Jan 20, 1789 Home Logbook Jan 22, 1789
Revised Jun 29 2021
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Moderate Breezes mostly Westerly, some Calms & Rain Thunder and Lightning. Therr. 81° to 83°. Much sea in Matavai Bay and breaking over the Dolphin Bank.
Employed at the Forge. Cooper and Carpenters making conveniences for the Plants. Sailmakers repairing Sails. Six Venereals in the List.
To day according to agreement Poeeno came with the owner of the Bull for Payment and I gave to him a assortment of every thing I had with which they were fully satisfied. This Man they told me was amah no Bry meaning Tynah, and that his name was Oweevee. This person is occasionally supposed to be possessed of the divine spirit, and in all matters of consequence, where they hope for the assistance of the Eatua, they go to this man to know from him how they are to proceed. He is supposed to have the Power of conversing with God who they represent sometimes to enter into him and others to be fluttering round him, but at all times invisible, and whatever he directs to be done is most scrupulously to be complied with. Under these advantages he came possessed of the Bull, for he told Tynah that the Great God had said, "go to Tynah and tell him I must have the Bull and it therefore must be given to you." By this means it was that this Fellow got the Beast, and all that I could say had no effect on Tynah to show him how absurd it was to give the animal away. I thought I had one Strong argument to prove it, which was to show the Roguery of the Man to dispose of what the Eatua had directed him to keep, but I was easily defeated. "Why it was with the Eatua's consent that he has sold it to you." From such Ideas, I have thought it proper not to give these animals to either Tynah or Poeeno, but to leave them in their charge as a property of mine, and they have adopted my plans and consider it much to their advantage, and tell me every person will now be afraid to touch them, as they know I will go to War with who ever it is on my return.
Thus I have fixed in a fair way a Breed of Cattle in this Island, which after much trouble and care failed in the first instance and in all probability would never have taken place again, had it not been for this gracious act of His Majesty our King to benefit his subjects in the West Indies with the Breadfruit plant.
Jan 20, 1789 Home Logbook Jan 22, 1789