Journal - Mutineers on Tahiti Part 1 Home James Morrison Journal - The Pandora
Revised May 29 2021
The work had gone on very well during my absence and by the 30th both sides were plankd up, the Ceiling in & the Beams Secured, but now Norman and Heildbrandt left off Work and did not return to it till the Middle of May, however as the heavy Iron work was done and Coleman was now able to proceed by him Self with making nails & small work, and we set about Collecting Bread fruit Gum, Which we Boild into a very good Substitute for Pitch and with What rope had been brought (by ourselves and the Natives) from the Ship, we Musterd Oakum Sufficient to Caulk the Vessel all over. We were now visited by Mottooarro who presented us with a Couple of Baked hogs, & some Cloth. He said that he had been making presents of all He could Muster or else he would have brought us more; he brought with Him the Dog Bacchus which had been left with Poeno together with a Bitch Calld Venus when We saild in April 89, and tho the animal had never seen us before since we had been here He knew us immediately and Came fawning about us, at which the Natives were much surprized.
May, 1790. The dog & Bitch were seperated as soon as the Ship was sailed
and had never been together since,
by which Means Mr. Blighs intention
of getting a breed of Large Dogs on the Island
was in some measure frustrated;
Poenos sister having taken a fancy to the Bitch
took her to Vyeerre & Mottooarro
taking the Dog to Morea when he was Calld home.
As we found it a tedious Jobb to gather the Gum or pitch, we Employd a Number of Natives. Dressing a Large Hog we made a feast for a Number of the poorer Sort and desired evry one that partook, to bring in his proportion of Gum, which they did not fail to perform according to the quantity of Pork they had received, as we found this answerd our purpose we repeated it till we had sufficient for our Purpose. We found that by Boiling it down it made Good Pitch and Hogs lard being Mixd with it made it answer the purpose of Tar.
Tho the Method of Procuring this gum was dear yet the Hogs Cost us Nothing, and the people were not over paid for their Labour, and a Hog of 200 lbs weight would not bring 50 lbs of Pitch.
Their Method of Procuring it is this—they take a peg made of Toa which with a Stone they drive through the bark in several places and having served a Number of Trees in this manner they let it stay till next morning, when the Gum is run out and hardend. This they scrape off with a shell, and make it up in a Ball; but a Man can hardly get a pound of it by himself in two days.—no other tree affords this Pitch but the Breadfruit and when it first runs is as white as Milk and as thin but it soon hardens and looks like white wax and when Boild becomes black and is in all respects like pitch extracted from pine, tho' this Comes from the Bark only and not from the Tree.
17th. Norman & Heildbrandt having returned to work, we got about laying the deck, which was finishd by the 1st of June, and in the Mean time Heildbrandt set about making Casks out of a White Wood Calld by the Natives Fwhyfwhye, the grain of which resembles White Oak; the Young Chesnut trees which grow in abundance in the Hills making Hoops.—we also Cut Masts Boom Bow Sprit & Gaffs intending to rigg her Schooner fashion and made a Kellick with Toa and Weighted it with lead.
4th. This day We fired a Volly & Drank a Keg of Cyder which had been prepared from the Apples Calld Vee on purpose for the Occasion. We were also visited by Byrn & Ellison who had come to Point Venus in their way to Tettooroa. We now Set about Caulking, Making rope, Blocks &c. The Poorow answerd for the Shells of the Blocks, and the Toa for Shievs & Pins. The Bark of the Poorow being Cleand made very good rope, & a sheet of Copper made a Barrel for a Pump, with Colemans Assistance.—in Caulking the Vessel we observed that an insect Calld here Hoohoo had eaten into a part of the Stem Which We found it Necessary to shift & put a new piece in its place. The Rudder being fixd, & the Vessel Caulkd all over, We paid Her with pitch, and by the 1st of July She was ready for Launching with Masts Boom Bowsprit & Gaffs Compleat.
We had frequent Visitors while She was building Who examined her inside and out and viewd each part with surprize wondering how it was possible to make such a Vessel, and what seemd to draw their attention most was the Method we used of twisting the Plank which sometimes proved an over match for us, and we broke several, after expending a whole weeks labour on them, and being Assisted by Fire, Water and a good workman who understood his business—notwithstanding which, and all the Schemes which Necessity could invent we were frequently forced to throw the Planks away which with Iron work would have been of Use.—We lost only one pair of Compasses during the time She was in hand and them we supposed to have been lost in the rubbish, and now put up our Tools and prepared for setting her afloat.
July, 1790. With what rope we Could Muster we slung the Masts on the Sides making a kind of Cradle under Her Bottom and having done with Most of the augur Shanks we made use of them as Bolts & Clenchd them through the Keel & Kelson to strengthen that Department.
And being all ready on the 5th We applied to Poeno Who told me that the Priest must perform His prayers over Her, and then He would have her Carried to the Sea.—the Priest being sent for and a Young Pig & a Plantain given Him When he began Walking round and round the Vessel, stopping at the Stem & Stern, and Muttering short sentences in an unknown dialect; and having a Bundle of Young Plantain trees brought to Him by Poenos Order, he now and then tossd one in on Her deck. He kept at this all day and night and was hardly finishd by sunrise on the 6th.
When Poeno & Tew, Matte's father, Came with Three or four Hundred Men, and having each made a long Oration, their Men were devided in two partys, and the Servants of Tew having received a Hog & Some Cloth which was provided by Poeno for the Occasion, one of the Priests went on board and Several plantain trees was tossd to him from both sides. He then ran fore & aft, and exorted them to exert themselves, and on a Signal being given they Closed in, and those who Could not reach by hand got long Poles, A Song being given they all Joind in Chorus & She soon began to Move and in Half an hour She reachd the Beach, where She was launchd & Calld the Resolution. Tho Several Trees were Cut down which Stood in the Way, yet She received no damage, except breaking the Masts in a passage of about 3/4ths of a Mile.
Having got the Ropes from under her & a Canoe afloat with her, we towd Her round point Venus into a small Bay to the Eastward of the Point, and Moord her with the a Killick, & a warp on Shore in a Good birth, and under the shelter of a Point within the Reef. And having the Scooner Affloat, we were now employd till the 12th fixing Houses & getting our things removed when we got two houses fixt and Coleman Came to live with us at the Point, which we Calld Cockroach point, according to its own Name.—and boiling Salt took up the rest of our time this Month.—Having an Iron pot and a Copper Kettle we built a furnace of Clay and fixed them in; and filling them up Continually as the Steem evaporated we kept them at work night & day, deviding the Night into Watches of 2 1/2 Hours, which we could Judge very well by the Stars, but the Salt water proved So weak here owing to the fresh water river which emptys itself at the Point, that we could not make more then one pound per Day.
August 2nd. We now Cut trees down for Masts, and in the Mean time Covered the Schooner over with Cocoa Nut leaves, wove like Matts.—Employd Boiling Salt:—Making the Masts, & the Cooper Making Casks, and the Weather being fine we began to Kill hogs and Salt them, taking out the Bones and Curing none but Prime Meat, as we cured Sufficient to fill a Cask it was stowd away on board, putting about 100 lbs in a Cask.—this we had no method of Weighing, but Cut the Meat by guess to resemble good four pound pieces, taking Care not to have any too small—this, with making rope &c. lasted till Near the end of the Month, when we receiv'd from Matte about 400 fathoms of Rope which being Mostly Small we laid and made Cable &c. for Shrouds and Stays, and got the Schoner Masted & riggd.—While other Matters were going on I took in hand to repair my Watch, the Chain of which was broke and by the help of a Pair of Compasses & a Nail which I filed up for a turn screw I took her to pieces & with much dificulty at last got the Chain repaird, but in a rough Manner and for want of Tools and Skill, it Cost me much pains and trouble to put the work together again which however I at last accomplished and with such good success that Stuart would have me take his in hand, and try what I could do. I took her to pieces and found about two inches of the inner part of the Main Spring broke of[f], to remidie this I softened the broken part of the Spring and cut a new hole for the ketch, and having put the work together found that she went very well.
We also prepared a Log reel and line and by Cutting a Glass Phial in halves with a Flint and fixing a leaden Center Cast on purpose, made a tolerable good half Minute Glass, Counting the Seconds by the Musquet ball slung to a thread, between which and the Watch we made it tolerable correct.
The Box of the Azimuth Compass being too large to be conveniently kept, we got a small gourd which answerd to the size of the glass, and made a Compass box of it, slinging it in Jymbals in the Binnacle where it was intended to remain for the purpose of Steering only,—and the spare Glass answerd to fix in the Binnacle to keep the Wet out, and a lamp made to burn oil over the Compass, which answerd very well, we also made some Candles of Goats fat which we had saved for the purpose.
A Cabbouse was next wanted and this McIntosh built of Plank; & Coleman Cut stones square to line it in side and Contain the fire, these were placed & plastered up with Clay instead of Mortar. Evry thing seemd to be had without trouble or Dificulty except sails, and how to procure them we Could not tell, Matting being scarce and at the Best very unservisable, and tho we had Cut up our Cloaths, we had not sufficient Canvas amongst us to make her one Sail which would be fit to set at sea.
September, 1790. However we Continued at Work preparing such things as were in our power, and trusting in Providence for the rest—Salting Pork Boiling Salt & making Casks, and getting ready evry thing that we Could think we might want. During this time the Vessel was afloat, and Still Continued to be tight, nor did the Sun hurt her as she was continually covered.
12th. this Day a Messenger arrived from the Young King
desiring our Immediate Assistance to quell the People
of the District of Tettahah who had rebelld,
and made an inroad into Oparre,
burning all before them; the Messenger also informd us
that the Oparre people had repuls'd them forcing them
to leave two of their Dead behind them
which were brought to the Young Kings Morai,
and that they were preparing for another attack,
being set on by the People of Attahooroo.—he
told us also that Areepaeea-Waheine the Young Kings Aunt
who had been at Ryeatea for some years,
was arrived at Oparre with a Numerous Fleet
which were all ready for War.
As we did not know that ever we should be able to effect our purpose, tho evry thing was getting forward, we found it necessary for our own sakes, to assist them, and therefore returnd for Answer that we should be at Oparre Next morning—and Armd Accordingly. On the 13th, leaving one to take Care of the Schooner, We marchd to Oparre, where Areepaeea-Waheine received us, and a Dressd Hog was presented to us. —Byrn & Ellison being at Tetooroa and Musprat on a Visit to Papaara with his Friend Areepaeea, we were now only Eight in number, but were here Joind by Brown, who informd us that the Attahooroo people had made war on Tommaree; which was further Confirmd by a Letter from Burkett desiring our assistance. Having made our breakfast we proceeded to Tettahah Surrounded By a Multitude (with Poeno & Pyeteea two Chiefs at their head) from Maatavye.
Before that we had proceeded half a Mile We found the Marro Eatooa or Signal for War (which is several Fathoms of Cloth in one piece passd round several Trees, crossing the path several times) and a Hog tied to each tree which the Marro passes round; this is generally Put up with some Ceremony, and the Enemy are defied to take it down.
On seeing this our party ran instantly and seized on the Marro & hogs,
when the Enemy who lay conceald till now,
made their appearance, and a Fray instantly commenced
and Several heavy blows exchanged before We were observed by
them—on our approach they Fled,
but this Confused Method of engageing prevented us from knowing our own people,
who were so scattered that we were not able at a Distance
to tell them from the Enemy and we were therefore of No use
but to look on while the Enemy retreated to the Mountains
& our party returned with a deal of Plunder,
& several Canoes which they had not been able to remove.
We Now informd the Chiefs that they must alter their mode of Fighting,
and bring their people under some Command,
in Case they should have occasion to go to war again
which they promised to do;
and having Demanded Matts to make sails for the Schooner,
we took our leave of Fatowwa, or Areepaeea Waheine,
and returned to Maatavye.—This woman being the first Born
has the right of the Sovereignity of Taheite
but having no Child she had Transferd the right
to her Brother during her Absence,
and now Continues it to his son;
tho she is not out of Power herself by it when she visits Taheite,
being always honor'd and respected,
and always holds the reigns of Government when
present.—She paid much regard to us
and soon had matts collected sufficient to make Three Sails,
viz Main Sail Fore Sail & Jibb.—She was very active in the business
and took care that we were well supplied with provisions.
The Young King also sent us a Double Canoe of 48 feet long,
& for each a Hog a Piece of Cloth and, a Bamboo of Oil.
—Brown set off a Cross the Mountains
to Join Burkett and Sumner at Papaara,
and we promised to Join them as soon as the Sails were made.
Coleman having made two Needles, we set about making the Sails, using the bark of the Poorow for twine, quilting the Matts, & seaming them at evry foot distance to strengthen them.—Mean while the Tettahah & Attahooroo people had united their forces & were began to Commit Hostilitys both on Papaara & Oparre, and on the 20th we were demanded to assist again, which for our Credit we could not refuse, nor was the Sails any excuse, as we were wanted on Shore, and the Enemy looking on our peaceable inclination as the effects of Fear, sent us word that they would Come to Maatavye & burn the Schooner and a Challenge sent to each Separately by their Warriors, who bid us defiance, telling us that each would have his man to Carry to the Morai, and much more such language. —they had also entered Oparre again burning and destroying all before them.
On the 21st early in the Morning, leaving one as before to take care of the Schooner, we got into our Canoes and paddled to the Lower end of Oparre. Here we were Met by Poeno, Tew, & Fatowwa, and almost all the Men of Maatavye with Pyeteea, & Mattaheyapo at their head who were both principal men & their head Warriors. We were now but Eight in Number, and having given the Chiefs such directions as we thought necessary, they promised to observe them, and being willing to take the Cool of the Morning, we set forward in Good order, surrounded by Multitudes of all ages from both Districts, but the Maatavye men kept Close to us, claiming the preeminence, and keeping the others in the rear.—on our approach the Enemy retreated to a high steep eminence in the Mountains, which Commanded a narrow pass, which was the only one by which they could be approachd, and as this place had resisted all Former attacks, they had got all their property to the place in readiness, & had formd an encampment of Huts ready to dispute the Pass; however we determined to proceed, as we could not hope for Peace without driving them from their strong hold: but it being some miles up in the Mountains, it was Noon before we got near enough to see the pass & the situation of the enemy, who we found well posted. The heat became so intense that we should have been in a bad plight had not our friends brought with them plenty of Cocoa Nuts which we found very refreshing and tho we had Marchd at a slow pace, we now stood in great need of—having halted a few minutes we proceeded to the Pass, which was along a Narrow ridge where two men could scarcely pass in safety.—the Taheiteans made a full stop when they came to the place but seeing us proceed they followed, and Pyeteea & Mattaheyapo came in the Van to be our guides over.—in crossing the pass we found ourselves open to their Stones with which they plyed us briskly from the Eminence above our heads, where our Musquets would not reach to do execution—tho we were forced to walk over at an easy rate for one Hundred yards or more, none of us except Coleman was hurt, and he only received a blow of a Stone in the leg which did not disable him—however his Taheite friend received a blow between the Mouth & Nose that brought him down, & having English Cloaths on was Mistaken for one of Us and they gave us a loud Shout & redoubled their Vollies of Stones, by which upwards of twenty more were wounded before we could fire a Shot. However we got over and with a warm fire advanced up the Hill; when they soon gave way. As soon as this was observed by our Party they rushd in, & three of the Enemies Head warriors having fallen by our shot they fled; and our party persued them down the other side of the Mountains. Mean time the Plunder of their Camp was seized by the Oparre Men, the Maatavye people being more intent on driving their Enemies; the Chief part of their Houses being burnt, and distroyd, we returned in the evening to Maatavye. The Number of Hogs taken here were incredible; several of the largest died with the fatigue of coming down, their own weight & fat being more then they Could support.—the Party in Attahooroo, being Yet in arms, the Young King was desirous that we should assist him to quell them, and force them to Restore the Marro-Oora, or Royal sash, together with the Morai Tabbootaboatea, being the Movable place of sacrafice;—the Pehharaa or Sacred Chest wherin their Images are kept with the Valuables belonging to the Deitys; the Farre 'Atooa, or house of God, with several other things which belongd to them, which the Father of the Present T'towha Chief of Attahooroo had taken in war from oToo or Matte, and which had been kept in Attahooroo ever since, but we found it so fatigueing that we Got the Sails ready in Order to Shorten our marches.—
We had by this time between 6 and 7 hundred weight of fine Pork Salted, & got it on board, and having bent the sails and Got our Amunition on board, on the 26th we saild for Oparre leaving the Houses in charge of the Natives with what things We did not want and leaving only Skinner in Maatavye who was bad with sore eyes which made our Number still but Eight. At Oparre we found Heete-heete who had come from Papaara where he had been with Burkett & Sumner Who with the Assistance of Muspratt, Brown & Himself had repulsed the Attahooroo & Tettahah people with a great slaughter but as they would not submit to Tommaree, they Had Sent him to us to desire that We would keep them in play and appoint a day to let the Armies of Papaara & Tippirreonoo meet in the Center of Attahooroo. We kept Heete-heete and armd him with one of Matte's Musquets. —we found at Oparre a large Fleet assembled under the Chiefs of Tippirreonoo, who inform'd us that they waited our Orders, the Canoes with provisions being arrived from the different districts and the Morning of the 27th being Calm the Canoes drew up in a line and took the Schooner in tow. The line consisted of 40 Canoes paddling 50, or 60 hands; they had pieces of Painted Cloth hoisted on the Sterns of each, & Drums beating & flutes playing made a very war like show the Warriors Cutting a Number of Capers on their Stages, being dressd with Featherd headdresses & all in their best Apparal, the smaller Canoes being kept at a Distance on each side the line began to move forwards within the reef towards Attahooroo. Mean time Multitudes Went a head by land, and the beach appeard Covered all the Way as we passd. As we entered the enemys Country, they fled to the Mountains, and our party on shore persued them, Burning the Houses, and destroying the Country where ever they Came by rooting up the Plantains & Tarro, and notching the bark round the Bread fruit Trees to stop their Growth, and laying all in ashes before them. About Noon we anchord at Taboona, part of Attahooroo, under Pohooataya, the Same known to Captain Cook by the Name of Potatow. The Canoes were here hauld up, and an encampment made with the roofs of the Houses, which had escaped the fire, or that had been spared for that purpose. We were now informd, that the Enemy had posted themselves in a Strong hold in the Mountains, and Could observe them with the glass going up in large bodys to the place where they intended to stand a Siege.—A Council of War was now held, and finding it would be difficult to approach them, it was agreed to send out several partys to burn the reeds on the Sides of the Hills to prevent them from approaching unseen, or laying in ambush for any Stragling party.
Heete-heete was appointed to this business, and in the mean time Ambassodors were sent to demand a Surrender, and a White Flag was hung out on board the Schooner and an[other] sent to be stuck up at about 2 miles distant. During the time the Hills were burning several Skirmishes took place between our party & theirs; but Heete-heete having the Musquet with him always repulsed them, and they were forced to retire to their Strong hold, as we did not approve of their destroying the Trees the partys were Calld in and placed to look out and Heete-heete always caused one or More of His party to Cry out 'alls Well' in the best Manner they Could pronounce it every half Hour on Notice being given on board the Schooner, for which purpose, we fixed one of the Hoops of the Ships Anchor stock to serve as a Bell, striking it with a hammer, and this was repeated by all who happened to be awake in the Camp, which together with Continual fires which were kept burning all night, served to shew the Enemy that we were always prepared for them.
In the Afternoon of the 29th we observed a White Flag
coming down the Hill,
and orders was given not to Molest any who came with it,
and before Sunset the Chief Pohooataya with his Wife,
attended by a Priest bearing the Flag, came to the Camp.
A Council was now held of the Chiefs & Principal Men;
when it was determined that peace should be made,
on Condition that evry thing should be restored to the Young King;
and that the Chiefs of Attahooroo should acknowledge him as their Sovereign.
To all which Pohooataya agreed,
& with His Wife Came on board the Schooner as hostages
for the performance of his part.—but
as several of the things
were in posession of the other Chief T'towha,
messengers were sent to Him to demand them,
with orders to tell him if they were not produced in 24 Hours
that He might expect no quarter.
In the Night Came Burkett from Papaara,
and told us what dispositions were made there,
and We informd him how we intended to proceed
if Tetowha was obstinate and having appointed the time
for storming him on both sides
Burkett return'd to Papaara.
He inform'd us that Te'towha had, in their attack,
been forced into the Mountains & had several killd & wounded.
The 31st [sic]. This Morning we were informd
that Te'towha had passd by in the Night,
and was gone to Oparre with the Royal Marro
which he intended to present to the Young King in person,
and hoped to get Peace by it alone without surrendering the Morai
&c.—as soon as we knew this,
a Double Canoe was got ready,
and Millward was sent to bring Him to the Schooner,
which he did in the evening.
—the same Day passd by Areepaeea and Muspratt,
from Papaara, they Calld on board, and Areepaeea made each a present
of a Hog & a piece of Cloth,
and set forward to Oparre to get ready for us.
When T'towha came on board, he seemd apprehensive that we intended to kill him, and made his fears known to Pohooataya, who Cheerd him up, telling him that he knew the English better, and that for Captain Cooks sake they would not suffer either of them to be killd. When we knew his fears we told him He should not be Hurted, telling him that Englishmen never used those ill who the Chance of War made their Prisoners; at which he seem'd easy, and promissed that evry thing in his posession should be restored, and that He would submit to evry thing we demanded in favour of the Young King. —T'towha's friends soon Came after him to the Schooner, and he gave them Orders to go and Bring evry thing that belongd to the Morai; which they Obeyd.
He was a handsome well made Man about 22 years old, about 6 feet high, but Pohooataya is a very Corpulent old Man between 60 and 70.
On the 1st of October the Canoe bearing the Morai, Ark
&c.—was brought and deliverd into charge
of the Priests of Maatavye and Oparre;
who proceeded with her directly to Oparre,
and Orders were now given for the Fleet and Army to return home,
when they accompanied the Sacred Canoe
escorting it Carefully to Oparre,
and in the afternoon a breeze springing up we Weighd,
having Poeno & the Two Attahooroo Chiefs,
and run up to Tettahah where we anchord for the Night,
and weighd at 9 Next Morning the 2nd.
here we were Joind by Burkett and Oammo
who came to assist at the Peace and Worked up to Toa Roa harbour
where we anchord in the afternoon where we landed the Chiefs
and Went with them to the Morai, where the Peace was Concluded,
and by our advice they were continued in posession of their Land;
and Paa, an Old Chief who was out of Commission,
was put into the District of Tettahah
as a Substitute for Mottooarro
to whom it was voted, the Attahooroo Chiefs promised on their parts
that they would always honor the Young King as their Sovereign,
and by way of strengthening the Peace each of them took one of us as his Friend.
Great feasting now took place a Volly of Small arms was fired on the occasion
and all the Chiefs of Taheite Nooe or Substitutes for them attended.
Much feasting now took place,
& on the 4th we weighd and workd up to Maatavye,
where we arrived by Noon, having Carried away the head of our Fore Mast,
which being made of Bread fruit we found would not answer,
and therefore Condemnd them Both.
6th. We were visited by Burkett & Oammo (the same mentioned by Captain Cook) Tommarees father, who stayd three days, and returned to Papaara.—
Norman & Millward now set out in quest of Masts to Heedeea,
where we were informd some grew of a Better sort of wood,
and in the mean time we landed evry thing,
and Cleand the Schooners bottom and paid it with Pitch.
We were now visited by Tetowha, who staid some time in Maatavye, but he died soon after of an ague, and was succeeded by his nephew, a boy of the age of about 4 years, Calld by his Name.—He is the Son of Tetowhas sister, who now takes upon her the regency or Guardianship during his Minority.
26th. Norman & Millward returned, having cut two Masts one of Fwhyfwhye, and the other of Touy, with Spars for a Gaff, Boom & two sweeps & new railing—which were brought down on the Next Morning, by two of the Natives, who made a raft of them with some Bamboos to help to float them, and saild them down with a temporary Sail made of Cocoa Nut leaves.—we went to work immediately to Make the Masts &c. and at the same time boiling Salt & Salting more pork; but had the Misfortune to break our Iron pot when we were forced to desist, & save the Kettle to Cook in, and we had now near 8 Cwt of Pork cured.
1st November. The Masts being finishd we got them in, Riggd them & Blackd the Mast heads & rigging, and gave them a Coat of Grease. We found them very heavy but were in no dread of Carrying them away.—the Oars, Gaff, Boom & rails with a Square sail Yard were now made, and evry thing Got on board, we also got a Small Canoe to answer the purpose of a Boat.
9th. Muspratt Came to the Point in his way to the Islands of Tettooroa and on the 10th having got evry thing on board, we Got under way in order to visit Tettooroa, leaving Muspratt to follow in his own Canoe, but the Natives were better acquainted with the Weather then Us and did Not come out. We stood to the Northward with a Fresh breeze at E S E which Freshend to a Gale & forced us to heave to, the Sea running very high and no anchorage near the Islands, forced us to keep at a Distance—at 4 in the afternoon we wore & hove too with our head to the southward still blowing hard and a high sea— in the Morning of the 11th it Moderated, and we made sail standing in for the Land, having only seen the Islands not daring to venture near them, the Vessel behaved remarkably well, but the Sails suffered by the Weather.
12th. At 4 in the Afternoon we got inside the reef at Tettahah
and run down to Taboona,
intending to sail for Morea
as soon as our sails were repaired, here we came to an Anchor,
and Pohooataya came on board, and brought two roasted hogs
& some Breadfruit, Yams, & Tarro,
we also met with Poeno here,
who had left Maatavye the same time we did,
bound round the Island;
we got one of his Men as a Pilot, and having repaird our Sails,
in the Morning, Weighd and run over to Morea,
Where we anchord in Vyeerre harbour on the same day;
the distance being little more then 10 Miles.
We were well received here by Fatowwa who was here on a visit, and Next Morning Mottooarro sent a Messenger to desire we should come round to Poonoohoo or Captain Cooks Harbour near which place he lived, to this we agreed; and on the 14th Weighd and went round, accompanied by Fatowwa in her Canoe— one of Mottooarro's Men piloted us into a small cove to the Westward of the Harbour, where we Came to an anchor in the afternoon, and Mottooarro and His Wife Tarreredooa came on board with several of our old acquaintance, and we saluted them with 6 Musquets. After welcoming us to the Island they enquired what our business was, to which we replied, to see our friends, they then desired that we should not be in any hurry to leave them, and ordered us to be well supplied with evry thing that the Island afforded, and having settled matters so as to leave one on board evry day to take care of the Vessel the rest went on shore to see their friends. My principal look out here was for Matts, but these were scarce, and we could hardly get sufficient to keep the sails in repair but this scarcity of Mats We supposed to be owing to their unwillingness to part with us; and as they knew we could not leave them without sails, they kept the Mats out of our sight, but evry thing else they gave us freely, and loaded us with presents. While we were here we went to see the Cattle, which were about 6 Miles distant on the West part of the Island—the whole that now remaind were One Bull, Five Cows, & one Cow Calf, and one of the Cows big with Calf—the Bull had some time ago slipt his hip bone out on the left side, which wasted the leg and thigh which was occasioned by a Fall Jumping over a ditch—but Mottooarro informd Us that he had got the Calves since, they are all very large and in good order, but quite wild, being only kept as curiositys—they have plenty of fine Grass, and it is possible they may increase now, which they could not do before, the Bull being kept by himself till Mottooarro was calld home, who observing that Lieutenant Bligh had been at some trouble and expence to bring the Cow & Bull together at Taheite resolved to do the same here to try if they would increase, which he found to answer, and as we told him they were valuable, and would bring a good price if a Ship should come here, He promised that they should stay together while he held his authority in Morea. As we began to think our visit long enough, and some of us thought we had been too long from home, we weighd on the 25th having on board Mottooarro, his Wife Fatowwa and several men of distinction, and workd up to Vyeere where we anchored the same day. Mottooarro was very desirous that we should stay some time longer, but we thought short visits best, and promised to come again, he made us each a present of Hogs & Cloth, and Norman having a fancy to Stay a while at Morea he took him at his word and taking his leave of us set out the same night on his return homeward and we prepared to sail next day having on board 48 hogs & a large quantity of Cloth &c. &c.
Coleman, having gone on shore to fetch some sand for the arms which he had found to answer the purpose of Emory at about 2 miles from the Schooner, was seized by a Man (who knew that He was the Man who wrought among the Iron) and threatened to Kill Him, having a large stone for the Purpose in one hand; he said that Coleman had had his wife on board and had used her ill, but some others coming up as if by Chance prevented him, and settled the Matter on Condition that Coleman should make him a handsom present, by which means he got off & Came on board with the sand; when he told us the Story we saw that it was only a scheme to get the trade from him, and if we overlookd it we should only encourage them to do so again, and that to prevent being robbd it would be necessary to go arm'd, and therefore resolved to punnish the Offender if we could find him.
Early next morning the 26th Coleman, Millward, McIntosh & Heildbrandt went on shore armd, and proceeded towards the place, but before they reachd the House where they supposed to find him, notice was given of their approach and those who had been Concerned Fled, but not so fast as to prevent the Shot from overtaking and wounding two of them, one in the Thigh & body and the other in the Arm, both of which acknowledg'd the scheme they had been concernd in, and begd for quarter, but the principal one Escaped. On enquirey they found that the House belongd to him that had first seized Coleman and demanded the trade, and as he was not to be found they plundered the house and returned to the Schooner with some Cloth, Hogs, Oil and a Canoes sail which they found in it, and which we wanted to repair our own with, leaving the wounded to get themselves dressd. On their return on board a Messenger was sent to inform Mottooarro of what we had done, who sent and turned the Man off his land, and told us when ever they offered an insult to shoot them, and was sorry that the men who were wounded were not kill'd out-right, which he said would deter others from such attempts. Mean time a peace offering Came to us from the Landed Men of the District, desiring that we should not be angry with the whole for what one bad man had done.
We accepted the Offering and told them that we did not wish to hurt any one, but that we would always punnish such offenders as we were able to find out, but that we never wishd to punnish the Innocent for the Guilty, and would therefore proceed no further in this affair. We wrote to Norman to inform Him how we had settled the Affair, and desiring Him to acquaint us if they made any further Stir about it, and Weighd on the 27th for Taheite.
Vyeerre is a snugg little Harbour on the East part of the Island, the entrance is a narrow break in the Reef which lies half a Mile from the Beach; the Channel is deep, and a Ship may ride in 7 Fathom within half a Cables length of the shore, and tho the Harbours Mouth lies open to the sea breeze the swell never reaches the Shore, as may be proved by the Trees & Grass growing close to the high water mark, and as the land breeze which blows evry night, affords an opportunity to get out evry 24 hours, I should prefer the Harbour to any that Taheite affords for a single Ship as all kind of Provisions are found there Common to both Islands, and equally plentyful, and wood and water are to be had much easier at Vyeerre then at any part of Taheite as both may be had within hail of the Ship. Captain Cooks Harbour is large & spacious, but being to leeward, is subject to heavy rains (from the clouds gathering round the tops of the Mountains) while Vyeerre enjoys fine Pleasant weather, and is always dry except in the proper season.
The Wind being light
we did not reach Taboona till the 28th,
when we entered the reef and worked up inside of it to Oparre,
here we landed the Hogs, and sent them up by land.
On the 29th Arrepaeea Presented us with a large baked Hog
and Accompanied us to Maatavye the same day,
together with several of his Friends.
As soon as we could see the Beach at the Point we saw it lined by the Inhabitants who had Flockd to the place to see us as soon as the News of our approach began to spread, and when we Anchord could scarce get from the Schooner to the Houses for our old Friends, who flockd about us and were as eager & seemd as much rejoiced as if they had found some of their lost relations. We now landed evry thing, and Coleman went to live at His freinds house, where he fell sick of a Feverish Complaint, but as we had neither Skill nor Medicines the disorder was suffered to take its Course, and after having brought him nearly to the Brink of the Grave, it left him and he recovered. Byrn and Ellison being returned from Tettooroa went to Morea to reside some time with Mottooarro.
December, 1790. Having got evry thing on shore by the l0th of December and expecting the wet season now to set in shortly, we got the Schooner hauld up and housed over to shelter her from the Weather.
Coleman having declared that he would not have any thing to do with the Schooner, and our finding that our hopes of reaching Batavia or any other place without sails, and finding that even Matts could not be had, we dropd any further attempts that way, and devided the Pork, which on examination proved excellent Meat, and superior to any that had been salted in the Ship, which we imputed to a powder Cask which we had used to save the pickle in, and by this means the Salt Petre contain'd in the Staves had been communicated to the whole of the Pork.
23rd. This day arrived Byrn from Morea who staid with us to keep Christmass and returned to Morea. The Weather being now Wet we had nothing to do but prepare for it, by securing our houses and screening them in.
27th. This evening a man came into the House and unperceiv'd Carried off the Box containing all my writing Utincils paper &c—with the Compass Cards & Glasses watch &c.
The Box being Missd, pursuit was made, but tho evry Means was instantly taken, no account could be heard of it till near noon the next day, when it was discovered by a Young Man who was our Neighbour, who being up on a Cocoa Nut tree getting Nuts, he saw the Box, and getting down as fast as he could, he ran and took it from the Place and returnd to us with it unhurt, at which I was very well pleased, and offered him a present, which he refused, saying he was glad he was so lucky as to find it.
In about 2 days after, we learnt that the thief was a Lunatic who had come to the Point with a Number of People belonging to the Ryeatea Fleet who came over with Areepaeea Waheine, and were now bound round the Island, and had Come to the Point in their way, intending to go to Windward as soon as the Weather permitted.
The thief was soon apprehended, but did not appear to be so mad as he was represented—having seen the Box open the day before he took a fancy to the things that it containd, and as it stood on a table without any other security then its own lock he found means to escape with it, but it being instantly missd, he heard the noise that it occasioned and had put it into the Bush, where it was found, and made off for fear of being taken, but having informd one of our friends of the affairs, he made known to us the thief and we having now got him in our posession we gave him a good smart Whipping & let him go, when he promised that He would never steal any more from us or any body else.
January, 1791. We had now frequent Visitors from different parts & particularly from the Ryeatea people, who made much inquirey about Captain Cook, Sir Joseph Banks &c. &c.—and as we were also Visited by several people of note from Hooaheine, the Island where Captain Cook had left Omai, we learnt of them that he died (of the Hotatte, a disorder not much different from the Fever & Ague) about four years after he had landed, and the New Zealand boys both died soon after, they greived much for Poenammoo their Native Country, and after Omai died, they gave over all hopes & having now lost their chief friend, they pined themselves to Death.—They also inform'd us that Omai was one of the Lowest Class (Calld Mannahownee) and had been condem'd to be sacraficed for Blasphemy against one of the Chiefs, but his Brother getting wind of it sent him out of the way, and the Adventure arriving at Taheite at the Time, he got on board her and came to England, and his Friendship with Captain Cook afterwards, made him more respected then his riches, and the meaness of his birth made him gain very little credit with his countrymen tho he kept them in awe by his arms.—His Horse was killd soon after his landing by a Goat who Gored Him in the Belly which they knew no remedy for, and the only revenge he could have was to kill the Goat; the Mare remains yet at Hooaheine, and part of the House which Captain Cook had built for him. His Goods were devided after he died, & he distributed many before his death, the Musquetts are in possession of a Chief who was his Friend (Calld Tennanea, brother to Tayreetarieea king of Hooaheine) but are of no use being both disabled; these Accounts we had also from a very intelligent man who lived with Omai some time as a servant, and who informd us that he was very careful of His property till he died, when it was distributed among his friends—they also informd us that His Arms and the Manner in which he used them made him Great in War, as he bore down all before him, and all who had timely notice fled at his Approach and when accouterd with his Helmet & Breastplate, & Mounted on Horse back they thought it impossible to hurt him, and for that reason never attempted it, and Victory always attended him and his Party. Nor was he of less consequence at sea, for the enemy would never attempt to come near the Canoe which he was in.
They informd us that his Garden was destroyd by the Hogs & Goats &c.—having no body to look after it and the poultry were all dead except one Goose, being devided and kept in different parts of the Island as Curiositys after His Death and many being taken to Ryeatea, Tahaa, Borabora &c.
On the l0th arrivd here Eddea from Tyarrabboo,
bringing with her Teano her sister
& a Number of Attendants.
She Congratulated us on the Success which attended us in the War
which had proved very beneficial to Her Son,
who was now to be invested with the Royal Marro,
for which purpose she had now come to prepare.
She made each of us a present, and next day we were entertained
with a Boxing Match by the Ryeatea Men,
& Wrestling and Dancing by the Taheite Men & Weomen.
Eddea was Mistress of the Ceremonies,
and the Numbers of Spectators present was very great,
and among them came Areepaeea Waheine
who had returnd from Morea
to assist at the Ceremony of Investing the Young King with the Royal Marro.
Next day the 12th I attended Eddea at her request to Oparre
on a visit to the Young King;
at entering his bounds she was forced to Change her Cloaths,
and put on those which belongd to him,
before she could Enter his house, but he desired me to wave that Ceremony,
and received Me very Courteously.
A hog was prepared for Me,
but Eddea could not partake of any Provisions
under her sons roof; nor could she eat in a house or Canoe
where he had been till all His Ceremonys were performed,
and he is restricted within particular bounds,
to prevent his rendering any thing sacred which is not intended for his use,
and for this reason he was never permitted to come near the Ship,
as his presence there would have rendered evry thing Sacred
so far as to prevent not only his own family,
but evry body else from either eating on board,
or using any thing that Came from the Ship,
by which means all their presents would have been rendered useless
to any other but himself.
After we took our leave of Him, I went with Eddea and Air'd the Powder which I found in Good Order, and having Cleand the Arms which were here, returned to Maatavye.
14th. Arrived here Burkett on a Visit,
with whom I set out on the 17th for Papaara,
having heard much of His friend Tommaree who I had not yet seen.
We reachd Papaara next day,
where we were received by Tommaree himself.
He is a Handsom well made man of about 27 or 28 years old
and about 6 feet high.
He received me with evry token of Friendship,
and desired me to be one of His friends;
we soon became perfectly intimate, and during my stay he feasted me evry day,
and begd that I would be in no hurry to return home.
While I was here the Young Kings Flag arrived, and was received by Tommaree and Conducted to His Morai, but they kept by the Beach close down in the Surf till those who Carried it were abreast of the Morai, when they turnd short round and proceeded to the Morai—as the Flag passd, the Inhabitants hid themselves, and all Fires were put out—we attended them to the Morai, where Tommarees priests having set the Flag up, made the Usual peace Offering of a Hog and a Plantain tree, the Priests repeated it and several young Pigs & Plantain Trees were Offered with long Harrangues and Tommaree made a long speech declaring Toonooeaiteatooa to be his Chief, and ordered a feast to be provided for those who bore the Flag—this Flag was the Union Jack which they had got from Captain Cox, and was Slung a Cross the Staff with a stick in the tabeling as we sling a Pendant, it was decorated with Feathers Breast Plates Tassels &c.—as the Chief People of the District were present, we honord the Ceremony by firing our Musquets,—which was received as an honor, and some of those who were present interpreted this into a declaration on our part to support it in Circumventing the Island, as it was Composed of English Collours, and they made no scruple to say that War would be instantly made on those who should attempt to stop it.
It was kept one Night in the Morai, during which time prayers were Constantly saying by one or other of the Priests which attended it; and when it proceeded they returnd to the Water Side, where they had before been, & proceeded along by the edge of the Surf towards Tyarrabboo. On the 23rd I took leave of Tommaree who gave me a pair of Canoes & several Hogs Cloth &c. and Burkett accompanying me we set off for Vyeerre, where we were received by Tootahah, Poenos brother & Moenannoo his brother in law— who entertaind us civilly and we set out for the Isthmus where we hauld the Canoe a Cross, this part of the Island is a low level spot about 3 miles [broad;] it is thick of Wood, but as the Inhabitants frequently travel this way there is a Good road, and it is much easyer to haul the Canoes a Cross, then to go round the Peninsula when they are Bound to Towtirra.
As soon as we reachd the North Side
we were met by Messengers from Matte
desiring us to come up to Him at Affwhaheetaee about 6 Miles from the Isthmus;
we accepted the invitation, and leaving the Canoes
at a house Close by set out by land, and arrived there in the same afternoon,
25th, when a feast was prepared for us,
and Matte was glad to see us.
He now informd us that the people of Tyarrabboo had used him very uncivil, altho the Flag had been received, and passd with all the Ceremonies; which he said was only for fear of us and not their regard to His son. He told us that we had yet a right to Chastise them for Killing Thompson, and said that if we once made our appearance in Arms in Tyarrabboo they would never make any resistance and he would be at the Expence of the Amunition, that his Son might be Sole King, he also told us that He had conversed with Tommaree who was ready to furnish Men & Canoes when ever we thought proper to take it in hand.
27th. Having told him that we would Consider of the Matter
we signified our intention to go homeward,
when he ordered his Canoe & went down to the Isthmus with us,
when we launchd our own and set out in Company for Heedeea,
and having landed at Teetoes (a Man of Rank)
we had a dinner prepared,
and we then proceeded to Avye Myes where a Feast was also provided,
and we remain'd here all Night.
And on the Morning of the 28th a hog & some Cloth being prepared for me I took my leave, and leaving Burkett to return to Papaara, and Proceeded to Maatavye, where I arrived on Saturday the 29th and found Numbers assembled at Maatavye and Oparre to attend the Approaching Ceremony and among them Mettooarro with Norman, Ellison and Byrn from Morea, and all the principal Men of the Island, and the Beach was filld with Canoes.
February 1st. Millward and McIntosh set out for Papaara, for the purpose of seeing Tommaree, and Conversing with him about the War with Tyarrabboo.
10th. Eddea brought the Amunition Chest with evry thing in it, and with a pair of Pistols delivered them into my Charge, and gave me a Bayonet (which she had got from Captain Cox) which I fitted to my own piece, my own being broke. Mottooarro also paid me a Visit and invited me to go and live a while at Morea.
13th. This day the Ceremony of Investing the Young King with the Marro Oora or Royal Sash took place; the Sash is of fine Network on which Red and Yellow Feathers are made fast, so as to cover the netting; the sash is about three yards long, and each end is devided into six tassels of Red Black & Yellow feathers, for each of which they have a name of some Spirit or Guardian Angel, that watches over the Young Chief while the Marro is in his Posession and is never worn but one day by any one King; it is then put into the Sacred Box and with a Hat or Shade for the Eyes Made of Wicker & Covered with feathers of the same kind and never used but on the Same occasion it is delivered to the priests, who put it Carefully by in the Sacred House on the Morai, where no person must toutch it.
This Ceremony was performed at Oparre on the New Morai which was built for the reception of the Movable Morai &c. which we had brought from Attahooroo and where these things were now kept. The Chiefs (or their Substitutes) of Tipperroonoo and Morea attended, and Toonooeaiteatooa the Young King being placed on the Morai, a Priest making a long Prayer put the Sash round his Waist and the Hat or Bonnet on his head & haild him King of Taheite. Mottooarro then began by His Orator making a long Speech and acknowledging him his King, when three Human Victims were brought in and offered for Morea, the Priest of Mottooarro placing them with their head towards the Young King and with a long speech over each, he offered 3 Young Plantain trees. He then took an Eye out of each, with a Piece of split bamboo, and placing them on a leaf took a Young Plantain tree in one Hand, and the Eyes in the Other Made a long speech holding them up to the Young King, who sat above him with his mouth open; after he had ended his Speech & laid the Plantain trees before the Young King, the Bodys were removed & buryed by his priests in the Morai, and the Eyes put up with the Plantain trees on the Altar—the rest of the Chiefs then brought in their Sacrafices in the Same Manner, going through the like Ceremony, some bringing one Victim & Some two according to the bigness or extent of their districts, after which large Droves of Hogs and an immense quantity of other Provisions such as bread, Yams, Tarro, Plantains, Cocoa nuts &ca. were brought and presented to the Young King. Several large Canoes were also hauld up near the Morai on the sacred ground; these were dressd with several hundred fathoms of Cloth, Red Feathers, Breastplates &c.—all which were secured by the priests & Young Kings attendants—the Marro being now removed and taken Care of by the Priests, they all repaird to feasts prepared for them, which lasted some weeks, the Number of Hogs destroyd on this occasion were beyond all conception, besides Turtle, Fish &c. &c.—
I enquired the Cause of the Eye being offei'ed, and was thus informed. The King is the Head of the People for which reason the Head is sacred; the Eye being the most valuable part is the fittest to be offered, and the reason that the King sits with his Mouth open, is to let the Soul of the Sacrafice enter into his Soul, that he may be strengthend thereby, or that He may receive more strength of disernment from it, and they think that His Tutelar Deity or Guardian Angel presides to receive the Soul of the Sacrafice. Several Large Hogs were placed upon the Altar and the Human sacrifices offered this day were 30, some of which had been Killd near a Month.
These were the First that had been offered since our coming to the Island. They never offer Men but such as have committed some great Crime Nor then, but on particular Occasions, but Hogs Fish &c. they offer without Number and on evry triffling affair.
20th. Arrived Millward and McIntosh
who having settled the Matter relative to the War,
we determined to put it into execution,
as None of the Chiefs of Tyarrabboo had assisted at the Ceremony
of investing the Young King with the Royal sash.
Tommaree had proposed to Make a Grand Feast,
under Cover of which he Could have his Men and Canoes
collected before he told them what he wanted them for,
and by that means would prevent it from being blazed about—the
English were to be there as partakers of the Feast,
and when we were ready to attack them we could be in their Country
before they knew what we were at, and by this means make an easy conquest.
This appearing to us a very good plan,
we agreed to prepare for it as fast as possible,
and began to get things in order for Launching the Schooner;
but from the Number of Visitors which daily came to see us,
owing to the Number collected together in the two districts,
we were not able to make any Progress,
and it was the 1st of March before we Got her Launched.
We filld the Water for Ballast and Stowd the Casks with Stones and Wood,
we also got the Pork on board, masted and rigg'd the Vessel,
but still kept our intentions a secret.
March, 1791. Among our Visitors We often Had the Young King, but as his presence in any House would render it useless to any of the Natives he Never came in.
Sunday the 13th. He was Carried round the Beach of Maatavye on Mens Shoulders dressd in a Cloak of Black feathers and his Head almost Hid in a large Garland of Black and Red Feathers—he was attended by the principal people of the District carrying the Union Jack horisontally over their heads, but as all could not get under it, several Fathoms of painted Cloth was added to it. His Ceremonies are not all performd yet, for which reason he can only pass by the Beach, and cannot go inland, except on sacred Ground leading from the Beach—he made us presents, and appointed each to a portion of Land, being very fond of the whole of us, and desired his Subjects to treat us as his relations, calling us his Uncles (or Medooa's).
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