^" cook's SECOND VOYAGE OCT. 



liquors have on Europeans who drink a large portion 

 of them. It is very certain, that these old people 

 seldom sat down without preparing a bowl of this 

 liquor ; which is done in the same manner as at 

 Ulietea. We, however, must do them the justice to 

 believe, that it was meant to treat us : nevertheless, 

 the greatest part, if not the whole, generally fell to 

 their share. 1 was not well prepared to take leave 

 of this chief, having exhausted almost all our store 

 on the other. However, after rummaging our 

 pockets, and treasury bag, which was always carried 

 with me wherever I went, we made up a tolerable 

 present, both for him and his friends. This old 

 chief had an air of dignity about him that commanded 

 respect, which the other had not. He was grave, 

 but not sullen ; would crack a joke, talk on indifferent 

 subjects, and endeavour to understand us and be 

 understood himself. During this visit, the old priest 

 repeated a short prayer or speech, the purport of 

 which we did not understand. Indeed he would 

 frequently, at other times, break out in prayer ; but 

 I never saw any attention paid to him by any one 

 present. After a stay of near two hours, we took 

 leave, and returned on board, with Attago and two 

 or three more friends, who staid and breakfasted with 

 us ; after which they were dismissed, loaded with 

 presents. 



Attago was very importunate with me to return 

 again to this isle, and to bring with me cloth, axes, 

 nails, &c. &c, telling me that I should have hogs, 

 fowls, fruit, and roots, in abundance. He particularly 

 desired me, more than once, to bring him such a suit 

 of clothes as I had on, which was my uniform. This 

 good-natured islander was very serviceable to me, on 

 many occasions, during our short stay. He constantly 

 came on board every morning soon after it was light, 

 and never quitted us till the evening. He was always 

 leady, either on board or on shore, to do me all the 

 service in his power : his fidelity was rewarded at a 



