At this point comes in a curious story heard forty years afterwards by Moerenhout, and printed in his book. Moerenhout was the only writer about Tahiti who knew Papara well; was on intimate terms with Tati, the next chief, my grandfather, and got from him much of what he afterwards put in his book. Unfortunately Moerenhout seldom mentioned his authorities, and had more than a reasonable weakness for confusing names, dates and events. While his story seems to be as precise as any one could wish, it is really difficult to follow.

"At the death of Amo," says Moerenhout, "which happened shortly before the appearance of the Bounty [October 26, 1788, June 6 or September 22, 1789], his son, then named Oripaea, being still too young to command, Ariifaataia, Amo’s brother, was named as regent."

I venture to correct this, so as to read as follows: At the death of the chief of Papara, which happened before 1788, Amo’s next son, Ariifaataia, being only fifteen or sixteen years old, Ariipaea, who had married Amo’s niece, was named as guardian. A glance at Table VII will show how this guardianship affected the situation of Papara.

Ariipaea, as Bligh knew him in 1788, was Tu’s half-brother, an active, useful man about thirty-six years old, supposed not to be on good terms with Tu. Three years afterwards, in 1791, Vancouver found him in the most important and confidential relation with Tu, having taken up his residence on the borders of Taiarapu, to guard against revolt or disaffection in the south. He died some five years afterwards, and the heir to his name and estates seems to have been Ariifaataia.

Indigenous Histories