1773* ROUND THE WORLD. 215 



himself on a rising ground, about twelve or fifteen 

 yards from us : here we sat facing one another for 

 some minutes. I waited for Attago to shew us the 

 way ; but seeing he did not rise, Captain Furneaux 

 and I got up, went and saluted the king, and sat 

 down by him. We then presented him with a white 

 shirt {which we put on his back), a few yards of red 

 cloth, a brass kettle, a saw, two large spikes, three 

 looking glasses, a dozen of medals, and some strings 

 of beads. All this time he sat with the same sullen 

 stupid gravity as the day before : he even did not 

 seem to see or know what we were about ; his arms 

 appeared immoveable at his sides ; he did not so much 

 as raise them when we put on the shirt. I told him, 

 both by words and signs, that we were going to leave 

 his island ; he scarcelv made the least answer to this, 

 or any other thing, we either said or did. We, there- 

 fore, got up and took leave ; but I yet remained near 

 him, to observe his actions. Soon after, he entered 

 into conversation with Attago and an old woman, 

 whom we took to be his mother. I did not under- 

 stand any part of the conversation ; it however made 

 him laugh, in spite of his assumed gravity. I say 

 assumed, because it exceeded every thing of the 

 kind I ever saw ; and therefore think it could not be 

 his real disposition (unless he was an idiot indeed), as 

 these islanders, like all the others we had lately 

 visited, have a great deal of levity ; and he was in 

 the prime of life. At last, he rose up, and retired 

 with his mother and two or three more. 



Attago conducted us to another circle, where 

 were, seated the aged chief and several respectable 

 old persons of both sexes ; among whom was the 

 priest, who was generally in company with this chief. 

 We observed that this reverend father could walk 

 very well in a morning ; but, in an evening, was 

 obliged to be led home by two people. By this we 

 concluded, that the juice of the pepper-root had the 

 same effect upon him, that wine aad other strong 



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