some
firearms and ammunition with him, as he expected to be attacked after the
ship sailed, and perhaps chiefly on account of our partiality to him: I
therefore thought it but reasonable to attend to his request, and I was
the more readily prevailed on as he said his intentions were to act only
on the defensive. This indeed seems most suited to his disposition, which
is neither active nor enterprising. If Tinah had spirit in proportion to
his size and strength he would probably be the greatest warrior in
Otaheite: but courage is not the most conspicuous of his virtues. When I
promised to leave with him a pair of pistols, which they prefer to
muskets, he told me that Iddeah would fight with one and Oedidee with the
other. Iddeah has learnt to load and fire a musket with great dexterity
and Oedidee is an excellent marksman. It is not common for women in this
country to go to war, but Iddeah is a very resolute woman, of a large
make, and has great bodily strength.

Friday 6.

I sent Mr. Fryer the master to sound Taowne harbour. The knowledge that
we intended shortly to sail having spread among the natives a great many
broken iron tools were brought from all parts of the island to be
repaired at our forge; and this morning a messenger arrived from
Waheatua, the Earee of Tiarraboo, with several pieces of Spanish iron
which he desired to have made into small adzes. This request was of
course complied with.

CHAPTER 11.

Arrival of an Arreoy Woman from Tethuroa.
A Present delivered by Tinah for his Majesty.
Other Occurrences to the Time of the Ship's Departure from Otaheite.

1789. March.

From the 5th to the 14th of this month the wind blew constantly from
between the north-west and south-west with a great deal of rain. This was
the longest continuance of westerly winds without interruption that we
experienced. On the 13th several canoes arrived here and at Matavai from
Tethuroa: in these were a large tribe of Arreoys, and among them Huheine
Moyere, the wife of Oreepyah, who is an Arreoy woman, and remained at
Tethuroa after Oreepyah came away. On her arrival a ceremony was
performed called Hooepippee, which seemed to be designed as a public
visit to all their friends, who are collected on the occasion. In this
ceremony there was nothing remarkable: the Arreoy men took their
opportunity to plunder the women who were near them, and Iddeah made a
present of some cloth to Huheine Moyere, and a baked hog to the Arreoys