"Among the natives who were almost constantly with us was Tupia, whose name has been often mentioned in this narrative. He had been, as I have before observed, the first minister of Oberea when she was in the height of her power; he was also the chief Tahowa or priest of the island; consequently well acquainted with the religion of the country as well with respect to its ceremonies as principles. This man had often expressed a desire to go with us, and on the 12th [July], in the morning, having with the other natives left us the day before, he came on board with a boy about thirteen years of age, his servant, and urged us to let him proceed with us on our voyage."

Cook consented, and Tupaia left the island with him. They arrived at Raiatea, called Ulietea by Cook, on the 20th July, and there, according to the anonymous "Journal," Tupaia gave them some account of himself, which interests us more than it did Cook. He said that he was a native of Raiatea, and had been driven out of it by an invasion and conquest of the island from the little neighboring island of Bora-bora. Having fled to Tahiti he was taken into favor by Purea, and roused the enmity of Tutaha, "uncle to the young king, her son, and a man of great courage, and highly esteemed by the people," but who meditated a change in the regency:

"The better to effect it he began to create divisions between the inhabitants of Otahitee-eta (Taiarapu) and of Otahitee-nua [little Tahiti and big Tahiti], which finally produced hostilities between them. At that time Tobia [Tupaia], who had great sagacity and judgment, having discovered Tutahau’s designs, advised the queen to procure his death privately, as the only expedient to restore peace and preserve her authority; but she, thinking his advice too cruel, refused, for the first

Indigenous Histories