his anticipations proved correct: for before another British ship visited this group, the "Gentle savage" was no more. When Lieut. Bligh, who had been Master of the Resolution, arrived at Otaheite, in 1788, to take bread-fruit plants to the West Indies, one of his first inquiries was for our friend Omai; and he felt greatly disappointed, when he learned, that he and his two New Zealand boys were all dead: so that they had lived only about ten years, if so much, after their settlement at Fare. The sequel of Omai's history is thus given by the Rev. William Ellis, in his Polynesian Researches, Vol. II. pp. 94, 95, &c.
"The estimate Captain Cook formed of his character was correct: he appeared to have derived no permanent advantage from the voyage he had made, the attention he had received, or the civilized society with which he had been associated. He soon threw off his European dress, and adopted the costume, uncivilized manners, and indolent life, of his countrymen. Weakness and vanity, together with savage pride, appear to have been. the most conspicuous traits of character he developed in subsequent life."
"The horses, included among his presents, appear to have been regarded by Mai as mere objects of curiosity, and were occasionally ridden, in order to inspire terror, or excite admiration, in the minds of the inhabitants. His implements of war, and especially the fire-arms, rendered his aid and cooperation a desideratum with the King of the island, who, in order more effectually to secure the advantage of his influence and arms, gave him one of his daughters in marriage[1], and honoured
- ↑ If this is correct, the young prince who was reigning in
