When these ships left the island, four Spaniards remained behind.  Two were priests, one a servant, and the fourth made himself very popular among the natives, who distinguish him by the name of Mateema.  He seems to have been a person who had studied their language; or, at least, to have spoken it so as to be understood; and to have taken uncommon pains to impress the minds of the islanders with the most exalted ideas of the greatness of the Spanish nation, and to make them think meanly of the English.  He even went so far as to assure them, that we no longer existed as an independent nation; that Pretane was only a small island, which they, the Spaniards, had entirely destroyed; and, for me, that they had met with me at sea, and, with a few shot, had sent my ship, and every soul in her, to the bottom; so that my visiting Otaheite, at this time, was, of course, very unexpected.  All this, and many other improbable falsehoods, did this Spaniard make these people believe.  If Spain had no other views, in this expedition, but to depreciate the English, they had better have kept their ships at home; for my returning again to Otaheite was considered as a complete confutation of all that Mateema had said.

With what design the priests stayed, we can only guess.  If it was to convert the natives to the catholic faith, they have not succeeded in any one instance.  But it does not appear that they ever attempted it; for, if the natives are to be believed, they never conversed with them, either on this, or on any other subject.  The priests resided constantly in the house at Oheitepeha; but Mateema roved about, visiting most parts of the island.  At length, after he and his companions had stayed ten months, two ships came to Oheitepeha, took them on board, and sailed again in five days.  This hasty departure shews that, whatever design the Spaniards might have had upon this island, they had now laid it aside.  And yet, as I was informed by Otoo, and many others, before they went away, they would have the natives believe that they still meant to return, and to bring with them houses, all kinds of animals, and men and women who were to settle, live, and die on the island.  Otoo, when he told me this, added, that if the Spaniards should return, he would not let them come to Matavai Fort, which, he said, was ours.  It was easy to see that the idea pleased him; little thinking that the completion of it would, at once, deprive him of his kingdom, and the people of their liberties.  This shews with what facility a settlement might be made at Otaheite, which, grateful as I am for repeated good offices, I hope will never happen.  Our occasional visits may, in some respects, have benefitted its inhabitants; but a permanent establishment amongst them, conducted as most European establishments amongst Indian nations have unfortunately been, would, I fear, give them just cause to lament that our ships had ever found them out.  Indeed, it is very unlikely that any measure of this kind should ever be seriously thought of, as it can neither serve the purposes of public ambition, nor of private avarice; and, without such inducements, I may pronounce that it will never be undertaken.[3]