In closing that part of his journal which relates to the visit now paid to Otaheite, his favourite island, the Captain makes various remarks on its form of government, on the different ranks or orders of society here, and on the amount of the population. Assuming, that each of the 43 districts in the island, might furnish, on an average, as many war canoes as Tettaha, which raised and equipped 40, and allowing 40 men as the crew of each canoe; he thus calculates the number of able men at 68,000; and estimates the whole population at 204,000. These assumptions, however, are erroneous; and the calculations founded on them far exceed the reality. When Capt. Wilson landed with the Missionaries in 1797, he estimated the population at only 16,000; and when the Missionaries themselves, a few years after, made a more correct census, they found the number to be only about 8,000. Now, although it is certain that, owing to the introduction of European diseases, the use of fire-arms and of ardent spirits, combined with destructive wars, and the dreadful prevalence of infanticide, the population had rapidly declined after the discovery of the island, it is not credible, that in less than thirty years the population should be reduced to only a twentieth part of what it was in the time of Cook, or not so much. It is gratifying to know, that since the Tahitians embraced Christianity, which has checked the ravages of war and crime, their numbers are steadily increasing.
On the 15th of May, the Resolution anchored in Fare harbour, in Huaheine; where the good old King Oree gave our navigator a welcome reception. Much friendly trade, with interchange of presents
