1777- THE PACIFIC OCEAN. , 367 



duced, who went through the several parts with as 

 much exactness as the men. Toward the end, the 

 performers divided to leave room for two champions, 

 who exercised their clubs as described on a former 

 occasion. And, in the third dance, which was the 

 last now presented, two more men with their clubs 

 displayed their dexterity. The dances were suc- 

 ceeded by wrestling and boxing ; and one man en- 

 tered the lists with a sort of club made from the stem 

 of a cocoa-leaf, which is firm and heavy, but could 

 find no antagonist to engage him at so rough a sport. 

 At night we had the bomai repeated ; in which 

 Poulaho himself danced, dressed in English manu- 

 facture. But neither these nor the dances in the 

 day-time were so considerable, nor carried on with 

 so much spirit, as Feenou's or Mareewagee's ; and, 

 therefore, there is less occasion to be more particular 

 in our description of them. 



In order to be present the whole time, I dined 

 ashore. The king sat down with us ; but he neither 

 ate nor drank. I found that this was owing to the 

 presence of a female, whom, at his desire, I had ad- 

 mitted to the dining party ; and who, as we after- 

 ward understood, had superior rank to himself. As 

 soon as this great personage had dined, she stepped 

 up to the king, who put his hands to her feet, and 

 then she retired. He immediately dipped his fingers 

 into a glass of wine, and then received the obeisance 

 of all her followers. This was the single instance we 

 ever observed of his paying this mark of reverence to 

 any person. At the king's desire, I ordered some 

 fire-works to be played off in the evening ; but, un- 

 fortunately, being damaged, this exhibition did not 

 answer expectation. 



