1777 THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 3J5 



preceded by about eight or ten persons, all in the 

 above habits of ceremony, each of them besides, 

 having a small green bough about his neck. Pou- 

 laho held his bough in his hand till we drew near 

 the place of rendezvous, when he also put it about 

 his neck. We now entered a small inclosure in 

 which was a neat house, and we found one man 

 sitting before it. As the company entered they 

 pulled off the green branches from round their 

 necks, and threw them away. The king having 

 first seated himself, the others sat down before him 

 in the usual manner. The circle increased by 

 others dropping in to the number of a hundred 

 or upward, mostly old men, all dressed as above 

 described. The company being completely as- 

 sembled, a large root of /cava, brought by one of 

 the king's servants, was produced, and a bowl 

 which contained four or five gallons. Several 

 persons now began to chew the root, and this 

 bowl was made brimful of liquor. While it was 

 preparing others were employed in making drink- 

 ing cups of plantain leaves. The first cup that 

 was filled was presented to the king, and he 

 ordered it to be given to another person. The 

 second was also brought to him, which he drank, 

 and the third was offered to me. Afterward as 

 each cup was rilled, the man who filled it asked 

 who was to have it? Another then named the 

 person, and to him it was carried. As the bowl 

 grew low, the man who distributed the liquor 

 seemed rather at a loss to whom cups of it 

 should be next sent, and frequently consulted those 

 who sat near him. This mode of distribution con- 

 tinued while any liquor remained; and though not 

 half the company had a share, yet no one seemed 

 dissatisfied. About half a dozen cups served for 

 all ; and each as it was emptied, was thrown down 

 upon the ground, where the servants picked it up, 

 and carried it to be filled again. During the whole 



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