Both crews would gladly have
given up; their friends told them to leave us, and return in the trading
canoes. They came to me to say "the bad weather has set in, the winds
and rains are here, we cannot go on."
I replied, "Think, my children, of the disgrace. We started to go to
Motumotu, and at the first breath of contrary wind we put back. It must
not be. Let us try it a little longer, and if the wind increases we can
put back, and not feel ashamed."
"You are right," they rejoined; "we will go on with you."
At sunset we all got into our boats, and were ready for a start. A
fellow who has just returned from Kabadi thought to get over me by
saying, "Tamate, Kabadi are looking daily for you, and they have a large
present ready; feathers in abundance and sago; your two boats cannot take
half."
"I am going to Motumotu, and not all the feathers in Kabadi, nor all the
sago they can prepare, will turn me now, until I have made a fair trial,
and then, if driven back, I will visit Kabadi."
I believe our crew had had a talk with that man before he came to me.
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