaving him at Oparre.  This day, and also the 19th, we were very sparingly supplied with fruit.  Otoo hearing of this, he and his brother, who had attached himself to Captain Clerke, came from Oparre, between nine and ten o’clock in the evening, with a large supply for both ships.  This marked his humane attention more strongly than any thing he had hitherto done for us.  The next day, all the royal family came with presents; so that our wants were not only relieved, but we had more provisions than we could consume.

Having got all our water on board, the ships being caulked, the rigging overhauled, and everything put in order, I began to think of leaving the island, that I might have sufficient time to spare for visiting the others in this neighbourhood.  With this view, we removed from the shore our observatories and instruments, and bent the sails.  Early the next morning, Otoo came on board to acquaint me, that all the war canoes of Matavai, and of three other districts adjoining, were going to Oparre to join those belonging to that part of the island; and that there would be a general review there.  Soon after, the squadron of Matavai was all in motion; and, after parading awhile about the bay, assembled ashore, near the middle of it.  I now went in my boat to take a view of them.

Of those with stages, on which they fight, or what they call their war-canoes, there were about sixty, with near as many more of a smaller size.  I was ready to have attended them to Oparre; but, soon after, a resolution was taken by the chiefs, that they should not move till the next day.  I looked upon this to be a fortunate delay, as it afforded me a good opportunity to get some insight into their manner