Tutaha’s war and death occurred in March, 1773, and was the first news received by Captain Cook when he returned to Tahiti on his second voyage and anchored, August 17, in Pihaa Bay, in Vehiatua’s territory. Vehiatua himself had died in the interval, and his son, then seventeen or eighteen years of age, had succeeded to the name and authority.

The death of Tutaha and Tepau i Ahurai produced a new revolution, or, perhaps, dissolved the old alliances. Vehiatua of Tiarapu, Teriirere of Papara, Terii Vaetua of Ahurai, and Tunuieaaiteatua of Pare existed henceforward as equals; but of them all, Tu was the least powerful. The only sign that his position had improved was his immediate appearance at Matavai to receive Cook and beg for presents. Apparently the death of Tutaha brought the district of Haapape in some way within the influence or control of Tu, for no chief, except an unknown Toppere (Tiipaarii), was mentioned as ruling there either by Cook or Forster; but Amo and Purea again appeared there in company with Tu and the chiefs of Paea and Tefana, Poatatou and Towha. At that time, therefore, all these chiefs were on friendly terms. Forster said that Teriirere was then married to the eldest sister of Tn, whom he called Neehourai, but he seems to have meant the sister of Tu’s wife, who would have been a Tetua i Ahurai, and was the elder sister of Terii Vaetua of Ahurai. We know nothing of such a marriage, and at that time Teriirere was not much more than twelve years old, while Neehourai was thirty.

Indigenous Histories