When the natives saw their visitors uneasy, they renewed the tokens of peace, sticking green boughs before them, which they were desired to take hold of: and when they were urgent to get their business despatched, the chief sent some people to bring a few plantain trees for the cattle; but intimated that the gentlemen behoved to stay and partake of the repast prepared for them. Accordingly, the multitude making a large ring, the four strangers were seated by the second chief, Taroa, and entertained with cocoa-nuts, baked plantains, and portions of the baked hog. Omai was further treated with a drink of ava, prepared in the mode used in his own country. After this, the party were put on board their boats, by means of canoes, with some cocoa-nuts, some plantain trees, and other provisions brought to them. They were glad to get safe on board, about sun-set, after being so many hours in the midst of a crowd, consisting of not less than 2000 people. The Captain was very anxious for their arrival, and had brought the ships as near the shore as was prudent, with a view to their protection; although the occasional visits of the natives, during the day, served to convince him, that nothing hostile was intended.
The party seem to have, in some degree, owed their safe return to the ships, to the ingenuity of Omai, and his strong assertions of the power of the British, and the force of their fire-arms. His statements, indeed, were much exaggerated; for he told the natives, that some of the British ships were as large as their island, and had guns that could crush their whole country at one shot; that even the guns now on board the two ships, could easily destroy the island, and kill every soul in it;
