Chapter VIII
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time, to comply with it; and he, foreseeing the consequences, retired to the mountains, alleging that this retreat was necessary for the preservation of his life. Soon after, the inhabitants of Lesser Otahitee making frequent incursions into the greater division, and their numerous depredations having thrown the inhabitants of the latter into confusion, which Tutahaw artfully improving to his advantage, they at length offered him the regency, thinking their affairs too much embarrassed for the administration of a female; an agreement was therefore made between Oberea and Tutahaw, in which it was conditioned that she should preserve the title and state of queen, with a certain number of attendants, &c., and that the regency should devolve to Tutahaw; who, respecting Tobia’s understanding and sacerdotal character, afterward permitted him to return from the mountains in safety; but he was so much displeased with this revolution that he embraced the opportunity of our departure to leave the island."
This account was accepted by George Forster, who accompanied Cook as naturalist in attendance on his father, John Reinold Forster, in 1774, when Cook made his second visit to the island. Forster heard the same story from Otoo’s people at Pare Arue. Amo and Purea, in December, 1768, had been driven from Papara into the mountains. "At last the conqueror [Vehiatua] consented to a peace on condition that Amo should entirely resign the government, and that the succession should be taken from his son and conferred upon Otoo, the eldest son of his [Amo’s] brother Happai. This was agreed to, and Tootahah, the youngest brother of Amo, was appointed regent." The whole story was bodily adopted thirty years afterward into the Missionary Narrative, but the missionaries added some interesting details not given in the "Journal."
"Waheadooa [Vehiatua of Taiarapu], stimulated by the desire of becoming wholly independent of the larger peninsula, passed the isthmus
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Indigenous Histories |  |
© Derived from the revised Paris edition of 1901 page 73, 2004
Published by kind permission of the Library
To cite this page use: https://paulturnbull.org/project/southseas/journals/-marua-073.html