of this alarm, and afraid that some disaster had befallen Lieut. Pickersgill and two boats crews, whom he had sent to Otaha to purchase a sea stock of bananas and plantains, resolved to see Oreo, and inquire what had happened. Taking a boat with some of his people, and a native, he rowed to the northward, and soon came in sight of Oreo's canoe. The chief landed, and the Captain followed him; a crowd being on the shore encouraging him to land. Here he first met the chief's wife, a venerable old lady, who threw herself into his arms, and wept bitterly. Oreo, in like manner, as soon as the Captain reached him, threw his arms about him, and burst into tears; while the women, and almost all around, joined him in loud lamentations. The Captain looked on with amazement, unable to account for this universal grief, or to get a word of explanation on the subject. At last upon close inquiry he discovered, that all this alarm and grief had arisen from the absence of the two boats crews; it was supposed that they had deserted, and that hostilities would be carried on against the whole island till they were recovered. The Captain dispelled their fears, by assuring them that the boats had gone by his orders, and would soon return. He then came on board, accompanied by some of the natives, who proclaimed the peace to all whom they saw, in rowing along the shore.
At this time, Poreo, the Tahitian youth who had come hither in the Resolution, having conceived an attachment to a young woman whom he met here, went away with her, and returned no more. His place was more than supplied by Oedidee, a young man of 17 or 18 years, a native of Bolabola, and a near relation of the great Opoony, the King
