| Such
was Omai's first reception among his countrymen. I own I never expected it
would be otherwise; but still, I was in hopes that the valuable cargo of
presents with which the liberality of his friends in England had loaded
him, would be the means of raising him into consequence, and of making him
respected, and even courted by the first persons throughout the extent of
the Society Islands.
This could not but have happened, had he
conducted himself with any degree of prudence; but instead of it, I am
sorry to say, that he paid too little regard to the repeated advice of
those who wished him well, and suffered himself to be duped by every
designing knave.
From the natives who came off to us in the course
of this day, we learnt that two ships had twice been in Oheitepeha Bay
since my last visit to this island in 1774, and that they had left animals
there, such as we had on board. But, on farther inquiry, we found they
were only hogs, dogs, goats, one bull, and the male of some other animal,
which, from the imperfect description now given us, we could not find out.
They told us that these ships had come from a place called Reema; by which
we guessed that Lima, the capital of Peru, was meant, and that these late
visitors were Spaniards. We were informed, that the first time they came,
they built a house and left four men behind them, viz. two priests,
a boy or servant, and a fourth person called Mateema, who was much spoken
of at this time; carrying away with them, when they sailed, four of the
natives; that in about ten months, the same two ships returned, bringing
back two of the islanders, the other two having died at Lima; and that,
after a short stay, they took away their own people; but that the house
which they had built was left standing.
The important news of red feathers being on board
our ships, having been conveyed on shore by Omai's friends, day had no
sooner begun to break next morning, than we were surrounded by a multitude
of canoes crowded with people, bringing hogs and fruit to market. At
first, a quantity of feathers, not greater than what might be got from a
tom-tit, would purchase a hog of forty or fifty pounds' weight. But as
almost everybody in the ships was possessed of some of this precious
article in trade, it fell in its value above five hundred per cent, before
night. However, even then, the balance was much in our favour; and red
feathers continued to preserve their superiority over every other
commodity. Some of the natives would not part with a hog, unless they
received an axe in exchange; but nails, and beads and other trinkets,
which, during our former voyages had so great a run at this island, were
now so much despised, that few would deign so much as to look at them.
There being but little wind all the morning, it
was nine o'clock before we could get to an anchor in the bay; where we
moored with two bowers. Soon after we had anchored, Omai's sister came on
board to see him. I was happy to observe, that, much to the honour of them
both, their meeting was marked with expressions of the tenderest
affection, easier to be conceived than to be described. This moving scene
having closed, and the ship being properly moored, Omai and I went ashore.
I left him in the midst of a number of people who had gathered round, and
went to take a view of the house said to be built by the strangers who had
lately been here. I found it standing at a small distance from the beach.
The wooden materials of which it was composed seemed to have been brought
hither ready prepared, to be set up occasionally, for all the planks were
numbered. It was divided into two small rooms; and in the inner one were,
a bedstead, a table, a bench, some old hats, and other trifles, of which
the natives seemed to be very careful, as also of the house itself, which
had suffered no hurt from the weather, a shed having been built over it.
There were scuttles all around which served as air-holes; and, perhaps,
they were also meant to fire from, with muskets, if ever this should be
found necessary. At a little distance from the front stood a wooden cross,
on the transverse part of which was cut the following inscription:
CHRISTUS VINCIT.
And, on the perpendicular part (which confirmed
our conjecture, that the two ships were Spanish),
CAROLUS III. IMPERAT. 1774.
On the other side of the post, I preserved the
memory of the prior visits of the English, by inscribing,
GEORGIUS TERTIUS REX, ANNIS 1767, 1769,
1773, 1774, AND 1777.
The natives pointed out to us, near the foot of
the cross, the grave of the commodore of the two ships, who had died here,
while they lay in the bay the first time. His name, as they pronounced it,
was Oreede. Whatever the intentions of the Spaniards in visiting this
island might be, they seemed to have taken great pains to ingratiate
themselves with the inhabitants, who, upon every occasion, mentioned them
with the strongest expressions of esteem and veneration.
When I returned from viewing the house and cross
erected by the Spaniards, I found Omai holding forth to a large company;
and it was with some difficulty that he could be got away, to accompany me
on board; where I had an important affair to settle.
As I knew that Otaheite and the neighbouring
islands could furnish us with a plentiful supply of cocoa-nuts, the liquor
of which is an excellent succedaneum for any artificial beverage, I was
desirous of prevailing upon my people to consent to be abridged, during
our stay here, of their stated allowance of spirits to mix with water. But
as this stoppage of a favourite article, without assigning some reason,
might have occasioned a general murmur, I thought it most prudent to
assemble the ship's company, and to make known to them the intent of the
voyage, and the extent of our future operations. To induce them to
undertake which with cheerfulness and perseverance, I took notice of the
rewards offered by Parliament to such of his Majesty's subjects as shall
first discover a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, in
any direction whatever, in the northern hemisphere: and also to such as
shall first penetrate beyond the 89th degree of northern latitude. I made
no doubt, I told them, that I should find them willing to co-operate with
me in attempting, as far as might be possible, to become entitled to one
or both these rewards; but that, to give us the best chance of succeeding,
it would be necessary to observe the utmost economy in the expenditure of
our stores and provisions, particularly the latter, as there was no
probability of getting a supply anywhere after leaving these islands. I
strengthened my argument, by reminding them, that our voyage must last at
least a year longer than had been originally supposed, by our having
already lost the opportunity of getting to the North this summer. I begged
them to consider the various obstructions and difficulties we might still
meet with, and the aggravated hardships they would labour under, if it
should be found necessary to put them to short allowance of any species of
provisions in a cold climate. For these very substantial reasons, I
submitted to them, whether it would not be better to be prudent in time,
and rather than to run the risk of having no spirits left, when such a
cordial would be most wanted, to consent to be without their grog now,
when we had so excellent a liquor as that of cocoa-nuts to substitute in
its place; but that, after all, I left the determination entirely to their
own choice. I had the satisfaction to find, that this proposal did not
remain a single moment under consideration; being unanimously approved of,
immediately, without any objection. I ordered Captain Clerke to make the
same proposal to his people; which they also agreed to. Accordingly, we
stopped serving grog, except on Saturday nights, when the companies of
both ships had full allowance of it, that they might drink the healths of
their female friends in England; lest these, amongst the pretty girls of
Otaheite, should be wholly forgotten.
The next day we began some necessary operations;
to inspect the provisions that were in the main and fore hold; to get the
casks of beef and pork, and the coals, out of the ground tier; and to put
some ballast in their place. The caulkers were set to work to caulk the
ship, which she stood in great need of; having, at times, made much water
on our passage from the Friendly Islands. I also put on shore the bull,
cows, horses, and sheep, and appointed two men to look after them while
grazing; for I did not intend to leave any of them at this part of the
island. During the two following days, it hardly ever ceased raining. The
natives, nevertheless, came to us from every quarter, the news of our
arrival having rapidly spread. Waheiadooa, though at a distance, had been
informed of it; and, in the afternoon of the 16th, a chief, named Etorea,
under whose tutorage he was, brought me two hogs as a present from him;
and acquainted me, that he himself would be with us the day after. And so
it proved; for I received a message from him the next morning, notifying
his arrival, and desiring I would go ashore to meet him. Accordingly, Omai
and I prepared to pay him a formal visit. On this occasion, Omai, assisted
by some of his friends, dressed himself, not after the English fashion,
nor that of Otaheite, nor that of Tongataboo, nor in the dress of any
country upon earth, but in a strange medley of all that he was possessed
of.
Thus equipped, on our landing, we first visited
Etary; who, carried on a hand-barrow, attended us to a large house, where
he was set down; and we seated ourselves on each side of him. I caused a
piece of Tongataboo cloth to be spread out before us, on which I laid the
presents I intended to make. Presently the young chief came, attended by
his mother, and several principal men, who all seated themselves, at the
other end of the cloth, facing us. Then a man who sat by me, made a
speech, consisting of short and separate sentences; part of which was
dictated by those about him. He was answered by one from the opposite
side, near the chief. Etary spoke next; then Omai; and both of them were
answered from the same quarter. These orations were entirely about my
arrival, and connexions with them. The person who spoke last told me,
amongst other things, that the men of Reema, that is, the
Spaniards, had desired them not to suffer me to come into Oheitepeha Bay,
if I should return any more to the island, for that it belonged to them;
but that they were so far from paying any regard to this request, that he
was authorised now to make a formal surrender of the province of Tiaraboo
to me, and of every thing in it; which marks very plainly, that these
people are no strangers to the policy of accommodating themselves to
present circumstances. At length, the young chief was directed, by his
attendants, to come and embrace me; and, by way of confirming this treaty
of friendship, we exchanged names. The ceremony being closed, he and his
friends accompanied me on board to dinner.
Omai had prepared a maro, composed of red
and yellow feathers, which he intended for Otoo, the king of the whole
island; and, considering where we were, it was a present of very great
value. I said all that I could to persuade him not to produce it now,
wishing him to keep it on board till an opportunity should offer of
presenting it to Otoo, with his own hands. But he had too good an opinion
of the honesty and fidelity of his countrymen to take my advice. Nothing
would serve him but to carry it ashore, on this occasion, and to give it
to Waheiadooa, to be by him forwarded to Otoo, in order to its being added
to the royal maro. He thought, by this management, that he should
oblige both chiefs; whereas he highly disobliged the one, whose favour was
of the most consequence to him, without gaining any reward from the other.
What I had foreseen happened. For Waheiadooa kept the maro for
himself, and only sent to Otoo a very small piece of feathers; not the
twentieth part of what belonged to the magnificent present. On the 19th,
this young chief made me a present of ten or a dozen hogs, a quantity of
fruit, and some cloth. In the evening we played off some fire-works, which
both astonished and entertained the numerous spectators.
This day, some of our gentlemen, in their walks,
found, what they were pleased to call, a Roman Catholic chapel. Indeed,
from their account, this was not to be doubted; for they described the
altar and every other constituent part of such a place of worship.
However, as they mentioned, at the same time, that two men, who had the
care of it, would not suffer them to go in, I thought that they might be
mistaken, and had the curiosity to pay a visit to it myself. The supposed
chapel proved to be a toopapaoo, in which the remains of the late
Waheiadooa lay, as it were, in state. It was in a pretty large house,
which was inclosed with a low palisade. The toopapaoo was
uncommonly neat, and resembled one of those little houses, or awnings,
belonging to their large canoes. Perhaps it had originally been employed
for that purpose. It was covered, and hung round, with cloth and mats of
different colours, so as to have a pretty effect. There was one piece of
scarlet broad cloth, four or five yards in length, conspicuous among the
other ornaments; which, no doubt, had been a present from the Spaniards.
This cloth, and a few tassels of feathers, which our gentlemen supposed to
be silk, suggested to them the idea of a chapel; for whatever else was
wanting to create a resemblance, their imagination supplied; and if they
had not previously known that there had been Spaniards lately here, they
could not possibly have made the mistake. Small offerings of fruit and
roots seemed to be daily made at this shrine, as some pieces were quite
fresh. These were deposited upon a whatta, or altar, which stood
without the palisades; and within these we were not permitted to enter.
Two men constantly attended, night and day, not only to watch over the
place, but also to dress and undress the toopapaoo. For when I
first went to survey it, the cloth and its appendages were all rolled up;
but, at my request, the two attendants hung it out in order, first
dressing themselves in clean white robes. They told me, that the chief had
been dead twenty months.
Having taken in a fresh supply of water, and
finished all our other necessary operations, on the 22d, I brought off the
cattle and sheep, which had been put on shore here to graze; and made
ready for sea. In the evening of the 23d, while the ships were unmooring,
Omai and I landed, to take leave of the young chief. While we were with
him, one of those enthusiastic persons, whom they call Eatooas,
from a persuasion that they are possessed with the spirit of the Divinity,
came and stood before us. He had all the appearance of a man not in his
right senses; and his only dress was a large quantity of plantain leaves,
wrapped round his waist. He spoke in a low, squeaking voice, so as hardly
to be understood; at least, not by me. But Omai said, that he comprehended
him perfectly, and that he was advising Waheiadooa not to go with me to
Matavai; an expedition which I had never heard he intended, nor had I ever
made such a proposal to him. The Eatooa also foretold, that the
ships would not get to Matavai that day. But in this he was mistaken;
though appearances now rather favoured his prediction, there not being a
breath of wind in any direction. While he was prophesying, there fell a
very heavy shower of rain, which made every one run for shelter but
himself, who seemed not to regard it. He remained squeaking by us about
half an hour, and then retired. No one paid any attention to what he
uttered; though some laughed at him. I asked the chief, what he was,
whether an Earee, or Towtow? and the answer I received was,
that he was taato eno; that is, a bad man. And yet, notwithstanding
this, and the little notice any of the natives seemed to take of the mad
prophet, superstition has so far got the better of their reason, that they
firmly believe such persons to be possessed with the spirit of the Eatooa.
Omai seemed to be very well instructed about them. He said, that, during
the fits that came upon them, they knew nobody, not even their most
intimate acquaintances; and that, if any one of them happens to be a man
of property, he will very often give away every moveable he is possessed
of, if his friends do not put them out of his reach; and, when he
recovers, will inquire what had become of those very things, which he had,
but just before distributed; not seeming to have the least remembrance of
what he had done while the fit was upon him.
As soon as I got on board, a light breeze
springing up at east, we got under sail, and steered for Matavai Bay;
where the Resolution anchored the same evening. But the Discovery
did not get in till the next morning; so that half of the man's prophecy
was fulfilled.
Matavai Bay |
| CJC:
About nine o'clock in the morning, Otoo, the king of the whole island,
attended by a great number of canoes full of people, came from Oparre, his
place of residence, and having landed on Matavai Point, sent a message on
board, expressing his desire to see me there. Accordingly I landed,
accompanied by Omai, and some of the officers. We found a prodigious
number of people assembled on this occasion, and in the midst of them was
the king, attended by his father, his two brothers, and three sisters. I
went up first and saluted him, being followed by Omai, who kneeled and
embraced his legs. He had prepared himself for this ceremony, by dressing
himself in his very best suit of clothes, and behaved with a great deal of
respect and modesty. Nevertheless, very little notice was taken of him.
Perhaps envy had some share in producing this cold reception. He made the
chief a present of a large piece of red feathers, and about two or three
yards of gold cloth; and I gave him a suit of fine linen, a gold-laced
hat, some tools, and, what was of more value than all the other articles,
a quantity of red feathers, and one of the bonnets in use at the Friendly
Islands.
After the hurry of this visit was over, the king
and the whole royal family accompanied me on board, followed by several
canoes, laden with all kind of provisions, in quantity sufficient to have
served the companies of both ships for a week. Each of the family owned,
or pretended to own, a part; so that I had a present from every one of
them; and every one of them had a separate present in return from me;
which was the great object in view. Soon after, the king's mother, who had
not been present at the first interview, came on board, bringing with her
a quantity of provisions and cloth, which she divided between me and Omai;
for, although he was but little noticed at first by his countrymen, they
no sooner gained the knowledge of his riches, than they began to court his
friendship. I encouraged this as much as I could: for it was my wish to
fix him with Otoo. As I intended to leave all my European animals at this
island, I thought he would be able to give some instruction about the
management of them, and about their use. Besides, I knew and saw, that the
farther he was from his native island, he would be the better respected.
But, unfortunately, poor Omai rejected my advice, and conducted himself in
so imprudent a manner, that he soon lost the friendship of Otoo, and of
every other person of note in Otaheite. He associated with none but
vagabonds and strangers, whose sole views were to plunder him; and, if I
had not interfered, they would not have left him a single article worth
the carrying from the island. This necessarily drew upon him the ill-will
of the principal chiefs; who found that they could not procure, from any
one in the ships, such valuable presents as Omai bestowed on the lowest of
the people, his companions.
As soon as we had dined, a party of us
accompanied Otoo to Oparre, taking with us the poultry, with which we were
to stock the island. They consisted of a peacock and hen (which Lord
Besborough was so kind as to send me for this purpose a few days before I
left London); a turkey-cock and hen; one gander, and three geese; a drake,
and four ducks. All these I left at Oparre, in the possession of Otoo; and
the geese and ducks began to breed, before we sailed. We found there, a
gander, which the natives told us, was the same that Captain Wallis had
given to Oberea ten years before; several goats; and the Spanish bull,
whom they kept tied to a tree, near Otoo's house. I never saw a finer
animal of his kind. He was now the property of Etary, and had been brought
from Oheitepeha to this place, in order to be shipped for Bolabola. But it
passes my comprehension, how they can contrive to carry him in one of
their canoes. If we had not arrived, it would have been of little
consequence who had the property of him, as, without a cow, he could be of
no use; and none had been left with him. Though the natives told us that
there were cows on board the Spanish ships, and that they took them away
with them, I cannot believe this; and should rather suppose, that they had
died in the passage from Lima. The next day, I sent the three cows, that I
had on board, to this bull; and the bull, which I had brought, the horse
and mare, and sheep, I put ashore at Matavai. Having thus disposed of
these passengers, I found myself lightened of a very heavy burthen. The
trouble and vexation that attended the bringing of this living cargo thus
far, is hardly to be conceived. But the satisfaction that I felt, in
having been so fortunate as to fulfil his Majesty's humane design, in
sending such valuable animals, to supply the wants of two worthy nations,
sufficiently recompensed me for the many anxious hours I had passed,
before this subordinate object of my voyage could be carried into
execution.¹
As I intended to make some stay here, we set up
the two observatories on Matavai Point. Adjoining to them, two tents were
pitched for the reception of a guard, and of such people as it might be
necessary to leave on shore, in different departments. At this station, I
intrusted the command to Mr. King; who, at the same time, attended the
observations for ascertaining the going of the time-keeper, and other
purposes. During our stay, various necessary operations employed the crews
of both ships. The Discovery's main-mast was carried ashore, and
made as good as ever. Our sails and water-casks were repaired; the ships
were caulked; and the rigging all overhauled. We also inspected all the
bread that we had on board in casks; and had the satisfaction to find,
that but little of it was damaged.
On the 26th, I had a piece of ground cleared for
a garden, and planted it with several articles; very few of which, I
believe, the natives will ever look after. Some melons, potatoes, and two
pine-apple plants, were in a fair way of succeeding, before we left the
place. I had brought from the Friendly Islands several shaddock trees.
These I also planted here; and they can hardly fail of success, unless
their growth should be checked by the same premature curiosity, which
destroyed a vine planted by the Spaniards at Oheitepeha. A number of the
natives got together, to taste the first fruit it bore; but, as the grapes
were still sour, they considered it as little better than poison, and it
was unanimously determined to tread it under foot. In that state, Omai
found it by chance, and was overjoyed at the discovery. For he had a full
confidence that, if he had but grapes, he could easily make wine.
Accordingly, he had several slips cut from off the tree, to carry away
with him; and we pruned and put in order the remains of it. Probably,
grown wise by Omai's instructions, they may now suffer the fruit to grow
to perfection, and not pass so hasty a sentence upon it again.
We had not been eight-and-forty hours at anchor
in Matavai Bay, before we were visited by our old friends. Not one of them
came empty-handed; so that we had more provisions than we knew what to do
with. What was still more, we were under no apprehensions of exhausting
the island, which presented to our eyes every mark of the most exuberant
plenty, in every article of refreshment.
Soon after our arrival here one of the natives,
whom the Spaniards had carried with them to Lima, paid us a visit, but in
his external appearance he was not distinguishable from the rest of his
countrymen. However he had not forgot some Spanish words which he had
acquired, though he pronounced them badly: amongst them the most frequent
were si Sennor; and when a stranger was introduced to him he did
not fail to rise up and accost him as well as he could. We also found here
the young man whom we called Oedidee, but whose real name is Heete-heete.
I had carried him from Ulietea in 1773, and brought him back in 1774,
after he had visited the Friendly Islands, New Zealand, Easter Island and
the Marqueses, and been on board my ship, in that extensive navigation,
about seven months. He was at least as tenacious of his good-breeding as
the man who had been at Lima; and "Yes, Sir", or "If you
please, sir", was as frequently repeated by him as si Sennor
was by the other. Heete-heete, who is a native of Bolabola, had arrived in
Otaheite about three months before, with no other intention, that we could
learn, than to gratify his curiosity, or, perhaps, some other favourite
passion, which are very often the only object of the pursuit of other
travelling gentlemen. It was evident, however, that he preferred the
modes, and even garb, of his countrymen to ours; for, though I gave him
some clothes, which our Admiralty Board had been pleased to send for his
use (to which I added a chest of tools, and a few other articles, as a
present from myself), he declined wearing them after a few days. This
instance, and that of the person who had been at Lima, may be urged as a
proof of the strong propensity natural to man of returning to habits
acquired at an early age, and only interrupted by accident. And perhaps it
may be concluded, that even Omai, who had imbibed almost the whole English
manners, will, in a very short time after our leaving him, like Oedidee
and the visitor of Lima, return to his own native garments.
In the morning of the 27th, a man came from
Oheitepeha, and told us that two Spanish ships had anchored in that bay
the night before, and, in confirmation of this intelligence, he produced a
piece of coarse blue cloth, which he said he got out of one of the ships,
and which, indeed, to appearance was almost quite new. He added, that
Mateema was in one of the ships, and that they were to come down to
Matavai in a day or two. Some other circumstances which he mentioned, with
the foregoing ones, gave the story so much the air of truth, that I
despatched Lieutenant Williamson, in a boat, to look into Oheitepeha Bay;
and, in the mean time, I put the ships into a proper posture of defence:
for, though England and Spain were in peace when I left Europe, for aught
I knew, a different scene might, by this time, have opened. However, on
farther inquiry, we had reason to think that the fellow who brought the
intelligence had imposed upon us; and this was put beyond all doubt when
Mr. Williamson returned next day, who made his report to me that he had
been at Oheitepeha, and found that no ships were there now, and that none
had been there since we left it. The people of this part of the island
where we now were, indeed, told us from the beginning that it was a
fiction invented by those of Tiaraboo: but what view they could have we
were at a loss to conceive, unless they supposed that the report would
have some effect in making us quit the island, and by that means deprive
the people of Otaheite-nooe of the advantages they might reap from our
ships continuing there, the inhabitants of the two parts of the island
being inveterate enemies to each other.
From the time of our arrival at Matavai the
weather had been very unsettled, with more or less rain every day, till
the 29th, before which we were not able to get equal altitudes of the sun
for ascertaining the going of the time-keeper. The same cause also
retarded the caulking, and other necessary repairs of the ships. In the
evening of this day the natives made a precipitate retreat, both from on
board the ships and from our station on shore: for what reason we could
not at first learn; though, in general, we guessed it arose from their
knowing that some theft had been committed, and apprehending punishment on
that account. At length I understood what had happened. One of the
surgeon's mates had been in the country to purchase curiosities, and had
taken with him four hatchets for that purpose. Having employed one of the
natives to carry them for him, the fellow took an opportunity to run off
with so valuable a prize. This was the cause of the sudden flight, in
which Otoo himself and his whole family had joined; and it was with
difficulty that I stopped them, after following them two or three miles.
As I had resolved to take no measures for the recovery of the hatchets, in
order to put my people upon their guard against such negligence for the
future, I found no difficulty in bringing the natives back, and in
restoring everything to its usual tranquillity.
Hitherto the attention of Otoo and his people had
been confined to us; but, the 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, with intelligence that the people in
that island were in arms; and that Otoo's partisans there had been
worsted, and obliged to retreat to the mountains. The quarrel between the
two islands, which commenced in 1774, had, it seems, partly subsisted ever
since. The formidable armament which I saw at that time, 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.
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.
On our inquiring into the cause of the war, we
were told that some years ago a brother of Waheadooa, of Tieraboo, was
sent to Eimeo, at the request of Maheine, a popular chief of that island,
to be their king; but that he had not been there a week before Maheine,
having caused him to be killed, set up for himself, in opposition to
Tierataboonooe, his sister's son, who became the lawful heir; or else had
been pitched upon by the people of Otaheite, to succeed to the government
on the death of the other.
Towha, who is a relation of Otoo, and chief of
the district of Tettaha, a man of much weight in the island, and who had
been commander-in-chief of the armament fitted out against Eimeo in 1774,
happened not to be at Matavai at this time, and, consequently, was not
present at any of these consultations. It however appeared that he was no
stranger to what was transacted, and that he entered with more spirit into
the affair than any other chief; for, early in the morning of the first of
September, a messenger arrived from him to acquaint Otoo that he had
killed a man, to be sacrificed to Eatooa, to implore the
assistance of the god against Eimeo. This act of worship was to be
performed at the great morai at Attahooroo; and Otoo's presence,
it seems, was absolutely necessary on that solemn occasion.
That the offering of human sacrifices is part of
the religious institutions of this island, had been mentioned by Mons.
Bougainville, on the authority of the native whom he carried with him to
France. During my last visit to Otaheite, and while I had opportunities of
conversing with Omai on the subject, I had satisfied myself that there was
too much reason to admit that such a practice, however inconsistent with
the general humanity of the people, was here adopted. But, as this was one
of those extraordinary facts, about which many are apt to retain doubts,
unless the relater himself has had ocular proof to confirm what he had
heard from others, I thought this a good opportunity of obtaining the
highest evidence of its certainty, by being present myself at the
solemnity; and accordingly proposed to Otoo that I might be allowed to
accompany him. To this he readily consented; and we immediately set out in
my boat, with my old friend Potatou, Mr. Anderson, and Mr. Webber, Omai
following in a canoe. In our way we landed upon a little island, which
lies off Tettaha, where we found Towha and his retinue. After some little
conversation between the two chiefs on the subject of the war, Towha
addressed himself to me, asking my assistance. When I excused myself he
seemed angry, thinking it strange that I, who had always declared myself
to be the friend of their island, would not now go and fight against its
enemies. Before we parted he gave to Otoo two or three red feathers, tied
up in a tuft; and a lean, half-starved dog was put into a canoe that was
to accompany us. We then embarked again, taking on board a priest, who was
to assist at the solemnity.
As soon as we landed at Attahooroo, which was
about two o'clock in the afternoon, Otoo expressed his desire that the
seamen might be ordered to remain in the boat; and that Mr. Anderson, Mr.
Webber, and myself might take off our hats as soon as we should come to
the morai, to which we immediately proceeded, attended by a great
many men and some boys, but not one woman. We found four priests and their
attendants, or assistants, waiting for us. The dead body, or sacrifice,
was in a small canoe that lay on the beach, and partly in the wash of the
sea, fronting the morai. Our company stopped about twenty or
thirty paces from the priests. Here Otoo placed himself, we and a few
others standing by him, while the bulk of the people remained at a greater
distance.
The ceremonies now began... In the course of
this, some hair was pulled off the head of the sacrifice, and the left eye
taken out, both of which were presented to Otoo wrapped up in a green
leaf. He did not, however, touch it; but gave to the man who presented it
the tuft of feathers which he had received from Towha: this, with the hair
and eye, was carried back to the priests. Soon after Otoo sent to them
another piece of feathers, which he had given me in the morning to keep in
my pocket. During some part of the last ceremony, a kingfisher made a
noise in the trees. Otoo turned to me, saying, "That is the Eatooa!"
and seemed to look upon it to be a good omen.
The body was then carried a little way with its
head toward the morai, and laid under a tree, near which were
fixed three broad thin pieces of wood, differently but rudely carved.
Bundles of cloth were laid on a part of the morai, and the tufts
of red feathers were placed at the feet of the sacrifice, round which the
priests took their stations; and we were now allowed to go as near as we
pleased. He who seemed to be the chief priest sat at a small distance, and
spoke for a quarter of an hour, but with different tones and gestures, so
that he seemed often to expostulate with the dead person, to whom he
constantly addressed himself; and sometimes asked several questions,
seemingly with respect to the propriety of his having been killed. At
other times he made several demands, as if the deceased either now had
power himself, or interest with the divinity, to engage him to comply with
such requests. Amongst which, we understood, he asked him to deliver
Eimeo, Maheine its chief, the hogs, women, and other things of the island,
into their hands; which was, indeed, the express intention of the
sacrifice. He then chanted a prayer, which lasted half an hour, in a
whining, melancholy tone, accompanied by two other priests, and in which
Potatou and some others joined. In the course of this prayer some more
hair was plucked by a priest from the head of the corpse, and put upon one
of the bundles. After this the chief priest prayed alone, holding in his
hand the feathers which came from Towha. When he had finished he gave them
to another, who prayed in like manner. Then all the tufts of feathers were
laid upon the bundles of cloth, which closed the ceremony at this place.
The corpse was then carried up to the most
conspicuous part of the morai, with the feathers, the two bundles
of cloth, and the drums; the last of which beat slowly. The feathers and
bundles were laid against the pile of stones, and the corpse at the foot
of them. The priests having again seated themselves round it, renewed
their prayers; while some of the attendants dug a hole about two feet
deep, into which they threw the unhappy victim, and covered it with earth
and stones. While they were putting him into the grave, a boy squeaked
aloud, and Omai said to me, that it was the Eatooa. During this
time, a fire having been made, the dog before mentioned was produced and
killed, by twisting his neck and suffocating him. The hair was singed off,
and the entrails taken out and thrown into the fire, where they were left
to consume. But the heart, liver, and kidneys were only roasted, by being
laid on the stones for a few minutes; and the body of the dog, after being
besmeared with the blood which had been collected in a cocoa-nut shell,
and dried over the fire, was, with the liver, &c., carried and laid
down before the priests, who sat praying round the grave. They continued
their ejaculations over the dog for some time, while two men, at
intervals, beat on two drums very loud; and a boy screamed as before, in a
loud shrill voice, three different times. This, as we were told, was to
invite the Eatooa to feast on the banquet that they had prepared
for him. As soon as the priests had ended their prayers, the carcase of
the dog, with what belonged to it, were laid on a whatta, or
scaffold, about six feet high, that stood close by, on which lay the
remains of two other dogs, and of two pigs which had lately been
sacrificed, and at this time emitted an intolerable stench. This kept us
at a greater distance than would otherwise have been required of us. For
after the victim was removed from the sea-side toward the morai,
we were allowed to approach as near as we pleased. Indeed, after that,
neither seriousness nor attention were much observed by the spectators.
When the dog was put upon the whatta, the priests and attendants
gave a kind of shout, which closed the ceremonies for the present. The day
being now also closed, we were conducted to a house belonging to Potatou,
where we were entertained and lodged for the night.
Some other religious rites were performed next
day, but on this subject we think we have said enough to satisfy our
readers - perhaps to disgust them. However, for anyone who is curious
about the significance of the bundles of cloth which were placed on the morai,
one of them was opened and it contained the maro, or badge of
kings; an ornamented banner which was used as a symbol of authority, just
like European ensigns (or flags) of royalty. The other was supposed to
contain the god Ooro within an ark-like coffer.
CJC: The unhappy victim offered to the object of
their worship upon this occasion seemed to be a middle-aged man, and, as
we were told, was a towtow, that is, one of the lowest class of
the people. But, after all my inquiries, I could not learn that he had
been pitched upon on account of any particular crime committed by him
meriting death. It is certain, however, that they generally make choice of
such guilty persons for their sacrifice, or else of common low fellows,
who stroll about from place to place and from island to island, without
having any fixed abode, or any visible way of getting an honest
livelihood, of which description of men enough are to be met with at these
islands. Having had an opportunity of examining the appearance of the body
of the poor sufferer now offered up, I could observe that it was bloody
about the head and face, and a good deal bruised upon the right temple;
which marked the manner of his being killed. And we were told, that he had
been privately knocked on the head with a stone.
Those who are devoted to suffer, in order to
perform this bloody act of worship, are never apprised of their fate till
the blow is given that puts an end to their existence. Whenever any one of
the great chiefs thinks a human sacrifice necessary on any particular
emergency, he pitches upon the victim. Some of his trusty servants are
then sent, who fall upon him suddenly, and put him to death with a club or
by stoning him. The king is next acquainted with it, whose presence at the
solemn rites that follow is, as I was told, absolutely necessary; and,
indeed, on the present occasion, we could observe that Otoo bore a
principal part. The solemnity itself is called Poore Eree, or
chief's prayer; and the victim who is offered up Taata-taboo, or
consecrated man. This is the only instance where we have heard the word taboo
used at this island, where it seems to have the same mysterious
signification as at Tonga, though it is there applied to all cases where
things are not to be touched. But at Otaheite, the word raa
serves the same purpose, and is full as extensive in its meaning.
It is much to be regretted that a practice so
horrid in its own nature and so destructive of that inviolable right of
self-preservation which every one is born with, should be found still
existing; and (such is the power of superstition to counteract the first
principles of humanity!) existing amongst a people in many other respects
emerged from the brutal manners of savage life. What is still worse, it is
probable that these bloody rites of worship are prevalent throughout all
the wide-extended islands of the Pacific Ocean. The similarity of customs
and language, which our late voyages have enabled us to trace between the
most distant of these islands, makes it not unlikely that some of the most
important articles of their religious institutions should agree. And,
indeed, we have the most authentic information that human sacrifices
continue to be offered at the Friendly Islands. On the approaching sequel
of the Natche festival at Tonge-taboo, we had been told
that ten men were to be sacrificed. This may give us an idea of the extent
of this religious massacre in that island. And though we should suppose
that never more than one person is sacrificed, on any single occasion, at
Otaheite, it is more than probable that these occasions happen so
frequently as to make a shocking waste of the human race; for I counted no
less than forty-nine skulls of former victims lying before the morai,
where we saw one more added to the number. And as none of those skulls had
as yet suffered any considerable change from the weather, it may hence be
inferred, that no great length of time had elapsed since, at least, this
considerable number of unhappy wretches had been offered upon this altar
of blood.
On being asked what the intention of it was? the
natives said that it was an old custom, and was agreeable to their god,
who delighted in, or, in other words, came and fed upon the sacrifices; in
consequence of which he complied with their petitions. Upon its being
objected that he could not feed on these, as he was neither seen to do it,
nor were the bodies of the animals quickly consumed; and that, as to the
human victim, they prevented his feeding on him by burying him. But to all
this they answered, that he came in the night, but invisibly, and fed only
on the soul or immaterial part, which, according to their doctrine,
remains about the place of sacrifice, until the body of the victim be
entirely wasted by putrefaction.
The close of the very singular scene exhibited at
the morai, leaving us no other business in Attahooroo, we
embarked about noon, in order to return to Matavai; and, in our way,
visited Towha, who had remained on the little island, where we met him the
day before. Some conversation passed between Otoo and him, on the present
posture of public affairs; and then the latter solicited me, once more, to
join them in their war against Eimeo. By my positive refusal I entirely
lost the good graces of this chief. Before we parted, he asked us if the
solemnity at which we had been present, answered our expectations; what
opinion we had of its efficacy; and whether we performed such acts of
worship in our own country? During the celebration of the horrid ceremony,
we had preserved a profound silence; but, as soon as it was closed, had
made no scruple in expressing our sentiments very freely about it to Otoo
and those who attended him; of course, therefore, I did not conceal my
detestation of it in this conversation with Towha. Besides the cruelty of
the bloody custom, I strongly urged the unreasonableness of it; telling
the chief that such a sacrifice, far from making the Eatooa
propitious to their nation, as they ignorantly believed, would be the
means of drawing down his vengeance; and that, from this very
circumstance, I took upon me to judge that their intended expedition
against Maheine would be unsuccessful. This was venturing pretty far upon
conjecture, but still I thought that there was little danger of being
mistaken. For I found that there were three parties in the island, with
regard to this war; one extremely violent for it, another perfectly
indifferent about the matter, and the third openly declaring themselves
friends to Maheine and his cause. Under these circumstances of disunion
distracting their councils, it was not likely that such a plan of military
operations would be settled as could insure even a probability of success.
In conveying our sentiments to Towha on the subject of the late sacrifice,
Omai was made use of as our interpreter; and he entered into our arguments
with so much spirit that the chief seemed to be in great wrath; especially
when he was told that if he had put a man to death in England, as he had
done here, his rank would not have protected him from being hanged for it.
Upon this he exclaimed, Maeno! maeno! [vile! vile!] and would not
hear another word. During this debate many of the natives were present,
chiefly the attendants and servants of Towha himself; and when Omai began
to explain the punishment that would be inflicted in England upon the
greatest man if he killed the meanest servant, they seemed to listen with
great attention, and were, probably, of a different opinion from that of
their master on this subject.
After leaving Towha we proceeded to Oparre, where
Otoo pressed us to spend the night. We landed in the evening; and on our
road to his house had an opportunity of observing in what manner these
people amuse themselves, in their private heevas. About a hundred
of them were found sitting in a house; and in the midst of them were two
women, with an old man behind each of them, beating very gently upon a
drum; and the women, at intervals singing in a softer manner than I ever
heard at their other diversions. The assembly listened with great
attention, and were seemingly almost absorbed in the pleasure the music
gave them; for few took any notice of us, and the performers never once
stopped. It was almost dark before we reached Otoo's house, where we were
entertained with one of their public heevas, or plays, in which
his three sisters appeared as the principal characters. This was what they
call a heeva raä, which is of such a nature that nobody is to
enter the house or area where it is exhibited. When the royal sisters are
the performers this is always the case. Their dress on this occasion was
truly picturesque and elegant; and they acquitted themselves in their
parts in a very distinguished manner; though some comic interlude,
performed by four men, seemed to yield greater pleasure to the audience,
which was numerous. The next morning we proceeded to Matavai, leaving Otoo
at Oparre; but his mother, sisters, and several other women, attended me
on board, and Otoo himself followed me soon after.
While Otoo and I were absent from the ships they
had been sparingly supplied with fruit, and had few visitors. After our
return we again overflowed with provisions and with company. On the 4th a
party of us dined ashore with Omai, who gave excellent fare, consisting of
fish, fowls, pork, and puddings. After dinner I attended Otoo, who had
been one of the party, back to his house, where I found all his servants
very busy getting a quantity of provisions ready for me. Amongst other
articles there was a large hog, which they killed in my presence. There
was also a large pudding, the whole process in making which I saw. It was
composed of bread-fruit, ripe plantains, taro, and palm or pandanus nuts,
each rasped, scraped, or beat up fine, and baked by itself. A quantity of
juice, expressed from cocoa-nut kernels, was put into a large tray, or
wooden vessel. The other articles, hot from the oven, were deposited in
this vessel; and a few hot stones were also put in, to make the contents
simmer. Three or four men made use of sticks to stir the several
ingredients, till they were incorporated one with another, and the juice
of the cocoa-nut was turned to oil; so that the whole mass, at last,
became of the consistency of a hasty-pudding. Some of these puddings are
excellent, and few that we make in England equal them. I seldom or never
dined without one when I could get it, which was not always the case.
Otoo's hog being baked, and the pudding which I have described, being
made, they, together with two living hogs, and a quantity of bread-fruit
and cocoa-nuts, were put into a canoe, and sent on board my ship, followed
by myself and all the royal family.
The following evening, a young ram of the Cape
breed, that had been lambed, and, with great care, brought up on board the
ship, was killed by a dog. Incidents are of more or less consequence, as
connected with situation. In our present situation, desirous as I was to
propagate this useful race amongst these islands, the loss of the ram was
a serious misfortune; as it was the only one I had of that breed; and I
had only one of the English breed left. In the evening of the 7th, we
played off some fire-works before a great concourse of people. Some were
highly entertained with the exhibition; but by far the greater number of
spectators were terribly frightened; insomuch that it was with difficulty
we could prevail upon them to keep together to see the end of the show. A
table-rocket was the last. It flew off the table, and dispersed the whole
crowd in a moment; even the most resolute among them fled with
precipitation.
Otoo was not more attentive to supply our wants,
by a succession of presents, than he was to contribute to our amusement,
by a succession of diversions. A party of us having gone down to Oparre,
on the 10th, he treated us with what may be called a play. His three
sisters were the actresses; and the dresses they appeared in were new and
elegant; that is, more so than we had usually met with at any of these
islands. But the principal object I had in view, this day, in going to
Oparre, was to take a view of an embalmed corpse, which some of our
gentlemen had happened to meet with at that place, near the residence of
Otoo. On inquiry, I found it to be the remains of Tee, a chief well known
to me, when I was at this Island, during my last voyage. We found the body
not only entire in every part; but, what surprised us much more, was, that
putrefaction seemed scarcely to be begun, as there was not the least
disagreeable smell proceeding from it, though the climate is one of the
hottest, and Tee had been dead above four months. The only remarkable
alteration that had happened, was a shrinking of the muscular parts of the
eyes; but the hair and nails were in their original state, and still
adhered firmly; and the several joints were quite pliable, or in that kind
of relaxed state which happens to persons who faint suddenly. Such were
Mr. Anderson's remarks to me, who also told me, that, on his inquiring
into the method of effecting this preservation of their dead bodies, he
had been informed that soon after their death, they are disembowelled, by
drawing the intestines, and other viscera, out at the anus;
and the whole cavity is then filled or stuffed with cloth, introduced
through the same part; that when any moisture appeared on the skin, it was
carefully dried up, and the bodies afterward rubbed all over with a large
quantity of perfumed cocoa-nut oil; which, being frequently repeated,
preserved them a great many months; but that, at last, they gradually
moulder away. This was the information Mr. Anderson received; for my own
part, I could not learn any more about their mode of operation than what
Omai told me, who said, that they made use of the juice of a plant which
grows amongst the mountains; of cocoa-nut oil; and of frequent washing
with sea water. I was also told that the bodies of all their great men,
who died a natural death, are preserved in this manner; and that they
expose them to public view for a considerable time after. At first, they
are laid out every day, when it does not rain; afterward, the intervals
become greater and greater; and, at last, they are seldom to be seen.
On the 13th, Captain Clerke and I, mounted on
horseback, took a ride round the plain of Matavai, to the very great
surprise of a great train of people who attended on the occasion, gazing
upon us with as much astonishment as if we had been centaurs. Omai,
indeed, had, once or twice before this, attempted to get on horseback; but
he had as often been thrown off, before he could contrive to seat himself;
so that this was the first time they had seen anybody ride a horse. What
Captain Clerke and I began, was, after this, repeated every day, while we
staid, by one or another of our people; and yet the curiosity of the
natives continued still unabated. They were exceedingly delighted with
these animals, after they had seen the use that was made of them; and, as
far as I could judge, they conveyed to them a better idea of the greatness
of other nations than all the other novelties put together that their
European visitors had carried amongst them. Both the horse and mare were
in good case, and looked extremely well.
The next day, Etary, or Olla, the god of
Bolabola, who had, for several days past, been in the neighbourhood of
Matavai, removed to Oparre, attended by several sailing canoes. We were
told, that Otoo did not approve of his being so near our station, where
his people could more easily invade our property. I must do Otoo the
justice to say, that he took every method prudence could suggest to
prevent thefts and robberies; and it was more owing to his regulations
than to our circumspection that so few were committed. He had taken care
to erect a little house or two on the other side of the river, behind our
post, and two others close to our tents, on the bank between the river and
the sea. In all these places some of his own people constantly kept watch;
and his father generally resided on Matavai point; so that we were, in a
manner, surrounded by them. Thus stationed, they not only guarded us in
the night from thieves, but could observe everything that passed in the
day; and were ready to collect contributions from such girls as had
private connexions with our people, which was generally done every
morning. So that the measures adopted by him to secure our safety, at the
same time served the more essential purpose of enlarging his own profits.
In the morning of the 18th, Mr. Anderson, myself,
and Omai went again with Otoo to Oparre, and took with us the sheep which
I intended to leave upon the island, consisting of an English ram and ewe,
and three Cape ewes, all which I gave to Otoo.
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 anything 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 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 the 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 a while 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 of fighting.
With this view, I expressed my wish to Otoo that he would order some of
them to go through the necessary manœuvres. Two were, accordingly ordered
out into the bay, in one of which Otoo, Mr. King, and myself were
embarked, and Omai went on board the other. When we had got sufficient
sea-room, we faced and advanced upon each other, and retreated by turns,
as quick as our rowers could paddle. During this, the warriors on the
stages flourished their weapons, and played a hundred antic tricks, which
could answer no other end, in my judgment, than to work up their passions
and prepare them for fighting. Otoo stood by the side of our stage, and
gave the necessary orders when to advance and when to retreat. In this,
great judgment and a quick eye combined together seemed requisite to seize
every advantage that might offer, and to avoid giving any advantage to the
adversary. At last, after advancing and retreating from each other at
least a dozen times, the two canoes closed head to head, or stage to
stage; and after a short conflict, the troops on our stage were supposed
to be all killed, and we were boarded by Omai and his associates. At that
very instant, Otoo and all our paddlers leaped overboard, as if reduced to
the necessity of endeavouring to save their lives by swimming.
If Omai's information is to be depended upon,
their naval engagements are not always conducted in this manner. He told
me, that they sometimes begin with lashing the two vessels together, head
to head, and then fight till all the warriors are killed on one side or
the other. But this close combat, I apprehend, is never practised but when
they are determined to conquer or die. Indeed, one or the other must
happen; for all agree that they never give quarter, unless it be to
reserve their prisoners for a more cruel death the next day. The power and
strength of these islands lie entirely in their navies. I never heard of a
general engagement on land; and all of their decisive battles are fought
on the water. If the time and place of conflict are fixed upon by both
parties, the preceding day and night are spent in diversions and feasting.
Toward morning they launch the canoes, put everything in order, and with
the day begin the battle, the fate of which generally decides the dispute.
The vanquished save themselves by a precipitate flight; and such as reach
the shore fly with their friends to the mountains; for the victors, while
their fury lasts, spare neither the aged, women, nor children. The next
day they assemble at the morai, to return thanks to the Eatooa
for the victory, and to offer up the slain as sacrifices, and the
prisoners also, if they have any. After this, a treaty is set on foot, and
the conquerors for the most part obtain their own terms, by which
particular districts of lands, and sometimes whole islands, change their
owners. Omai told us that he was once taken a prisoner by the men of
BolaBola, and carried to that island, where he and some others would have
been put to death the next day if they had not found means to escape in
the night.
As soon as this mock fight was over, Omai put on
his suit of armour, mounted a stage in one of the canoes, and was paddled
all along the shore of the bay; so that every one had a full view of him.
His coat of mail did not draw the attention of his countrymen so much as
might have been expected. Some of them, indeed, had seen a part of it
before; and there were others, again, who had taken such a dislike to
Omai, from his imprudent conduct at this place, that they would hardly
look at anything, however singular, that was exhibited by him. |
