, the master of the
_Endeavour_, who had accompanied Captain Wallis on his late voyage. Her
name was Oberea. She was therefore treated with much attention, and
many presents were made to her. Among them she seemed to value most a
child's doll, possibly supposing it to be one of the gods of the white
man. She had apparently been deposed, and Tootahah had become the
principal chief, but, jealous of the favours shown to Oberea, was not
content until a doll had been presented to him also, and at first he
seemed to value it more than a hatchet. Among the attendants of Oberea
was Tupia, who had become a priest, and had evidently considerable
influence among his countrymen. He had from the first attached himself
to the English, and now expressed a strong desire to accompany them when
they should quit the country. As his services were likely to prove of
the greatest value, Captain Cook gladly agreed to his proposal, and he
was appointed interpreter on board the _Endeavour_.

The inhabitants of Otaheite were far superior to those of most of the
other islands. They were all more or less clothed in well-made cloth
manufactured from the paper mulberry-tree, and ingeniously painted. In
wet weather they wore instead garments made of matting, some of a very
fine and beautiful description. They produced a great variety of
basket-work, and made string and rope of various thicknesses. Their
houses were neat, and they were remarkably clean in their habits, many
of them washing twice or oftener in a day. The last event of importance
which occurred was the desertion of two marines, who stole from the
fort, intending to remain in the country.

As Captain Cook could not allow so bad an example to be set, he was
compelled, in order to recover them, to detain Tootahah and several
other chiefs until the fugitives should be restored. The natives
retaliated by capturing two petty officers, and the arms of two others,
and matters began to look serious, until, by the intervention of
Tootahah, the deserters were restored and received due punishment.

After a stay of three months the voyagers, having bade farewell to their
friends on shore, prepared for sailing, when Tupia, accompanied by a boy
as his servant, came on board, and expressed his readiness to accompany
them.

About noon on the 12th of April the anchor was weighed, and the vessel
getting under sail, the Indians on board took their leave of their
visitors and Tupia, weeping